16 best software for the management of SMEs and Self-Employed (Complete Guide)

Do you want to be more productive when managing your business? Do you know which are the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers?

software for the management of SMEs

If you continue reading we will give you answers to these questions, because next we are going to explain what criteria you must follow to choose the best business management tools . 

And in addition, we are going to give you a list of the best software for daily management of small and medium-sized companies with which you will be more efficient managing your business with minimum cost. Information is power, and here you have it.

more :- Management software for SMEs, do you need one?

Table of Contents

What is an SME management software for?
16 best platforms for SME management
Accounting and billing: Quipu
Office: Google Drive
CRM: Hubspot
Email marketing: Mailjet
Human Resources: Factorial HR
Task management: Google Tasks + Keep
Project management: Trello
Design tools: Canva
Social networks: Hootsuite
Web Analytics: Google Analytics
SEO: Semrush
Market research: Google Trends
Keywords: Google Ads + Search Console
Video conferences: Skype or Zoom
Time Manager: Rescue Time
Create website: Wordpress
How to choose a software for the management of SMEs
Benefits of having SME management software
Use Factorial to manage HR processes in your SME!

What is an SME management software for?

Today it is difficult to conceive the idea of ​​a company that, regardless of its size or industry, does not make use of the innumerable amount of IT tools that exist just a click away.

But when we talk specifically about SMEs, management platforms basically allow flexibility and automation of workflows that can often demand many hours and imply that people from other areas must deal with them.

Due to the nature of small and medium-sized companies, there is a high demand for work to be done and little manpower to carry out these tasks. For this reason, outsourcing or outsourcing services is often a good option.

While there is a belief that dedicated digital tools for businesses are expensive, this is not necessarily true. Most of this type of software includes free versions, demos and freemium versions that limit some features or provide 100% software but for a limited time. In addition to this, there are government programs such as the Digital Kit, which make it even easier to purchase.

Some of the tasks that can be performed with management software for SMEs are:

16 best platforms for SME management

It is always very exciting to start a business project, but for it to be successful it is necessary not only to invest money but also to effectively carry out a multitude of tasks. And since this is not easy at all, it is essential to have a series of computer programs that allow you to manage a business in a much simpler and more organized way.

This will save time and improve productivity. But not all programs are valid. To properly manage a business it is necessary to have only the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers. 

Accounting and billing: Quipu

Quipu  is an accounting program in the cloud, which allows you to carry out the administrative and financial management of your business in a simple way. Its software allows you to control the real status of your accounts, automate the reading of income and expenses from its app, control bank movements or fill in taxes automatically.

In addition, it allows you to communicate all your information with a certified advisor. A very complete program at a very competitive price that you can also get now with an exclusive €30 discount by entering the promotional code: FACTORIAL30

Office: Google Drive

By simply creating a Gmail account you have a word processor, spreadsheets, and you can make presentations. All documents are Microsoft Office compatible. The greatest advantage that you can find with Google Drive is the possibility of working online and with several people at the same time from any device (PC, tablet or mobile), because everything is in the cloud. 

You can also use Google Drive  as data storage, because it allows you to save all the information in the cloud safely and for free up to 15 GB.

CRM: Hubspot

Hubspot CRM  stands out among the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers . The reason is because it allows you to manage numerous online tasks totally free, among them you can store contacts, manage emails and record your activities in an unlimited way. In short, it integrates everything you need to boost your sales.

Email marketing: Mailjet

Its free version allows you to send 200 emails a day using its gallery with many templates and creating your own with an intuitive editor. If you need to send more emails, this tool will still be 5 times cheaper than Mailchimp, because they charge you for the number of emails sent, and not for the number of people you have in your contact list. In addition, both the technical support and its interface are available in Spanish.

Human Resources: Factorial HR

It is a Spanish application to facilitate human resource management tasks. Its free version is for up to 10 invited employees and the paid version is one of the cheapest on the market. What it allows you to do is: manage absences and vacations, time control (which is now mandatory), payroll incidents, create HR reports.

On the other hand, it is a magnificent document manager and you have the possibility of using the electronic signature. With Factorial HR your employees will be able to consult their data and request absences or vacations. In the end you can save with HR management.

Task management: Google Tasks + Keep

Surely you already know Google tools like Gmail or Google Calendar, but few people notice the 2 buttons on the right sidebar with 2 extensions: Google Tasks and Google Keep. Google Tasks is used to share, plan and organize the progress of your tasks, while Google Keep allows you to create, edit and share notes with all kinds of information through the notes file. These 2 applications together with Gmail and Calendar save you a lot of time!

