Best Business Management Software Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best business management software systems that I’ll cover in this article, with detailed summaries below:
Business management software helps businesses become more competitive. They create a central repository for company data so decision-makers can build efficient roadmaps and work toward growing their business. They’re suitable for companies of all sizes, from early-age startups to large corporations, enabling them to automate, track, and optimize different aspects of their operations, such as inventory, finances, human resources, and customer relationships.
Read my review to discover the best business management software you can use today. My review includes screenshots and descriptions for each tool that made the list and a comparison chart so you can easily spot the right tool for your company.
What is Business Management Software?
Business management software is a type of solution that stores and interprets your company data, enabling you to plan the future of your organization. These tools address specific business needs and allow you to make smart decisions based on what’s happening in your organization and your short and long-term goals.
They can help you streamline a wide range of business operations, including project management, finance & accounting, customer experience, resource management, and more.
Overviews of the 10 Best Business Management Software
Here’s a brief description of each business management software that showcases each system’s best use case, standout features, and pros & cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their user interface too.
Connecteam
Best business management software for non-desk teams
Connecteam is a business management system that helps organizations oversee their non-desk workers.
Why I picked Connecteam: Connecteam helps you keep track of your team’s workload, assign tasks, run recognition programs, schedule shits, and plan events, all in a single platform. The software offers optimized mobile apps for iOS and Android, so your team can clock in, track tasks, and punch out while on the go.
Connecteam helps you simplify your business operations. Your team can pick up open shifts and track their time, and you can export their timesheets directly into a payroll software or use them to create accurate reports. The mobile app sends your team members real-time notifications, so you can give them a heads up about ad-hoc tasks to add to their schedules with ease.
Connecteam Standout Features and Integrations
Features include time tracking, workforce management, task management, forms and checklists, an in-app chat, a knowledge base, event planning, and surveys.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and others.
Pros
- Very simple to use, even for people who are not into tech
- Great chat feature
- Location tracking
Cons
- Setting up all your schedules and processes can be time-consuming
- Mobile app may lag for a bit when users upload large image files
Deel
Best business management software for managing a global team
Deel is a complete global workforce management software that enables hiring in over 150 countries. You can hire both full-time employees and contractors globally, and manage their payroll, compliance, and administration from a single platform.
Why I picked Deel: The software acts as an employer of record and handles pay and benefits administration. This makes it easy to hire international employees without opening a foreign entity. You can also manage contracts, expenses, time off requests, and other HR admin tasks through the system.
The Slack plugin helps facilitate core tasks all through Slack, to reduce app-switching and keep things centralized and simple. You can send out automated company announcements, and set up workflows for employee referrals, time off requests, onboarding, and more. Employees can also respond to pulse surveys and access your company org chart through Slack.
Deel Standout Features and Integrations
Features include global payroll, global mobility support, integrated Slack tools, and advanced integrations. Their global mobility service helps companies with visa sponsorship, allowing them to bring in candidates from abroad.
Integrations include Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, SCIM, Xero, Workday, and Workable. An Open API is also available to build custom integrations.
Pros
- Tailored for international organizations
- Managed by 200+ local legal and tax compliance experts
- Simplifies payroll using multiple currencies
Cons
- No free trial available
- Overlapping plan features require custom pricing
Wrike
Best business management software for Agile teams proof
Wrike is a business management software that helps Agile teams manage sprints, track their progress, and share their reports with stakeholders.
Why I picked Wrike: Wrike offers customizable templates for Agile teams. The templates help you create an effective system that takes into consideration the workload capacity of every member of your team, from Scrum master to developer.
Wrike enables you to set up Agile sprints and manage your daily standups with ease. The software allows you to prioritize your backlog and keep your stakeholders in the loop by sharing custom reports. You can use the tool’s Custom Item Types to personalize your dashboard with Epics, Notes, Stories, and everything else you might need.
Wrike Standout Features and Integrations
Features include Gantt charts, Kanban boards, project resource planning, dynamic form requests, feedback and approval, custom items, personalized dashboards, and automation.
Integrations include ADP, Airbrake, Airtable, BambooHR, Box, Clearbit, Dropbox, HubSpot, IBM Watson, Intercom, and others.
