Top 54 Retail Customer Management Software (Dec 2022)

2023's Best 55 Retail Customer Management Systems

Shlomi LaviShlomi Lavi / Dec 20, 2022

We publish unbiased reviews. Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by payments from advertisers. This content is reader-supported, which means if you leave your details with us we may earn a commission. Learn why ITQlick is free .

1. NetSuite for Retail

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price:
  • Mar 08, 2022
Compare NetSuite for Retail Vs. NetSuite for Retail

NetSuite multi-channel retail management suite is software for retailers from various industries. As this system is web-based, data can be accessed from anywhere and revised in real time. This retail management suite includes sales processing, inventory control, e-commerce as well as accounting appl...


2. Revel iPad POS

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $99 per terminal/month
  • Mar 09, 2022
Compare Revel iPad POS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Revel iPad POS software is a point-of-sale solution that is designed to transform businesses. The solution has a number of features that include a gift card tool that increases sales, earn new ones by offering gift cards and retain old customers.


3. LightSpeed

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $69 per month
  • Mar 10, 2022
Compare LightSpeed Vs. NetSuite for Retail

LightSpeed software is a point of sale solution that helps retailers run their businesses. The solution has a number of capabilities that include merchant services that manage all transactions from one place and increases security.


4. AmberPOS

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $999 per license
  • Mar 11, 2022
Compare AmberPOS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

AmberPOS software is a point of sale and retail management solution that is designed for small and midsize businesses. It offers a number of features that include a customer management function that establishes, tracks and maximizes the lifetime value of each customer.


5. Aralco POS

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $99 per month
  • Mar 14, 2022
Compare Aralco POS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Aralco POS is a cloud-based point of sale and inventory management software solution that has an e-commerce integration. Aralco POS is designed with a goal, which is to meet the needs of the small and mid-size retailers within the footwear, automotive and industrial supplies, apparel, as well as pha...


6. SimpleOrder

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $79 per month
  • Mar 20, 2022
Compare SimpleOrder Vs. NetSuite for Retail

SimpleOrder is a retail & POS app designed to help food & beverage establishments simplify their back of house operations and management.


7. AIMsi POS

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $995 per license
  • Apr 18, 2022
Compare AIMsi POS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Much more than a typical ‘off the shelf’ package, the AIMsi is a complete point of sale (POS), accounting and business, inventory management application software. This software offers, not only a way to control the inventory, management of the customers, tracking all of the sales, but also includes ...


8. GiftLogic software

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $49 per month
  • Apr 18, 2022
Compare GiftLogic software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

GiftLogic is a point of sale management solution for businesses of sizes. Its capabilities include inventory management, customer management, employee management, accounting management, and others. The software was designed and launched by GiftLogic headquartered in Florida, United State...


9. Homebase

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $14 per location/month
  • May 20, 2022
Compare Homebase Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Homebase is a Time-sheet entry software designed to help its users track time and manage their team. Being a Time-sheet entry software, Homebase provides tools that help companies, entrepreneurs or managers to hire competent candidates, create schedules and manage shifts.


10. Springboard Retail Software

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $80 per month
  • Jun 01, 2022
Compare Springboard Retail Software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Heartland Point of Sale is a cloud-based POS and retail management software that offers a fresh approach to POS solutions and a better retail software experience. Starting from item entry via look up or scan to customer lookup and creation, this POS system offers all the features you need and is als...


Pricing Guide - Retail Customer Management Software:

Retail POS Price Range

Most retail point of sale products in the market have pricing based on the number of users, physical locations, machines, or sales outlet. Most products are priced per month, and their pricing can be divided into three tiers, starting from $29 to $39, $39 to $75, and then $75 upwards.

These are the price ranges for basic offerings of most vendors; hence, premium offerings which come with more features cost more. For example, Ricochet pricing starts from $99 per month, KORONA costs about $49 per month, and WooPOS pricing starts from $29 per month. Perpetual licences can also be bought for some retail POS software. An example is RetailEdge which can be bought with a one-time fee of $449.

