The technology company, Zoho Corporations, on Tuesday, offered guidance to non-technology companies on how to select software products to support remote and on-site working requirements in the face of COVID-19.

Mr. Andrew Bourne, Zoho’s Country Manager for the African region, said in a statement in Lagos that local businesses should make their operations digital and remote at a much faster pace as a result of the pandemic.

Bourne said that some of the considerations for a non-techie to select suitable software would include the bigger picture, prioritizing privacy, easy integration, and the right pricing.

According to him, working from home has become the de-facto way of operation for many, prompting businesses to take a hard look at whether their software solutions are standing up to their work-from-home needs.

”The sheer number of software solutions available for businesses, combined with rapid technological innovation, can make the choice extremely difficult.

”Although there is something to suit virtually every need, it is important for businesses to take time to ensure they choose solutions that not only fulfill those needs but also work together so that decision-makers have a cohesive and comprehensive picture of the business at all times,” Bourne said.

According to him, in selecting software, there is a need to consider the bigger picture by clearly defining business software needs, as well as prioritizing goals that the tools need to help business owners to achieve.

He said that the right software solutions would streamline operations and increase efficiency in a logical, easy-to-use way, and allow the user to focus on the work rather than the application.

The country manager said that as technology users were aware of basic online security, they should be demanding more of software solutions to ensure data privacy and security.

According to him, privacy factors, including data protection, file encryption, and cloud security, should be taken into consideration and discussed with the software providers to ensure a solution that guarantees privacy at the highest level.

Bourne said that software solutions should be integrated in a seamless way to improve productivity by speeding up the flow of information through departments.

He said that the best solution at the most competitive price would be the most desirable way to go, but said it would be important to ensure value for money, irrespective of the brand.