Project management: Trello

It is a free online tool of the most complete that exists to organize work. Trello is ideal for the coordination of work teams, it is easy and intuitive. The ability to collaborate, add images, files, comments, in addition to having mobile applications for Android and iOS, make it the best free application to manage projects.

Design tools: Canva

It is one of the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers in terms of design. Canva makes it easy to create original designs for the web or for print such as invitations, presentations, social media covers, and more.

In addition, it has a library of designs so you can choose the one that best suits your needs, and you can customize it with your brand. Its free version is more than enough because it is very powerful.

Social networks: Hootsuite

It is a web and mobile platform to manage social networks from a single place. From  Hootsuite you will be able to know what people are saying about your brand, schedule posts for multiple accounts and follow the interactions that occur. It has different payment plans but it has a free version.

Web Analytics: Google Analytics

It is completely free and provides a multitude of metrics so you can measure the efficiency of your advertising campaigns as well as analyze your website traffic. With  Google Analytics you will be able to know the performance of your website.

SEO: Semrush

It is the most complete tool that exists to analyze the effectiveness of your seo and sem strategies. It also allows you to analyze your competition. The only downside to  Semrush is that its free version is quite limited.

Market research: Google Trends

It is a free tool to know the trends on the Internet. Google Trends shows which keywords are the most searched for by people at that moment.

Keywords: Google Ads + Search Console

This  keyword planner is a free google ads tool to find the most searched keywords around a specific topic. Google Search Console is an essential free web application for any business, since it allows you to analyze which of the contents of your website are the most interesting to your leads.

Video conferences: Skype or Zoom

Skype is one of the best free applications to communicate by video or voice. There is a fairly new software, it is called Zoom , similar to Skype, but it is used to make videoconferences between two or more people, and it also has an online whiteboard and chat.

Time Manager: Rescue Time

It is one of the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers to measure the productivity of your work. With  Rescue Time you will be able to analyze how you spend your work hours. It also provides tools to help improve your productivity.

Create website: WordPress

It is the best platform to create websites and blogs given its ease of use. It has payment plans and a limited free version in its  wordpress.com version , which includes hosting and domain. In its  wordpress.org version , its plans are all free, but you must hire separate hosting and domain.

How to choose a software for the management of SMEs

Having a business management program is an investment. And for this investment to be profitable for your business, you must be very careful when choosing your program among those available on the market.
As general advice, I will tell you that  the best tools for SMEs are those that best adapt to their needs .

But there are more important criteria that you should also take into account when selecting the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers:

• Budget : It is not recommended to use pirated computer applications, they will be of little use to your business. In addition, today there are quality programs that are free and even those that are paid have free versions for you to try. It is better to start with free applications, and as your business grows you can invest in a paid program.
• Cloud programs : Today cloud programs are widely used, they are programs that allow data to be stored and accessed through the Internet instead of being stored on a computer's hard drive. This saves space on your computer.
• Serious provider : Always choose a computer application provided by a provider that you have good references for and that has years of experience.
• Program adapted to your business : Always take into account the different characteristics of your business project, and based on this, choose the software that will best adapt to said characteristics. For example, consider the size of your business, if you have workers in your charge, if your business is physical or online, etc.
• Software comparators: if you are hesitating between several programs for your company, a software comparator can help you make the decision and choose the one that best suits based on its functionalities

Benefits of having SME management software

A few years ago, it was very cumbersome to manage an SME or a business, because there were no computer applications to do the accounting, to invoice or to carry out a marketing plan. Everything was practically done by hand, and this wasted a lot of time to those who performed these tasks. 

Fortunately, advances in technology, and specifically in the Internet, have allowed the existence of all kinds of computer applications with which business management has been automated. No freelancer or SME should be left without them to undertake successfully.

Some of the main advantages of having a management platform for SMEs are:

• Resource savings.
  It may be a trite phrase, but any entrepreneur knows that "time is money" is an irrefutable mantra. Management software helps to do more in less time, whether thanks to the cloud or big data, automating tasks so that workers can dedicate themselves to tasks that add value and contribute to achieving business objectives.
  
  
• Improves the work environment.
  Being able to manage time efficiently implies distributing the workload more efficiently and, therefore, effectively improving the work environment. This translates into an optimal employee experience for your employees who will not have to face the stress of everyday life every working day.
  
  
• Increased productivity.
  More time for tasks oriented to commercial objectives and a better mood thanks to the organization's climate, make work motivation reign and therefore productivity. This means workers who perform better and at ease.