In addition, retail POS vendors target different organization sizes, so business size determines the price.

  • Small Businesses that are looking for a retail POS system can expect to pay between $25 to $50 on a monthly basis. For instance, Epos Now pricing starts from $39 per month, and ThriftCart starts from $50 per location, per month. Meanwhile, some products have freemium plans for small business, while some products are completely free. For example, HadePay is 100-percent free to use.
  • Medium Businesses can expect pricing points between $50 to $120 for a retail POS system monthly. For example, Heartland Retail pricing starts from around $99 per month, LightSpeed POS from $69 per month, and Realtime Cloud from around $80 per month. The number of user accounts paid for on each plan can also attract discounts, depending on the pricing terms from each vendor.
  • Large Businesses can expect prices that fall between the range of $120 to $500 for a retail POS system monthly. For example, RUnit Realtime Cloud pricing starts from $258 per machine monthly, WinWard System Five from around $125 per month, and Epicor Retail Solutions costs around $350 per month for each user account. However, many vendors do not disclose their pricing for large businesses so as to enable them to adjust their pricing based on the need of each organization.

Here are some Retail POS best of breeds and their price ranges are as follows:

  • Retail Management Software Retail management products can be divided into three tiers, and the price ranges for each tier are $28 to $39, $39 to $83, and $83 above. Also, most retail management products are priced on a monthly basis per user or physical location managed with the software. For example, Quant Retail pricing starts from $180 per user monthly, PHP Point of Sale from $39 per month, and POSExpress costs up to $190 per month.
  • iPad POS Most iPad POS products in the market are priced per user or per usage based on a monthly basis. Their price points fall into two tiers, starting from $0 to $30, and then $30 to $85. For example, TillPoint pricing starts from $29 per month, Ambur POS from around $60 per month, and Loyverse pricing starts from $0.01 per usage every month. Meanwhile, some iPad POS software have perpetual licenses that can be bought with a one-time fee; an example is Digital Dining which costs $10,000.
  • Bar POS Software Bar POS products in the market can be divided into two tiers, with each having a different price range depending on the robustness of features. The price ranges fall within $15 to $40 and $40 to $85. For example, BePOZ Point of Sale pricing starts from $69 per month, HarbourTouch POS from $29 per month, and Unicenta from $49 monthly.
  • Restaurant POS Software For a restaurant POS software, users can expect to pay between the ranges of $50 to $100 above per user, table, or managed location. For example, SpotOn Restaurant pricing starts from $65 monthly, Toast POS from $79 per month, and Upserve POS pricing is around $59 monthly. However, most products may incur extra one-time fees that fall between $2,000 to $7,000 because they require additional hardware equipment to run.
  • Retail Management POS Most Retail Management POS software in the market are priced on a per-user, per-month basis, and their price can fall between three ranges, from $0 to $50, $50 to $100, and then $100+ upwards. For example, Lavu pricing starts from $69 per month, PoinOS from $39 per user monthly, and TouchBistro from around $70 per user monthly.

11. LaborVIEW

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price:
  • Jun 10, 2022
Compare LaborVIEW Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Simplify your employee management processes with Acumen employee time and attendance software. Eliminate redundant data entry by synchronizing databases using our workforce management software. Standalone, Journyx contains many employee management features, as well as HR management and employee self...


12. Smartwerks

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $119 per month
  • Aug 18, 2022
Compare Smartwerks Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Smartwerks is a cloud-based Point of Sale software with inventory and accounting solutions. It provides users with a platform where they can sell their products faster, optimize their inventory, reward customer loyalty, and manage item repairs.