Pros
- You can program forms to automatically create tasks
- Creates a central location for your team’s communication
- Collaboration tool simplifies cross-department communication
Cons
- Only payments in USD are currently available
- Editing or moving tasks in the mobile app could be easier
Homebase
Best business management software for iOS and Android mobile compatibility
Homebase is a cloud-based business management software that helps team leaders manage their employees, schedules, and time tracking. It's designed to make life easier for both managers and employees by streamlining the process of creating and managing schedules, tracking hours worked, and handling time-off requests. Homebase is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries.
Why I picked Homebase: I chose Homebase because it offers a comprehensive set of tools that are easy to use and understand. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it simple for both managers and employees to navigate. The software is also highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific needs. Plus, Homebase offers a free plan with basic features and unlimited users, making it an affordable option for smaller businesses or those just starting out. Homebase offers iOS and Android apps so your team can check communications, schedule changes, and company communications on the go.
Homebase has several features that make it stand out from other business management software. The scheduling tool is incredibly user-friendly, allowing managers to create and edit schedules with just a few clicks. Employees can easily view their schedules, request time off, and swap shifts with coworkers. The time tracking feature is also a game-changer, as it allows employees to clock in and out using their smartphones or a designated time clock. Managers can easily monitor hours worked, breaks, and overtime, ensuring that labor laws are followed and payroll is accurate. Additionally, Homebase offers a built-in messaging system, making communication between managers and employees a breeze.
Homebase Standout Features and Integrations
Features include overtime alerts, automated scheduling, shift trading and claiming, time-off management, labor cost tracking and optimization, timesheets, and payroll with tips and compute wages, total hours, paid and unpaid breaks, and overtime.
Integrations include ADP, Clover, Google, Lightspeed, Payanywhere, Paychex, Quickbooks, Shopify, Square, Toast, Upserve, Vend, and Wells Fargo.
Pros
- Mobile app is intuitive and easy-to-use
- All-in-one work management platform
- Can support both hourly and salaried employees
Cons
- Team communication not included in their free plan
- More software integrations would be welcomed
Productive
Best business management software for agencies
Productive is a comprehensive business management tool that's well-suited for the needs of agencies and service providers. The platform combines project, resource, and budget management tools as well as employee time tracking.
Why I chose Productive: This software is more than a project management tool, and offers a complete business management solution. It can be used to effectively distribute work, track billable and non-billable hours, and generate predictive insights like resource forecasts and what-if scenarios. Agencies can manage their finances, projects and portfolios, and resource allocation under a single roof.
The software's comprehensive task management system allows you to assign tasks to team members, keep track of progress on each task, and set deadlines. This is combined with the resource planning capabilities that help you distribute work based on skills and availability. You can also upload documents in the platform or link them from other cloud storage services, and connect them with specific projects or tasks.
Productive Standout Features & Integrations
Features include list, table, calendar, timeline, and board views; recurring tasks; time estimations; time tracking; budgeting; document management; resource planning; upcoming work placeholders; and client billing.
Integrations include Dropbox, Exact, Google Workplace, Jira, Harvest Economic, Outlook, Microsoft Calendar, Slack, QuickBooks, and Xero. A Zapier integration is also available, which can unlock more integrations with a paid account.
Pros
- Budgeting and project management in one
- Allocate resources based on skills and availability
- Client guest accounts are free
Cons
- Roles and user rights could be more customizable
- Webhooks locked to higher paid plans
Pneumatic Workflow
Best business management software for building internal workflows
Pneumatic Workflow is a workflow management software that you can use to create automated workflows for all your core internal business processes.
Why I picked Pneumatic Workflow: I included Pneumatic Workflow in this list because their software is perfect for organizations that are bogged down in admin processes that aren't automated yet. I've been there myself, and no one wants to be the company bottleneck for getting things done. Instead, you can use Pneumatic Workflow to create automated processes with individual tasks assigned to each member of your team as needed. When it comes to HR administration, you can essentially create an assembly-line sequence of activities for your entire HR team.
Pneumatic Workflow Standout Features and Integrations
Their biggest standout feature, in my opinion, is their automation capabilities. You can set up triggers and actions to automate repetitive tasks, which can save you a ton of time. They also have a free template library to help you create workflows quickly, rather than building each one from scratch. In addition, their reporting feature is also really helpful for tracking progress and identifying bottlenecks in your workflows.
Integrations are available with popular business tools, including Gmail, Google Sheets, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Slack, Trello, and Workable.
