5 easy ways to simplify your app overload

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It seems that every other day we’re hearing about a new app, platform or service that hopes to ‘disrupt’ how we go about our daily lives or how we do business.

With nearly 2 million apps in the Apple Store, how do we pick the very best one for our needs?

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While it’s easy to jump on board with the latest or newest version of technology that promises to get the job done better and faster, Australian businesses and their staff should be wary of pouring thousands of dollars into new employee-facing tools that aren’t worthwhile, warns Unisys Asia Pacific lead advisory consultant Leon Sayers.

“We’ve seen organisations with up to 30 different products and tools that essentially do the same task,” Sayers said.

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Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Sayers said that having too many apps that did the same thing would see unnecessary costs to the business; decentralised and insecure data; and a doubling up of staff effort.

How do I choose which ones stay?

Here’s a five-step guide on how to keep your tech apps under control:

Step 1: Discuss, don’t dictate. “Make the decision to take a consultative approach to dealing with the issue, not a dictatorship.”

Step 2: Consider calling in a consultant to run you through the process. “Having a third party takes the emotion out of any discussions going forward and allows the conversations to be focused and driven by business outcomes and requirements,” Sayers said.

Step 3: Run some workshops to feel out what’s working. “Review the solutions used today, what is in the market and what is in the roadmap. Ensure all sections of the business are represented and don’t just invite the owners or decision makers.”

Sayers added: “Run tools and audits to capture what is actually in use in the workplace and on devices.”

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Step 4: Draw the results and implement the changes. “Consultants will capture and evaluate the business requirements and outcomes against the technology choices available, give recommendations and then deliver a roadmap and strategy in getting the business to the new or consolidated platform/apps.”

Step 5: Inform your team. “Educate the business as to why the app/platform has been chosen and the risks and the costs to the business by going outside of these solutions.”

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