13. Jewel Mate

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $3,500 per license
  • Sep 23, 2022
Compare Jewel Mate Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Jewel Mate is an on-premise point of sale and retail management solution that is designed to help jewelry stores to automate their operations and reduce the amount of labor done. The retailers and wholesalers are also beneficiaries of the solution since it helps them process the day to day activitie...


14. ConsignPro

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $129 per feature
  • Apr 27, 2022
Compare ConsignPro Vs. NetSuite for Retail

ConsignPro is retail software designed to manage the operations of resale and consignment businesses. The software offers an easy and intuitive management solution for the retailers. It was developed by Visual Horizons Software and launched in 1996. ConsignPro serves to regulate the sales revenue...


15. Liberty4 Consignment

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $750 per license
  • May 17, 2022
Compare Liberty4 Consignment Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Liberty4 Consignment is a comprehensive software tool designed for the management of consignment, thrift and resale stores. Its features include account management, inventory management and point of sale operations, consignor payments, report generation, email integration and word processing, multi-...


16. Diamond relations CRM

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $35 per user/month
  • May 18, 2022
Compare Diamond relations CRM Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Diamond Relations CRM is a web-based software tool for customer relationship management (CRM) designed for jewelers and jewelry retailers. Its main modules include marketing automation, sales automation and collaboration module and customer self service portal. The additional features of the softwar...


17. EDGE

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price:
  • May 18, 2022
Compare EDGE Vs. NetSuite for Retail

From space saving short bar loaders that handle 4” bars up to 60” in length to 12-foot and 6-foot magazine loaders that can feed up to 2” diameter - the EDGE line of bar feeders have both defined and established the standard in the segment we term “economical excellence”. Whether your needs are s...


18. My Axis Point

  • Best for: Start up, Small business, Medium business, Large business
  • Price: starts at $129 per month
  • May 25, 2022
Compare My Axis Point Vs. NetSuite for Retail

My Axis Point is a point of sale and retail solution for small and medium sized businesses. Its services include inventory management, customer management, accounting, and other capabilities. The software was developed and launched by Synderesis Technologies Inc headquartered in Colorado...


19. COMCASH Retail ERP

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $125 per license
  • May 25, 2022
Compare COMCASH Retail ERP Vs. NetSuite for Retail

COMCASH ERP is a retail management software solution for multi-channel and multi-location retailers. The software was designed by COMCASH, Inc., headquartered in California, United States. It offers a verity of cloud-based features for efficient regulation of your retail business. 


20. ECi RockSolid POS

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $5,995 per license
  • May 25, 2022
Compare ECi RockSolid POS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

ECi RockSolid POS is a point of sale solution, inventory management and accounts receivable system specially designed for lumber and hardware businesses. This software offers a way to create collaboration between a hardware store vendor and a team of expert developers.  The POS solution offered by t...


21. Storezigo

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $191.95 per year
  • Jun 12, 2022
Compare Storezigo Vs. NetSuite for Retail

StoreZigo is a retail and point of sale software for businesses to build, manage, and market businesses, reduce overhead costs, automate marketing tools, and create and receive reports.


22. Craftsman

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $78.50 per license
  • May 25, 2022
Compare Craftsman Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Craftsman is software that automates the sales operations of jewelers. Various features of the software deal with the sales, accounting and inventory management aspects of the business. The software was developed by Applications Systems Corporation based in Bosten, United States. Craftsman streamli...


23. SimpleConsign

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $129 per location/month
  • May 25, 2022
Compare SimpleConsign Vs. NetSuite for Retail

SimpleConsign is a cloud-based retail and point of sale system that is developed to be used by businesses and individuals. The solution is developed to be used in businesses of all sizes such as small-sized businesses, medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises in various industries such as cons...


24. Revel iPAD POS For Restaurants

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $99 per month
  • May 25, 2022
Compare Revel iPAD POS For Restaurants Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Revel iPad POS is a web based POS and retail management solution for businesses of all sizes. Its capabilities include customer management, inventory management, reporting, and others. The software was designed and launched by Revel Systems Inc headquartered in California, United States.