Pros
- 30-day money back guarantee if you're unhappy with their platform
- Their freemium plan includes enough features to get small teams started
- Includes the ability to collaborate with guest (external) stakeholders
Cons
- Could use more native software integrations
- Limited chat support window (9 am to 5 pm CST)
Scoro
Best business management software for pipeline management
Scoro is a business management solution that enables you to plan and manage your pipeline without difficulty.
Why I picked Scoro: Scoro helps you track your projects from the quote phase to the billing stage. The software makes it easy to bill your clients, allowing you to add custom hourly or monthly rates for each project.
Scoro also enables you to track your team’s workload and project. The tool enables you to break down large tasks so you can assign them to multiple people, and it consolidates your data into nice-looking reports.
Scoro Standout Features and Integrations
Features include time management, task management, contacts, CRM software, invoices and receipts, financial summaries, Gantt charts, and automation.
Integrations include Asana, Basecamp, Calendly, Gmail, Harvest, QuickBooks, Jira, Slack, Trello, Zapier, and others.
Pros
- Great for agencies, consultants, and freelancers
- Precise time-tracking tool
- Reports give valuable insights on how your team members are spending their time
Cons
- The planner can look clunky if you manage more than 30 tasks at once
- Assisted onboarding can be expensive
Trello
Best business management software for small businesses
Trello is a business management platform that helps small business owners keep track of their team’s work.
Why I picked Trello: Trello enables you to plan your team’s workload and track each individual task to ensure its delivery. The software has a simple interface that enables you to manage projects with ease, allowing you to create task dependencies and assign work to each team member.
Trello automatically highlights tasks that run behind schedule so you can spot roadblocks and collaborate with your teammates to overcome them. You can send projects to specific team members, invite coworkers to different boards, assign deadlines, and set up custom notifications so you’re always on top of what’s happening in your organization.
Trello Standout Features and Integrations
Features include task management, checklists, workflow automations, in-app messaging, OKR tracking, and ready-made templates.
Integrations include Detectify, Firefox, Focus, Jira, Mailissa, OneLogin, Slack, Telegram, Timecamp, ZenDesk, and others.
Pros
- Comprehensive free plan
- Helpful project management templates
- Easy to create automations
Cons
- No resource management features
- Can become a little overwhelming when managing a lot of tasks
ProofHub
Best business management software for project planning
ProofHub is a business management software that enables organization leaders to plan projects using real-time data.
Why I picked ProofHub: ProofHub helps your team save time by using a single solution to track time, manage tasks and files, collaborate, and communicate with clients or external collaborators. The software allows you to plan projects from scratch or with ready-made templates. You can create task dependencies, assign deadlines, and track your team’s progress over time with milestones.
ProofHub’s project visualization makes it easy for managers to spot potential roadblocks and identify workarounds. The solution’s project reports enable you to see the performance of individual collaborators, so you can reward outstanding employees.
ProofHub Standout Features and Integrations
Features include Gantt charts, Kanban boards, task creation, time tracking, workflows, milestones, group chat, reports, and mobile apps.
Integrations include Box, Dropbox, Freshbooks, Google Drive, OneDrive, QuickBooks, Slack, and others.
Pros
- Low-cost, flat monthly pricing
- Great interface
- Good mobile apps for Android and iOS
Cons
- Timesheets could be more detailed
- Limited personalization options
Bitrix24
Best business management software for workgroup management
Bitrix24 is a business management software that enables managers to oversee their workgroups without difficulty.
Why I picked Bitrix24: Their software makes it easy to create cross-department workgroups for each project. The solution creates a central location for all your data and allows your team members to communicate and collaborate in real-time, so they don’t need to send files back and forth for approval.
Bitrix24 enables you to assign different roles to project participants. The software increases your visibility into your team’s workload and allows you to stay on top of recent updates with custom notifications. The tool’s analytics feature allows you to see the real-time performance of different projects, so you can easily identify the ones that run behind schedule.
Bitrix24 Standout Features and Integrations
Features include an in-app chat, videocalls, a calendar, a shared workspace, task and project tracking, a contact center, and a website builder.
