Want to try a new app or tool? Make sure it’s EASY

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There are plenty of apps and tools to help you find a flow, eliminate distractions, and keep your productivity high. Yet, with so many of tools and apps available, it can be daunting – and time consuming – to try to find the best and test them all.

Rather than trying each new app, only try apps that will help you in a specific area. There are several areas each and every business should consider in their app arsenal:

  • Calendar
  • To-Do List
  • Clipper/Bookmarks
  • File Sharing/Saving
  • Collaboration/Projects
  • Financial/Billing/Expenses
  • Communication
  • Social Sharing

If you’re the type of person always on the lookout for new apps and tools, visit Product Hunt or Top Alternatives.

Personally, I have one requirement of an app: Be device ubiquitous. I want to be able to sync to every device or at least be cloud based so I can retrieve or use from any device.

As introduced in a previous article on productivity apps, an acronym to keep in mind when choosing a new app or tool is:

E.A.S.Y.

E – Efficient
A – Affordable
S – Sustainable
Y – Y as in Why the work is being put in play

E (Efficient): Once the work is put into place, strive to make sure your work doesn’t get bogged down with time – your are out to save time, maybe even make time if possible – so your business can operate in a more lean or efficient manner.

A (Affordable): You also want to make sure anything you put into place is affordable, and the tools or subscriptions to outside services is as close to zero-cost as possible. Of course, you get what you pay for, but you never want to put a cost-center into place when you’re trying to reduce time and costs.

S (Sustainable): Remember that before you start a new process or practice, you should consider different scenarios and potential interruptions. You want to make sure adding a new app or tool is at the very least – a sustainable one.

Y (Why are we doing this?): This “Why?” is a question to ask at the beginning, middle, and all the way through. It is, in part, how you will measure the success of the trial or implementation — so you stay on track.

Sometimes it’s not the best idea to look for that cool tool. It should also be E.A.S.Y.

About Guest Blogger

Guest bloggers for the TDS Business Blog.

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