25. BusinessMind

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $195 per user/month
  • Jun 16, 2022
Compare BusinessMind Vs. NetSuite for Retail

BusinessMind is a point of sale management solution for jewelry businesses of all sizes. It offers such services as inventory management, accounting management, and reporting etc. The software was designed and launched by DCIT Corporation headquartered in New Jersey, United States.


26. Bindo POS

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $59 per user/month
  • Jun 17, 2022
Compare Bindo POS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Bindo POS is a retail and POS management system for businesses of all sizes. Its services include inventory management, order management, customer management, analytics, and others. The software was designed and launched by Bindo Labs Inc headquartered in New York, United States.


27. CellSmartPOS

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $45 per month
  • Jun 24, 2022
Compare CellSmartPOS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

CellSmartPOS is a point of sale and retail management solution for small and medium businesses. Its capabilities include inventory management, customer management, accounting management, and others. The software was designed and launched by CellSmartPOS headquartered in New York, United ...


28. Lightning Online

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $139 per license
  • Jun 24, 2022
Compare Lightning Online Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Lightning Online software is a cloud-based point of sale solution that is designed for various retailers. The solution offers a number of functionalities that include key demographics tool that views purchasing patterns and builds customer loyalty with their program.


29. FloristWare

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $149 per month
  • Jun 28, 2022
Compare FloristWare Vs. NetSuite for Retail

FloristWare is an on-premise and cloud-hosted POS (point of sale) software solution that is designed specifically for retail florists. The platform comprises of several applications that help enhance the operations of the retail business in the flower industry.


30. Restaurant Manager

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $199 per license
  • Jun 23, 2022
Compare Restaurant Manager Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Restaurant Manager is a Point Of Sale (POS) software that can be efficiently used in any food distribution points. This software can be easily tailored to fit the individual needs of any restaurant. Users can carry out a number of functions, including inventory management, ordering, mobile managemen...


31. Brightpearl Software

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price:
  • Jul 04, 2022
Compare Brightpearl Software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Brightpearl software is an advanced inventory management solution for wholesalers and retailers. The solution offers a number of features that include a bill of material tool that tracks raw material and converts them into finished goods.


32. My Inventory Online

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $19 per 2 users/month
  • Jul 09, 2022
Compare My Inventory Online Vs. NetSuite for Retail

My Inventory Online software is a web-based inventory & order management solution that targets small or medium-sized businesses. My Inventory Online helps firms to manage their inventory, customers, orders, suppliers, and more. Users can access their data from anywhere at any time due to its cloud f...


33. CAP Retail Point of Sale

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $99 per user/month
  • May 25, 2022
Compare CAP Retail Point of Sale Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Improve checkout, create happier customers, and grow your business. Powerful customer support. Zero hidden fees. No long-term contracts.


34. Banyon Utility Billing

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $3,400 per license
  • Mar 28, 2022
Compare Banyon Utility Billing Vs. NetSuite for Retail

We design, develop, support and train our popular, full-featured software for all public, non-profit entities, including cities, townships, towns, villages, boroughs, water districts, sewer districts, water and sewer commissions, electric utilities and cooperatives, tribal councils, utility boards, ...


35. POS Prophet Systems

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price:
  • Jul 15, 2022
Compare POS Prophet Systems Vs. NetSuite for Retail

POS Prophet Systems is a software product for point of sale (POS) services and retail management designed for retail and quick service restaurant (QSR) businesses. The product consists of selectable modules. There is the POSExpress QSR module and the equivalent POSExpress Retail module for restauran...


36. MMS Retail Management Software

  • Best for: Medium and large size businesses
  • Price:
  • Dec 20, 2022
Compare MMS Retail Management Software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

MMS Retail Management is a point of sale and retail solution for businesses of all sizes. The services included in the package are inventory management, employee management, business analytics, and others. The software was designed and launched by Master Merchant Systems headquartered in...


