The world of business has changed forever over the last few decades, with the technological revolution meaning that more people than ever before can now start and run their own enterprise. If you are running your own business, then you’ll know the importance of having the latest and most powerful software in your corner, but sometimes, the original packages are still going strong, albeit infrequently updated versions. Here are three perfect examples of legendary software packages that changed the world.
Microsoft Office Suite
Bill Gates and his corporation may not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s almost impossible to think of modern computing within it. The Office suite has become the undisputed leader in its field, and it first made an appearance in November 1990; now, more than a quarter of a century later, it’s available in over a hundred languages, and is used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. Whilst there have been additions and subtractions to the package over the years, the initial version contained three stalwarts that are still very much in use today: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Mastering the advanced features of these packages can prove a boon for any entrepreneur or business leader, and there are now expert websites like Excel Semi Pro who can show you how to do just that.
Photoshop
It seems like a different world but, in fact, it’s not so long ago that people had to take photographs using physical film and then, without seeing what the result would look like, wait for them to be developed. The digital revolution has totally transformed the art of taking and displaying photos, and at the forefront of that revolution was Photoshop by Adobe. Photoshop predates the Office Suite by two years and got increasingly sophisticated and powerful with each new version. What was so important about Photoshop is that it allowed ordinary computer users, as opposed to professional designers or artists, to edit, improve and change their pictures quickly and easily. This, in turn, did much to create the selfie-culture that is so prominent today, along with the likes of Instagram and Snapchat.
Sage Accounting
It’s essential for a small business to keep an accurate eye on its finances and accounts at all times, but unless you had professional training in this field that wasn’t always easy. Hiring an account was often a necessary yet substantial cost for a small or startup business, but that began to change as long ago as 1978 when a company called Peachtree Accounting started to sell their software package. Over many transformations, and an acquisition by a larger company, this eventually became known as Sage Accounting and it has completely changed the way that companies run their accounts and their finances. Thanks to this package, business owners can keep on top of their finances and make accurate plans for the future.
Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Sage Accounting all have very different purposes, but they all share one thing in common: they allow their users to carry out functions that were previously out of reach, in a way that is simple and intuitive, powerful, and yet affordable. Business owners and home users of all kinds have encountered, and probably used, these packages, and yet they still continue to evolve and innovate.
