Business software is a set of computer programs designed to assist with the management and performance of a business which can increase productivity and accuracy. They are used for a variety of functions, including customer relationship management, project management, sales force automation, and financial accounting. Numerous types of business applications are in existence and each one is tailored to the specific needs of the industry that it is targeting.
For instance, a business that sells products online can benefit from powerful features such as customer relationship management software, which enables greater transparency and trust to be built with customers. This kind of software can also provide valuable insights into the company’s performance in terms of how its marketing is performing or how effective its website is at making potential customers.
Business software is widely used and has played an important role in the development of numerous businesses around the world. Business application software was originally developed for white-collar workers, using large mainframe computers to automate tasks like processing bank cheques and manufacturing accounting. Later, word processors such as Word Perfect and Microsoft Word saw the decline of the IBM typewriter, and mathematical spreadsheet applications like Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel became extremely popular among corporate users.
Certain business software is interactive. This means that users can alter data and get results instantly. Other software for business runs in batch mode, which means that it can be programmed to run on a schedule and produce reports without the involvement of users. When a glitch in the software of a business occurs, a team is tasked with resolving the issue in order to allow users back to their jobs. This is called business application support.