Managing a business or an SME entails performing a multitude of complex tasks that require a lot of time. To be more productive and efficient in such management, it is essential to have the best software for daily management of SMEs and freelancers.

It is not easy to choose them among all those that are sold in the market. To facilitate this choice, it is recommended that you know what the needs of a certain business project are and thus be able to choose the ones that best suit those needs.

• Article that might interest you: Best Business Management Programs in 2021

Delegate your HR tasks to software specially developed to suit your needs. Try Factorial now and feel the difference.

Management software for SMEs, do you need one?

 Managing a small or medium-sized business is not easy, but the implementation of management software for SMEs can make it much easier.

employee management software for small business

Knowing how to manage the limited resources that SMEs have is the best way to increase productivity and business growth . Next, we explain what management software can do for your business and how to implement it.

What is management software?

A management software is a computerized system made up of different tools that are integrated for the management of tasks and processes.

In addition, this system allows the daily and continuous management of the different processes , since it makes it possible to create, consult, modify, merge or delete the different actions. 

Management software , in many cases, can be used as a team and from different devices and allow remote management, which helps with work-life balance and telecommuting in an SME.

Why should an SME have management software?

The optimization of tasks and the control of the company's management are factors that motivate SMEs to have management software . With it , repetitive and routine tasks are simplified and automated , which are carried out quickly and minimizing the margin of error.

Having a management program for SMEs allows you to spend less time on management and more on other activities such as innovation, company growth, sales strategies or the search for new business opportunities.

What is a management software for in small and medium-sized companies?

Companies are divided into different areas and these comprise a large number of tasks that, in many cases, depend on information from other departments. All the work that is generated in a company is very difficult to manage if there is no management software .

Not having this tool multiplies the execution time of the activities, prevents having a 360° control of the organization, contributes to the loss of valuable information and makes it much more difficult to foresee or plan aspects of the processes.  

Management software for SMEs have various functions and advantages :

Analysis of data

These systems allow exhaustive monitoring, with data in real time, from the purchase of raw materials, to delivery to the customer and post-sale. 

Profit margin 

A management software records all the information necessary to calculate profit margins accurately, quickly and automatically. 

Automation

Previously, companies focused more on the automation of the production system. However, with the digital transformation, automation has been extended to all tasks and activities in order to work more efficiently.

business management 

These systems allow you to manage your business and resources from the office or remotely, they are totally flexible and adaptable. 

Due to the events of this last year, companies have had to prepare quickly to manage the business in different circumstances, and management software is the best tool to maintain its stability in the face of any eventuality.

Human and technical resources

The management software helps to intelligently and objectively manage all the company's human resources, since it helps to plan, manage, evaluate and motivate the people who work within the organization. 

Security

Companies are obliged to safeguard their data and information. The management software has up-to-date security measures, which help establish effective cybersecurity guidelines so that all information is safe.

Cost reduction

Having multiple systems or outdated digital tools only increases operating costs. That is why companies notice a considerable reduction in costs when they implement management software .

Reliable and optimized information

Management software eliminates data duplication, modifies information in real time, offers backup copies, collects data automatically and optimizes information to make it reliable.

shared information

These types of computer systems are capable of sharing information in real time with people from any department regardless of their physical location. In this way, for example, purchases automatically know when a raw material is out of  stock , or accounting has access to each sale made at the moment.

Types of management software for SMEs

Business management software

One of the most widely used is ERP ( Enterprise Resource Planning ) . This type of program is designed to manage the company in an integral way .

ERP management software for small and medium-sized businesses can be found with very affordable solutions, but in many cases these management systems are too big or generic. The solution is to integrate them with vertical management software that adapts to the sector and the specific activities of your business.

Business management software

For commercial management, the ideal is to have a CRM ( Customer Relationship Management ) . It is a program in charge of managing customer relationships . Thus, its main function is to control and manage the entire commercial part of the company.

Warehouse Management Software

This software allows the management and control of the activities and products of a company's warehouse. It is fast, reliable and helps to obtain real-time information on the units in stock , the location of the products, logistics, etc.

BI ( Business Intelligence )

This tool manages all the data that exists in the organization, since it integrates all the management systems that are managed. That is, it gathers, cleanses and transforms system data and unstructured information and converts it all into structured information, ready for analysis.