37. Vision9

  • Best for: Start up, Small business, Medium business, Large business
  • Price:
  • Jul 15, 2022
Compare Vision9 Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Vision9 is STORIS' newest software suite and is available in two options. For small to mid-size retailers, STORIS offers a SaaS model, which is an ideal subscription based service that provides the core business essentials with minimal IT overhead. For large retailers, STORIS' Enterprise Server so...


38. WinRetail

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $10,000 per license
  • Jul 15, 2022
Compare WinRetail Vs. NetSuite for Retail

WinRetail is a software tool for enterprise and point of sale (POS) management designed for mid-size retailers. The main features of the product are point of sale and order management, mobile POS, ecommerce, multi-sales channels, merchandise and assortment planning, pricing and promotion, purchase o...


39. RICS Enterprise Retail Software

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $249 per month
  • Jul 25, 2022
Compare RICS Enterprise Retail Software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

RICS Enterprise Retail Software is a software tool for point of sale (POS) service provision and retail management designed for medium and large businesses. Its main features include POS, inventory management, customer management and analytics and reporting. It has ecommerce and retail accounting fe...


40. Swim Jewellery Software

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $79 per month
  • Jul 26, 2022
Compare Swim Jewellery Software Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Swim Jewelry Software is a web based POS management software solution for jewelry businesses. The software was designed by Octahedron Pty Ltd., headquartered in Queensland, Australia. It offers various applications for retail accounting, CRM, inventory management and repair. 


41. mPower Beverage for Liquor Stores

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $120 per month
  • Jul 26, 2022
Compare mPower Beverage for Liquor Stores Vs. NetSuite for Retail

mPower Beverage is a cloud-based POS software that is designed specifically for wine stores, beer stores, and liquor stores, with features designed to solve and prevent management frustrations. Some of the integrated features include business intelligence, equipment leasing, quick cash register, rem...


42. CORESense

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $150 per month
  • Jul 26, 2022
Compare CORESense Vs. NetSuite for Retail

CORESense is end-to-end cloud based retail management software. The software offers solutions for e-Commence, order management, customer relationship and marketing all in one system. The software was developed and launched by CORESense Inc. which is headquartered in Saratoga Springs, New York. CO...


43. iVend Retail

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $160 per month
  • Jul 25, 2022
Compare iVend Retail Vs. NetSuite for Retail

iVend Retail is a cloud-based as well as an on-premise point of sale system for retailers as well as wholesalers. The software helps retailers in various industries manage their sales in one platform and makes sure that the process of selling is simplified.


44. RQ Retail Management

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $99 per month
  • Aug 02, 2022
Compare RQ Retail Management Vs. NetSuite for Retail

RQ is point of sale (POS) and retail management software designed for businesses selling wireless devices and services. Its core modules include point of sale, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM) and accounting and reconciliation and online shop widgets. Additional modules a...


45. PROBIS

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price:
  • Aug 05, 2022
Compare PROBIS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

ProBis is a CRM software that provides management tools and sales relationships for real estate companies. The software provides real-time analytics of a business sales force and that of commission structure and cost per lead analysis.


46. ARMS

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $1,999 per license
  • Aug 02, 2022
Compare ARMS Vs. NetSuite for Retail

ARMS is a retail and POS management software solution for small and medium retail businesses. It provides POS services in addition to inventory management, accounting, and CRM services. The software was designed and launched by Advanced Retail Management Systems headquartered in Nevada, United State...


47. Tylernet

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price:
  • Sep 08, 2022
Compare Tylernet Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Tylernet is a fast growing cloud-based Retail-POS software, it is designed to support small, medium and large size business. Tylernet received a rating of 4 from ITQlick team. The software cost is considered affordable (2.3/5) when compared to alternative solutions.


