You can find a lot of different freely available software on the Internet. When downloading the next utility, most people do not think about whether they have the right to use it. This question is particularly acute when purchasing software for offices. For businesses, using licensed software offers many advantages as well as protects against serious risks associated with copyright infringement. And today we’ll talk about how the software will ease your work life!
The Concept of Licensed Software
In more simple words, this type of software means the software which user has legal permission to use. We are talking about a software license agreement. You can buy such a license directly from the software publisher or from an official supplier. After purchasing a license, the customer receives an opportunity to use one or several copies of the software.
The Advantages of Licensed Software
- Technical support from the software manufacturer
- When using purchased licensed software, users may have a variety of issues. Licensed software owners are entitled to technical support from the software manufacturer which, in most cases, solves the problems.
- Software updates.
- Software vendors regularly release update packages for licensed programs (patch, service-pack). Their timely installation is one of the main means of PC protection (especially anti-virus software). Legal users promptly and free of charge get all updates.
- Legitimacy and prestige.
- By buying unlicensed software you are breaking the law because you are buying “stolen” software. You expose yourself and your business to the risk of legal sanctions from copyright holders. Organizations that use illegal software have problems with checks on the licensing purity of software that are periodically carried out by law enforcement agencies. In some cases, not only administrative but also criminal liability is provided for copyright infringement. Violation of copyright laws can have a negative impact on a company’s reputation. Unlicensed copies of software can cause incompatibilities between programs that normally work well together.
- Keeping up with technological advances.
- Software management can help determine a company’s software needs, avoid the use of outdated software, and facilitate the right choice of technology that will allow the company to achieve its goals and succeed in the competition.
- Professional pre-sales consultations.
- Users experience the benefits of purchasing licensed software as soon as they buy it. Licensed products are sold by employees of companies that are authorized partners of world-leading software manufacturers. The buyer can count on professional advice on choosing the best solution for his tasks.
- Increased functionality.
- If you have any wishes about the product functionality, you have the possibility to pass them on to the developers; your wishes will be taken into consideration while releasing new versions of the product.
What Intangible Benefits, Intangible “By Weight”, Does Software (Software Products) Bring to Human Resource Management?
The main advantage of the software is the acceleration of work, of course. But there are also deferred benefits. In addition to speed, the software gives more structured storage of information, which is very important for its quality processing. Same Excel, a table puts some order into information, but it is still an analog of paper. Software is what does some of the work. Without software, the work would not have collapsed, but it would have increased the time. Each operation would take longer, and there would be more lost data, lost information. The depth of analytics might not have dropped, but in manual data processing, the depth is limited by time. That is to say, it is possible to achieve the same elaboration as with software. But when you work through the data in depth without software, the time costs grow exponentially.
What Areas of HR-Services Particularly Need Software?
Recruiting, of course. And adaptation. Recruiting involves a large flow of information that needs to be processed, filtered, and time parameters cut off. And adaptation – because there are control points for working with personnel, moments that need to be reacted to. If you keep it all in your head, or in Excel, it’s easy to miss it all. The software also works as a kind of assistant that reminds you that you have to do certain things with an employee today.
Why Aren’t Complex HR Products in Widespread Use Yet? What Constrains Their Growth?
First, cost. Secondly, a complex HR product is a multifunctional system that does not take into account nuances of work in different companies. For instance, recruiting software performs certain functions that a company requires. Adaptation software performs other functions, and so on. And you can pick up functionality like Lego. A large software, as a rule, is designed for an average company. And it either requires serious revision, which again means a cash infusion. Or you have to put up with the inconveniences associated with the fact that it does not adjust to the company’s current processes.
What Are the Advantages of Free Software?
Despite a lot of different opinions and stereotypes, free programs are almost in no way inferior to paid software. In some cases, they are even superior to it. This is due to open source code. It makes it easier to maintain the program because any error can be easily corrected by a knowledgeable programmer.
The main advantages of such programs are:
- no need to pay for the download;
- high-quality software, which is often developed on the basis of a paid product;
- free updates;
- high level of security and legality.
That’s It!
As a result, the use of the software is increasingly becoming a pledge of business prestige. Buying software becomes a pass to the circle of leading companies, working according to world standards. Using the software, you demonstrate the company’s modernity and solidity, guarantee effective labor organization, serious attitude to work, and respect for intellectual property laws. That is why exactly today we touched upon this topic and we hope it was useful and interesting for you! If you have any more questions, write them in the comments!