How to choose the right SME management software

When a company is looking for the best management software , the first thing they usually consider is price. However, that is not the most important factor, the following should also be considered :

• Persons. How many people will use the software ? A system for 20 people is not the same as for 500 or 10,000. What are your needs? It is necessary to take into account whether the team always works in person at the office or not, what access to information will be like, etc.

• Customers. On the one hand, how the sale is executed, what customization is required, what customer information is stored. On the other hand, how will customer service be carried out and what is the sales and after-sales process.

• Business. It must be clear whether business growth is planned in the coming years. Also, management software should have a short learning curve.

• Price. One thing is the price and another is the value of the tool, it is about choosing a management software that meets the value criteria of your company and that also has an affordable price.

• Personalization. It is necessary to consider if the management software is flexible, that is, if it allows some type of customization or adaptation to the needs of the organization.

Management programs for SMEs, local or in the cloud?

There are management programs on the market for SMEs that work locally and others that do so in the cloud. To choose the most suitable for your company, you must know what each of them consists of:

• Local management software . This type of software is installed on the organization's own intranet to be used on the different equipment and computers within the office.
• Cloud management software . In this type of management system, the software is accessible from anywhere, you just need to have an internet connection. This is a great advantage for companies that work with teams in different locations, that promote remote work or whose employees travel frequently.

Ekon Cloud ERP for SMEs

Thanks to our experience in management platforms, at Ekon we can help you choose the software you need. We focus on innovation so that SMEs have access to modern systems that can accompany them in their growth.

We offer management systems with technological advances and constant updates that adapt to market requirements.

What areas does Ekon management software cover:

Phases for the implementation of management software in an SME

1. Planning. In this stage, the technical and human resource needs of the company are defined and analyzed.
2. Definition. Once it has been understood how the business works and its needs, the management software that will be implemented in the SME is defined.
3. Setting. At this stage, the management software is configured and adapted to the company. Tests, integrations with other systems and corresponding checks are also carried out to ensure that everything works properly.
4. Implementation. During this phase, the system is started up and periodic controls are carried out to correct errors or introduce adaptations according to the company's operation.

It is clear that, if the objective of your SME is to be competitive, it must have the capacity for agile growth and have control over its different processes. For this, it is essential that you have good management software for SMEs.

Become an expert in sales enablement strategies

Learn everything you need to know about sales enablement strategy and tips to create content that will drive your sales.

In an increasingly competitive market that seeks consumer attention, it is not enough to offer a better quality product or at the best price.

For people to be interested in your business and, as a consequence, sell more, it is essential to create a sales enablement strategy .

After all, with so many resources and tools available in the market, it is necessary to take advantage of each one of them to meet business objectives and demands.

The main objective of developing such a strategy is to prepare the sales team, in order to create the most favorable scenario for the conversion.

However, do you know what it takes to create an efficient sales enablement strategy for your business success and what skills are required to play a productive role in that process?

Read on to get all the facts on the subject and increase your sales performance!

• What is sales enablement and what are its benefits? 
• What should a sales enablement professional keep in mind? 
• What skills are needed to be successful in this job?
• How to create a sales enablement strategy from scratch?
• What content formats work well in a sales enablement strategy? 
• What is sales enablement and what are its benefits?

Before showing you how to apply a sales enablement strategy, it is essential to understand what it means.

In practice, it is a collaborative planning that involves different areas of the company to create content and materials that facilitate the work of the salesperson.

In a widely contested market, consumers increasingly value a positive experience in every contact with companies.

Therefore, the objective of applying a sales enablement strategy is to facilitate and bring the relationship between the two parties closer, boosting the sales potential of the team.

The main benefit of this strategy is to increase the effectiveness of your company's actions.

The idea is that the salesperson has as much information as possible about the potential customer, due to the integration between the Sales and Marketing teams.

The alliance between the two areas tends to generate more useful information for your company.

It aims to avoid wasting time and resources on useless content, which, according to a SiriusDecisions survey, represents 60% of what companies produce.

Thus, you can offer content that is relevant to the consumer and, in addition to lead generation work , facilitate your team's negotiations.

What should a sales enablement professional keep in mind?

Professionals and experts in sales enablement strategies must take into account their main challenges and tasks.

The first of these is to create content that is relevant to the audience and that can be used by the seller.

In addition, it is also their responsibility to prepare the professionals involved in the process to use the solutions correctly.

In terms of tools, they are essential for efficient sales enablement work, as they will allow your team to obtain more practical information about the consumer.

It is also the job of this professional to find and use strategies that increase the possibilities of doing new business, such as cross selling or cross selling, for example.

What skills are needed to be successful in this job?

