Other supporting software solutions include a variety of tools and applications that support the operation of businesses and organisations, helping to automate processes, manage data, optimise operations, and increase productivity. Supporting software can include project management systems, analytical tools, customer relationship management (CRM) software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and many others.
Other Supporting Software Solutions
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Process automation: Tools to automate tasks, which increases operational efficiency and reduces human error.
- Project management: Project management software helps companies plan, monitor, and execute projects.
- Data analytics: Tools for analysing and processing large data sets to help make business decisions.
- Resource management: Software that supports the management of an organisation’s resources, such as ERP, enables effective management of finances, personnel, inventory, and production.
- Customer relationship management (CRM): Customer contact management tools that help optimise sales and marketing processes.
Industry usage
- Production: Software to support production resource management, production optimisation, and resource planning.
- Trade: Tools to support sales management, integration of payment systems, and optimisation of logistics and warehousing.
- Finance: ERP systems to support the company’s finance management, cash flow monitoring, and optimisation of accounting processes.
- Logistics: Tools to support route optimisation, fleet management, and real-time shipment monitoring.
- Human resource management: Software to support personnel management, recruitment, training, and employee evaluation.
Importance for the economy
The supporting software is a key tool for companies in various industries, enabling them to automate processes, increase productivity, and optimise resource management. These solutions reduce operating costs and improve organisational efficiency, which has a direct impact on increasing the competitiveness of companies. In sectors such as trade, manufacturing, finance, and logistics, the supporting software plays a key role in optimising operations and making better strategic decisions.
Related technologies
Artificial Intelligence
AI supports the automation of business processes, optimisation of activities, and personalisation of customer interactions in CRM and ERP systems.
Cybersecurity
Implementing solutions to help manage the security of IT systems and the protection of sensitive data.
Cloud Computing
The supporting software often runs in the cloud, enabling scalability and remote access to data and applications.
Big Data
Analytical tools and ERP systems are integrated with Big Data technologies, enabling analysis and optimisation of operational processes.
Automation
The supporting software automates routine tasks in the company, which enables better management of time and resources.
Mechanism of action
- Supporting software automates and optimises an organisation’s internal processes. It integrates data from a variety of sources and systems, enabling more efficient management of resources, projects, and customer relationships. With advanced analytical algorithms, the software supports decision-making based on the collected data. It can also be integrated with the cloud, allowing easy access to tools and data from anywhere.
Advantages
- Improving efficiency: The supporting software automates processes and facilitates resource management, which increases the company’s operational efficiency.
- Better organisation of work: Project and team management tools enable better organisation of work and more efficient use of time and resources.
- Decision optimisation: Analytical tools and ERP systems enable more informed decisions based on data analysis.
- Scalability: Cloud-based software enables companies to quickly adapt to changing needs and scale operations.
- Improving customer service: CRM systems enable better management of customer relationships, which affects customer loyalty and satisfaction levels.
Disadvantages
- Costly implementation: Implementing advanced supporting software, especially ERP and CRM, can be expensive, both in terms of technology and training.
- Complexity of integration: Integrating various supporting systems with existing IT infrastructures can be complex and time-consuming.
- Technology dependence: Companies can become dependent on software providers, which can be a challenge when prices or technologies change.
- Risk of cyber attacks: Implementing advanced IT systems can increase the risk of cyber attacks, especially if proper security measures are not implemented.
- Scaling difficulties: The complexity and cost of software maintenance can increase as a company grows, requiring careful planning and management.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- ERP/CRM software: Tools, such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and Salesforce, to manage resources and customer relationships and optimise business processes.
- IT infrastructure: Servers, cloud systems, and tools for managing data and operational processes.
- IT team and analysts: Specialists responsible for integration, implementation, and maintenance of supporting systems as well as data analysis.
- Project management: Project managers responsible for coordinating software implementation and process optimisation activities.
- Technical support: The team responsible for ongoing software maintenance and updates, including monitoring the performance of systems.
Required competences
- Knowledge of ERP/CRM systems: Ability to work with enterprise resource and customer relationship management systems.
- Data analytics: Ability to analyse data to make informed business decisions and optimise processes.
- Project management: Knowledge of project management methodologies, such as Agile or Scrum, to implement support solutions in the company.
- IT security management: Knowledge of data protection, access management, and securing supporting systems from threats.
- Systems integration: Competence in the integration of various IT systems, such as ERP and CRM.
Environmental aspects
- Energy consumption: The deployment of supporting software, especially cloud-based, involves significant energy consumption by data centres. Optimising computing processes and using green data centres can help reduce energy consumption.
- IT equipment recycling: Increased reliance on technology can lead to the need to upgrade IT infrastructure, which generates the need to properly recycle used equipment to minimise environmental impact.
- Reducing paper consumption: The supporting software automates many business processes, helping to reduce the need to print documents and reducing paper consumption.
- Waste reduction: With better resource optimisation and management, companies can reduce production waste and optimise the use of raw materials, leading to a reduced environmental burden.
Legal conditions
- Information security standards: Implementing supporting software requires adherence to information security standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001, which sets standards for securing data (example: implementing an information security policy in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001).
- Licences and copyrights: Supporting software must comply with the relevant licences, especially if it uses open-source components or licenced solutions (example: ERP software licences based on commercial or open-source licences).
- Interoperability regulations: The supporting software must comply with interoperability standards and regulations, especially in regulated industries, such as medicine and finance (example: compliance with ISO 20022 standards in the financial sector).
- Compliance with industry regulations: Depending on the sector in which the software is deployed, it must comply with relevant industry regulations, such as PSD2 in banking or HIPAA in health care (example: PSD2 compliance in banking payment applications).