subject: Most Useful Enterprise Software of 2010 [print this page] Most Useful Enterprise Software of 2010 Most Useful Enterprise Software of 2010
2010 has been another marquee year for software developers and the tech industry as a whole. With Mark Zuckerberg taking the prize for Time Magazine's man of the year, it seems appropriate to reflect on the most useful, standout software products of the past year. From brand name enterprise solutions to upstart new kids on the block, usability and usefulness are the emerging design trends in software production. Let's take a moment to reflect on which products have provided the best value to business users over the last year.
Communication
Snap-in VOIP solutions have experienced major growth over the course of 2010. With Google Voice finally opening up to the world and more companies scrambling for virtual PBX services to help connect their employees, IP phone communication has become a hot trend. Given the range of upstarts, no company has provided a better product at a better end value than RingCentral. From small virtual phone plans designed for mobile professionals to full-service, virtual PBX offerings with integrated FAX, RingCentral aims to service a large market space. The company has pushed the limits of virtual PBX technology offering ultra competitive products that force many companies to reconsider their existing on-site PBX hardware.
Email Marketing Software
Let's face it, email marketing platforms have existed for some time now. Given the breadth of available products to choose from, which company has emerged as the leading provider of enterprise email marketing technology? With a long track record and proven ability to service both small and large companies, Constant Contact remains the leader in this industry. Started way back in 1998, Constant Contact is not exactly a young upstart in the industry. Despite their established foundations this enterprise technology provider has branched out into event marketing, online surveys and even social media marketing. Even with their new products, Constant Contact still holds true to a simple, user-friendly email marketing interface that helps ensure your organization is CAN-SPAM compliant.
Applicant Tracking Software
While applicant tracking has long been considered a backwater in the enterprise software market, this once sleepy sector has truly experience a renaissance in 2010, in no small part due to fresh industry innovators. Newton Software has stormed the market offering a slick, web-based product designed specifically to increase collaboration and decrease your overall cost per a hire. This slick recruiting software offers comprehensive applicant tracking features with an obsessive emphasis on product usability. The small team at Newton has reinvigorates the notoriously clumsy hiring software market with their new product offering that promises ease of use and end results.
Content Management Software
Anyone who has ever managed a medium to large corporate website knows the value of a content management system. Unless you have a corporate web developer on staff, web pages can get out of date or shredded in no time. A content management system offers a simple method for front line employees to contribute to your corporate web presence and keep content relevant. While 2010 has seen a major push for both Drupal and Joomla, WordPress takes the cake. Once known only as a blogging engine, many web developers have adopted the software as a lightweight content management system. WordPress now forms the foundation for many user-friendly corporate sites. The addition of templates and a wide variety of easy to install plugins makes WordPress a fantastic foundation for any company's website.
Accounting Software
Given that tax season is just around the corner, it seemed appropriate to include accounting software in the list. While many people might cringe at the suggestion, Quickbooks has gone a long way towards revamping their image in 2010. Intuits major small business accounting product has gone out of their way to revamp their interface, integrate with online banking systems and push things to the web. This move towards greater usability earns Quickbooks the coveted nod for most usable accounting software product of 2010.
As 2010 comes to a close, let us all reflect on the software design paradigms that emerged over the course of the last year. After a comprehensive review of multiple software offerings, it becomes clear that usability is beginning to trump the previous feature battles that were once so commonplace in the software market. As your company adopt s new software products, keep an eye out for the avant-garde of this usability trend. Products that are both effective and easy to use are more likely to continue servicing your corporate needs for years to come.