Some characteristics are essential for the professional who assumes this position, otherwise they will not be able to improve the performance of the sales team. These particularities or abilities are the following:

Be a good communicator

Communication is essential for the professional responsible for implementing a sales enablement strategy to be successful.

After all, he will have to deal with different professionals and make the connection between the different sectors of the company.

Therefore, communication should be as transparent as possible to ensure that everyone understands their roles.

Organizational skills

Another critical point is the organization, since professionals will have this type of demand in their work routine.

It is necessary to organize all the required functions, so that the departments work in an integrated way, avoiding rework and planning errors that damage the entire strategy.

Be a data-driven thinker

It is essential to have technology and the enormous amount of information that a company generates.

For this reason, a necessary skill to be successful in the role is to be data-driven, that is, to use it to make more precise and efficient decisions, always based on detailed studies and analysis.

Promote a healthy organizational climate Whether it's adding a new member or getting the most out of each salesperson, knowing how to deal with the people on the team is critical.

The leader responsible for implementing the sales enablement strategy must manage the professionals well.

Put the focus on constant improvement

Another important skill is to always look for ways to improve performance and work.

In other words, it implies not being satisfied with the results obtained and always looking for tools, solutions and ideas that can make the project even more efficient and accurate.

How to create a sales enablement strategy from scratch?

How can you create and apply an efficient sales enablement strategy within your company?

To help you do this, we will present below a step-by-step approach with all the tips and points to keep in mind if you want to start your own strategy from scratch and get more sales.

Step 1: set clear goals The first step in implementing an efficient sales enablement strategy is determining your goals and aligning them to actions. In other words, do an in-depth analysis and discover errors, faults and difficulties. Then think about the situations you want to improve. 

 Step 2: talk to the sales team What follows is the time to understand the difficulties of the department that will benefit the most from the implementation of this strategy: the sales team . So talk to your members and identify what you can do to improve focus and, of course, to increase sales. This will give you information so that your strategy is really efficient. 

 Step 3: understand your audience's behavior Understanding the behavior of your audience is another fundamental point. It is not only about data and demographic information, but also what they are looking for and what are their main difficulties. So find out what can help you get their attention that will increase your chances of selling. 

 Step 4: don't forget the customer journey It's also important to configure your sales enablement strategy in sync with the customer journey .

Analyze the sales funnel and take into account the needs of your potential customers at this time.

As a consequence, you will also be able to identify with greater precision which content is the most appropriate.

Step 5: select the contents Now is the time to determine what content you will use in your sales enablement strategy. What will be efficient at each point of contact? How will the seller use this content to promote the conversation and increase the chances that the potential customer will make a purchase?

 Step 6: prepare the team for work When defining the strategy, it is necessary to prepare all professionals to implement these actions. Marketers, for example, must create content with a specific goal. At the same time, salespeople need to understand that they must always analyze their conversations to identify areas for improvement. 

 Step 7: grab your tools The next challenge is to gather all the tools you will need to put your sales enablement strategy into action. What resources and solutions can be used to facilitate human work? These points must be carefully evaluated, especially to choose useful tools for your objectives.

 Step 8: Analyze Even when the strategy is in place, the job is still far from done, as now is the time to regularly monitor the results. 

What difficulties arose? 
What materials are working well?
The analysis must be constant. What content formats work well in a sales enablement strategy? 

Now that you know what the sales enablement strategy is, why it is important, and how to implement it, how about checking out some content formats that you could use?

For inspiration, look at some examples that your company can use for different purposes, always aiming for more sales.

Lead generation To improve lead generation, you can use blog posts, white papers, and case studies. The objective at this stage is to get the user to take an interest in your company and help them solve their problems. 

Team support As we said, it's important to prepare your team to handle sales, as only 16% of salespeople say they are ready for the job, according to IDC research . 

 To do this, the most appropriate types of content are forms and spreadsheets that contain information on the performance of the competition. Sales conversion When it comes to making sales, the ideal option is to invest in really interesting content.

 A growing trend is personalized interactive content , which can be produced with the help of tools like Ion Interactive. You can generate better sales results. Creating a sales enablement strategy is essential to boost the performance of your entire team.

 Since there is so much competition, you should do your best to ensure that users always have a good experience with your content and, most importantly, that your sales team is prepared to deal with these solutions. 

Interactive content not only captures the user's attention, it also provides the information that the marketer needs to take a more precise approach and have a better chance of generating conversions. So how about you learn more about Ion Interactive and its features? Here you will find all the information !