48. Register by AvidRetail

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $699 per license
  • Apr 25, 2022
Compare Register by AvidRetail Vs. NetSuite for Retail

AvidRetail is a point of sale and retail management solution for small and medium retailers. Its services include inventory management, employee management, accounting, and others. The software was designed and launched by AvidRetail headquartered in Ontario, Canada.


49. Retail Pro

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $11,000 per license
  • Sep 17, 2022
Compare Retail Pro Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Retail Pro software is a powerful point of sale and retail management solution. The solution has a number of features that include an end-to-end integration tool that integrates data from key retail applications.


50. PawnMaster

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $60 per month
  • Oct 01, 2022
Compare PawnMaster Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Pawnmaster is a cloud-based and on-premise business management software. Its developed to work well in small-sized businesses, medium-sized companies, and large-sized companies. The software help manage all activities in a business, thus allowing for more concentration on ensuring customers experien...


51. Cybex Enterprise Retail Suite

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $100 per user/month
  • Oct 04, 2022
Compare Cybex Enterprise Retail Suite Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Cybex Enterprise Retail Suite is an enterprise retail system that can help retailers with 5 to 300 retail stores. The complete retail suite offers inventory management, POS, distribution, warehouse management, merchandising, customer traffic, eCommerce and other necessary retail functions. The leadi...


52. MultiFlex RMS General Merchandise

  • Best for: SMBs
  • Price: starts at $895 per license
  • Oct 06, 2022
Compare MultiFlex RMS General Merchandise Vs. NetSuite for Retail

MultiFlex RMS is a point of sale and retail management solution for small and medium retail businesses. It offers services related to POS, e-commerce, customer management, inventory management, and other aspects. The software was designed and launched by Microhouse Systems Inc headquarte...


53. Runit RealTime

  • Best for: Small, medium and large size businesses
  • Price: starts at $258 per month
  • Oct 04, 2022
Compare Runit RealTime Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Runit RealTime is hosted point of service software for retail management designed for stores of various sizes. The main features of the product include eReceipts, business intelligence, ecommerce integration, inventory management, auto distribution, security customization and seamless credit card pr...


54. Gotmerchant-com

  • Best for: Small businesses and start ups
  • Price: starts at $39 per month
  • Oct 05, 2022
Compare Gotmerchant-com Vs. NetSuite for Retail

Gotmerchant.com is a free Point of Sale system designed for restaurants and retail with integrated gift and credit card processing features. Starting from software needs and support to hardware needs and training, Gotmerchant.com offers a complete point of sale system for retailers. Gotmerchant does...



A Buyer's Guide to Business Software Solutions

How to Evaluate and Buy Business Software
 
If you’re somehow puzzled if this article is only for a specific size of business, no, it’s not. This is for you SMEs, MNEs and start-ups software buyers. Also, we’re not talking about a specific software solution here. Whether the software solution that you’re planning to buy is for Accounting, Business Intelligence, ERP, CRM, Help Desk, Maintenance Management or other types of application, one thing is for sure; with the help of this article, you will be able to know the right process in evaluating and buying a business software solution.
 
We’ve been into the software business for years and we’re seeing a lot of nitty-gritty things that often bring confusions and hesitations to many companies looking for better software solutions. Some companies can’t afford to let go their legacy systems while a few is encountering technological snags once the new system is in place. While this is the underlying truth behind software acquisition and implementation, what’s exciting about buying a business software solution is that there is a clear and obvious proof that thousands of companies and corporations today are happy with the benefits this technology is bringing into their respective businesses.  There is a significant increase in their revenue and the growth is on-going. And it’s easy to say; many from the Fortune 500 companies are making a lot of money because of their smartly-acquired business software.
 
So, let’s get straight to the point. What should you do in order to acquire that business software that could make your organization achieve its goals? The answer to this is pretty straightforward: evaluate and buy that right business software. Yes, that’s what you need to do and here’s the best manual from ITQlick.com that could certainly help you in doing that strategically.
 
