I live about 20 minutes away from downtown Chicago so every once in a while I head into the city and play the part of a tourist. Last Sunday I went on the “Chicago Film Tour”. The tour takes you around to all of the sites that movies were filmed. Usually a tour like this unveils stories and historical tidbits that I did not know, and this tour did not disappoint.

More than likely you are using a software tool to support your day-to-day business operations. On any given day, it may benefit you to “take a tour”. Check out options that you never have tried or maybe even check out on-line help or the manual. Chances are that you will find out something that you did not know.

If your vendor offers learning sessions or updates social media sites with handy tips for software use, take advantage of these opportunities. This type of information can help you to use features that may help you make more placements.

Most software has much to offer for marketing, customer service and to improve general operations. Are you aware of all of the features that your software has to offer? You may be using the software as you were originally trained. Since, have new options been added that may help you with your work?

Ask your vendor to review what is new and to make suggestions on how you can use your software more effectively. Explain some of your business problems and allow them to help you with a solution. Everyone has some business problems to solve – why not let your software help? It’s amazing what you can find out if you “act like a tourist”.

Terri Roeslmeier is President of Automated Business Designs, Inc., software developer of Ultra-Staff software for the staffing and direct hire industry. Ultra-Staff is a staffing software business solution that helps you stay connected with components for front office, back office and the web. For more information on Ultra-Staff go to http://www.abd.net.