Integrations include Google Drive, Mailchimp, Microsoft Office 365, Payze, QuickBooks, Skype, Slack, Telegram, TwiCall, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Workgroup members can communicate via comments or video calls
- Automations are easy to set up
- Users can customize their feed to stay on top of their workload
Cons
- Mobile app doesn’t offer all the features you can access on the desktop version
- Training documentation could be more detailed
The 10 Best Business Management Software Comparison Chart
Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top business management software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software that works for your business needs.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Connecteam Best business management software for non-desk teams | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $29/month for 30 users (paid annually) | Visit Website |
2 | Deel Best business management software for managing a global team | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Visit Website |
3 | Wrike Best business management software for Agile teams proof | Free plan available | From $9.80/user/month | Visit Website |
4 | Homebase Best business management software for iOS and Android mobile compatibility | Free plan available (unlimited employees) | From $20/month (payroll add-on is $6/user/month + $39/month) | Visit Website |
5 | Productive Best business management software for agencies | 14-day free trial | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Visit Website |
6 | Pneumatic Workflow Best business management software for building internal workflows | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $99 /month (unlimited users) | Visit Website |
7 | Scoro Best business management software for pipeline management | 14-day free trial | From $28/user/month | Visit Website |
8 | Trello Best business management software for small businesses | Free trial + free plan available | From $6/user/month | Visit Website |
9 | ProofHub Best business management software for project planning | 14-day free trial | From $50/month | Visit Website |
10 | Bitrix24 Best business management software for workgroup management | Free plan available | From $49/month (5 users) | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best business management software list:
- Mindbody Business
Best business management software for wellness companies
- NetSuite Global Business Management
Best business management software for international ecommerce teams
- Zoho One
Best business management software for simple automations
- monday.com
Best business management software for custom business needs
- Smartsheet
Best business management software for project schedule management
- HoneyBook
Best business management software for service-based SMBs
- Kissflow Workflow
Best business management software for workflow management
- HubSpot
Best business management software for startups
- Apptivo
Best business management software for scaling companies
- todo.vu
Best business management software for freelancers
How I Selected The Best Business Management Software
Perhaps you're wondering how I selected the best business management software for this list? To build this top 10 list, I evaluated and compared a wide range of business management software systems with positive user ratings.
After determining my long list of top choices, I further honed my selections by using the criteria below. This helped me determine how each software system compared to the rest. I also drew on my years of HR and business administration experience to pinpoint the features that add a lot of value.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best business management software for this article:
Project management
Being able to plan a project and track it until completion is fundamental for business management. I looked for solutions that offer visibility into your organization’s projects.
Automation
Small and insignificant tasks can consume a lot of your time, so I chose business management tools that enable you to automate such tasks.
Workforce management
You can’t build a successful business without good workflows. I selected solutions that enable you to manage your employees, so you can maintain a productive workforce.
Software integrations
Modern businesses rely on dozens of software solutions. I chose tools that integrate with most of the popular business platforms available today.
Pricing
Even though the prices of business management tools varies greatly, I picked solutions that offer a nice variety of management features so you’ll be satisfied with your investment.
Business Management Software: Frequently Asked Questions
Business management software often doubles as a type of resource management solution because employees are the most valuable resource for most companies. Here are some answers to popular questions you may have about business management software and how it can help you:
Are there different types of business management software?
How can I choose the best business management software for my organization?
What does business management software cost?
Achieve Your Goals With Business Management Software
Business management software can help you build accurate roadmaps for your organization. As John Case, CEO of Acumatica, said:
“[...] real-time visibility fosters cross-connected awareness in an organization. Everyone within an organization can gain access to up-to-date and accurate information to navigate whatever issue they are or might face. [...]. This access to real-time data is crucial, as it allows businesses to become more agile, resilient, and prepared for what may come.
Though real-time visibility is crucial to managing business risks efficiently and effectively, it’s difficult to realize overnight. A common barrier to achieving real-time visibility is data silos.”
Business management software enables you to break down data silos and create a central location for all your information. This helps you to understand your company’s real needs, so you can plan for a better future.
What's Next?
Interested in leveraging more data into your decision-making? I recommend reading the following articles too:
- What is Business Intelligence Software and How Can it Benefit Your Business?
- Best Business Intelligence Software for Data Analytics
- How to Make a Business Case for HR Software
- Business Expenses: What Are They And How to Manage Them
- 7 Crucial Conversations for Effective Business Transformation (a podcast)
- What is an ERP System — How Do They Work & Why Use One?
- Enterprise Performance Management: Everything You Need to Know
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