Consider the Needs of Your Organization
Let’s assume that at this point, the entire management team agreed that you are ready to invest on a certain software application. The budget has been compromised and the key persons who will be involved in the acquisition process were already identified. Therefore, it’s time to approach things the project management way.
 
Define the Project
Every business software solution is categorized base on application type, features, deployment model, market size and pricing model. Remember that our objective here is to evaluate and buy a business software product that will fit into the size and present needs of your business. So what the project management team should try to deal with first is to define the real requirements of your business exactly base on the categories set by the software industry. Moreover, by doing this activity, you are already narrowing down your search for the right solution. Now, consider bringing this list of FAQs to the project management and aim to come up with clear-cut answers.
 
  1. What type of software is needed? Is it Integrated-Suite, Best-of-Breed or Industry-Specific? Ask your CEO’s main agenda and find the perfect match from these available options.
  2. What are the core and secondary features? Are you looking for basic, advanced or hi-end features? List down the specific features per category and allow the department managers and supervisors to give their insights on this list.
  3. How are you going to deploy the system? Would it be on-premise, cloud-based, hosted, or mobile-based? Weigh these options with the help of your CIO.
  4. Are you going for Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 vendors? Their offered solutions are base on the size of their target market - SMEs, MNEs or start-ups. Seek your CFO’s advice as it is important to match your financial capacity against the cost of the solution that the providers have for you.
  5. Are you willing to pay for the perpetuity software license or a subscription-based solution is way better? How many users are there and what would be their roles in using the system? Solicit feedbacks from future end users for they know better what challenges and risks might possibly come along their way when they’re using the system.
 
Finalize the BOM or List of Requirements
After providing definite answers on the above questions, we can say that the project has already been defined. Your procurement team is now ready to do their role in the acquisition process of this solution. However, in order for them to execute their job properly, they must have the complete list of requirements - features, specifications, hardware, and the software product. In other words, the Bill-of-Materials (BOM) that is final, complete and well-prepared must be handed over to the procurement director. Needless to say, it is very important that everybody is following the company purchasing and procurement protocols at all times.  
 
Request for Proposal (RFP)
The RFP process will bring everything into formality. Since you’re more likely in a line of business that doesn’t regularly buy software products, it is of critical importance that your RFP is well-structured before you send it to your prospect solution providers.
 
Draft the RFP
An RFP that contains all the relevant information as discussed during the project management meetings will enable the providers to return back to you their proposal that is complete and substantial. Therefore, your RFP should basically contain the following:
 
Brief Introduction
  • Company Name
  • Mission and Goals
  • Purpose of the RFP (or the need for software solution)
Business Background
  • Organizational Structure
  • Current Situation (IT infrastructure, system currently in-use, system issues and desired solutions, etc.)
  • Major Objectives of the Software Purchase
Request for Specific Requirements
  • Solution Functionality
  • System Specifications
  • Vendor Company Information
  • Price Model, Service Plans, Package Options
Other Important Inquiries (if necessary)
 
Send the RFP
Well-structured RFP will bring a lot of advantages especially when the proposals from various providers are received and then subjected for review and analysis. Send your RFP to at least three to five providers (or prospects which you have already shortlisted during the project definition phase). Depending on the complexity of the solution, most vendors will send their proposal in a matter of time, which could be around 4 to 6 weeks for Integrated-Suite solution.
 
Why still send RFP?
Is there really a need for RFP if your preferred solution (like cloud-based) and the service plans or packages are already displayed on the vendor’s website? Well, yes, you still need to undergo the RFP process. For most sales people, they certainly know that those figures appearing in the vendor’s website are usually the “list price” and not the “actual price”. More importantly, the vendor’s proposal (response to RFP) will serve as your main basis for the negotiation. Therefore, sending an RFP is a strict requirement.
 
