When a company updates their product they usually tout it as "new and improved." Unfortunately, sometimes that statement is just a lot of hype. It may be different but that doesn't guarantee that it is better. How do you know whether you should switch to the new version? Are there ways to tell if the changes are good for you or not? Yes! Keep reading for some tips on how to make smart decisions about updates and to learn more about Stockpile free small business inventory system.
The More You Know
The more you know about your current product and how you use it the better off you'll be when it comes time to make a decision. If you are the person who uses this product or system regularly you have a good idea of what works well and what bugs you about it. If you're not, talk to the people who use it often. They likely have a running list of what they love and what they wish they could change. Then it's a simple matter of comparing their wants and needs to the list of new features in the product you're considering.
Read Reviews
Don't rely on marketing materials. Of course, the company releasing the update is going to say that it is the greatest thing ever. They're not going to tell you if they rushed it to market or if it has annoying bugs that will cause you issues. They want you to invest in their product. If you want the real scoop you need to read unbiased reviews from actual users. These are the people who will tell it like it really is. If they regret making the switch they are probably going to be really vocal about it and this will give you good data to make your own decision.
Is It Worth It?
Once you've decided that there are new features that you'd like you need to weigh the cost versus the benefit. If the new features aren't ones that you'll actually use they aren't worth spending money on. If they won't improve your day to day usage of the product they may only be worth a small investment. You need to determine whether the functionality you'll gain is worth the cost. If your current product does the job and the new version isn't going to provide much additional benefit you may be better off skipping this one.
Learning Curve
Don't forget to consider the learning curve. If this version works just like your old one this is non-issue. Often, however, new versions are slightly more complex or just include some changes that mean you have to learn a new way of operating. Research the changes so that you know whether you'll need to train employees or not and estimate how difficult it will be for them to adjust. Rolling a new system that is complicated and will cause work delays needs to be timed right. Making big changes during your busy season can stress out employees and frustrate customers. Waiting for a slower time will allow everyone to adjust more easily.
Easy Updates
Stockpile is updated regularly to provide new features and functionality. These upgrades are available for free and easily integrate with the current system so there is little to no learning curve involved. Your inventory is always moving and changing and your inventory system needs to be able to keep up. Stockpile makes it easy to update your records from wherever you are. Because Stockpile is mobile compatible you can access and update records on the go. Thanks to areas and locations you can be very specific about where items are stored. This makes it easy to keep track of where items are located. Running reports is a simple process as well. Stockpile takes the headaches out of inventory management. Don't take our word for it. Try Stockpile today!