Follow up questions relevant to RFP
More often than not, questions and concerns will be raised by the vendors to whom you send the RFP. You have to entertain them with utmost professionalism. Solution providers who are seeking further clarifications relevant to the RFP are consisting of professional software experts who wants to help your organization as much as they can. Entertain them but at the same time, always be cautious when providing additional information which you know is confidential or proprietary.
 
Evaluate the Proposals
Always refer to your finalized BOM when tabulating the contents of each proposal. Part of this process is to check the features that are available from this certain vendor and to cross out those that are not. While using spreadsheet aids the tabulation process, laying down the document proposals on the table and allowing your project management team to review them one by one should always be conducted. Evaluating the proposals in full force can help strengthen your decision-making process. Have another round of brain-storming session and come with the name of your preferred solution provider.
 
When selecting the final vendor, always promote the best interest of your organization. Consider answering these questions with full sincerity.
 
  1. Which vendor can provide the long-term benefits to your organization?
  2. Which vendor can provide the best and honest service from acquisition to full implementation?
  3. Which vendor is willing to devote most of its time in better serving its client?
 
Contact this solution provider and in your own strategic approach, try to get the answers to those three important questions above. In most cases, vendor who really wants to prove its craft will offer product demos on a higher level. Others will even invite you to check their already deployed and working systems. Feel free to connect with this type of vendor. Conduct simulation and testing, be it a cloud-based or on-premise solution. Examine all aspects and angles especially those that your project management team want to really know in-depth. For as long as it could help you arrive at a better decision, consider doing all the options available – for the interest of the organization.
 
Enter the Negotiation Process
Most solutions providers can be flexible in terms of pricing. Although the final say is oftentimes on the mouth of the sales person from the vendor’s side, a good negotiation process can always deliver a win-win situation to both parties involve. While negotiation sometimes cannot be settled in one sitting session, always be honest with your intentions whenever negotiating with your provider. If it’s about your budget, justify it with clarity. If it’s about their service plans, tell them what’s lacking or missing on their solution. At the end of the day, the most important event that should happen is that both of you are shaking hands because of a well done negotiation process.
 
Seal the Contract
So what are you going to do on a contract that involves a significant amount of investment? There are three project management approaches for this.
 
  1. Pass the ball to you legal team. They know what to do and more or less they will tell you if there is something wrong with the contract. Give them enough time to review before they affix their signature and then finally seal the contract.
  2. Hire a consultant base on the technical aspect that you want to clarify in the contract. If it’s the Scope of Work (SOW), a software implementation expert is the right person. If it is related to complex legal terms and conditions, a lawyer can help. If it has something to do with money, invite an accountant to conduct a thorough review and computation if necessary.
  3. Always consider consulting your project management team. Remember that the CIO, CFO and CEO are all team members. They will be the signatories and they know what’s best for the interest of the company when signing a contract agreement.
 
From evaluation to buying stage, it is important that the project manager must take full responsibility of monitoring all the works identified and distributed among team members. This is why delegating the right project manager is also an important consideration when buying a business software solution. And again, ITQlick.com wants to emphasize that whatever the size of your company is, using the project management approach will always lead you into a better outcome – that is getting what you paid for the right business software solution. 

Finding the right business software for your business
Proper business software selections are the precursor to successful deployment and business growth. Finding the right solutions doesnít have to be complicated, and it doesnít have to take days or weeks of your time.

After researching over 5,000 systems, we can identify the best solution for companies of all shapes and sizes. ITQlick.com is 100% free for software buyers.



Auditor - Shlomi Lavi

Website Linkedin profile Facebook Twitter

Shlomi Lavi is an entrepreneur and founder of ITQlick.com. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Information Systems Engineering from Ben Gurion University in Israel. Shlomi brings 17 years of global IT and IS management experience as a consultant and implementation expert for small, medium and large-sized (global) companies. Shlomi’s goal is to share the best knowledge and news about information systems so you can make smarter buying decisions for your business.