20 Best Business Mobile Apps of 2016

Your company is only as good as the software on which it runs. Unfortunately, there are so many tools from which to choose that the selection process can be quite daunting. This is especially true for selecting mobile applications, many of which are inherently tied to desktop software. Unfortunately, you can't ignore this pressing need. Your business doesn't just run on a desktop, in an office, on weekdays, from 9-5. Your business is a 24/7 operation and it needs to be treated as such. Mobile applications allow you to operate with this mentality.

Thankfully, we've put this list together to help you choose the right mobile apps for your business. This list covers everything from human resources (HR) to data management to communication. It is by no means complete; new mobile apps launch every day that you can use to improve operations. However, it's chock full of the best tools we've tested here in our labs. Happy hunting.

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Categories

Accounting and Expenses

Collaboration and Communications

Analytics and Data Management

Human Resources

Accounting and Expenses

1. Netsuite OneWorld

Netsuite OneWorld provides large and small businesses with a completely scalable enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. With the mobile app you're able to manage expense reports, purchase orders, business dashboards, and security records. This could be your one-stop shop for managing your business when you're away from a desktop or laptop.

2. Acumatica

Acumatica is the best general ledger accounting software on the market. Because it's a browser-based tool, you can access your accounting data from any device with an internet connection, or you can download the iOS and Android apps. From the apps you can enter time cards, run expense reports, and enter purchase orders, among many other features.

3. Expensify

If you're looking for the best expense report software for a mobile device, look no further than Expensify. Expensify lets you upload receipts via its iOS and Androids apps, both of which utilize OCR SmartScan. Expensify is the best tool we reviewed at accurately processing scanned data, which saves employees and administrators time inputting and processing expenses.

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Collaboration and Communications

4. ClickMeeting

Anyone can create a video conference from their phone, but few services give you the enhanced functionality that ClickMeeting provides. ClickMeeting's Android, Apple, and BlackBerry apps let you schedule meetings, stream audio and video, share your screen, and record your events, all from a smartphone.

5. Citrix ShareFile Business

The best secure managed file transfer services aren't just designed to send large files from desktop to desktop. With Citrix ShareFile Business, you can share from Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows mobile devices. For administrators, it also offers excellent device management functionality, enabling IT to instantly disable and wipe devices when necessary.

6. SurveyMonkey

Taking the pulse of your customers or employees can be crucial for even the largest organization. The Best Online Survey Tools allow you to create and participate in surveys from your mobile device. SurveyMonkey lets you create, send, and analyze polls directly from your iOS and Android devices.

7. HappyFox

Your customers don't shop during business hours only. As a result, it's imperative that your customer service reps are on-call to handle requests at all times. The best helpdesk software includes mobile applications that let your reps answer calls, search for customer-specific information, and resolve tickets, all while away from the desktop. HappyFox in particular provides a crisp, clean, and adaptable mobile interface that makes remote customer service easy as pie.

8. Zoho Docs Standard

Document management services allow you to create, share, and send files from iOS and Android devices, as well as on desktop. You'll also be able to collaborate on documents and restrict who has access. With Zoho Docs you can create shared folders, access documents while offline, and invite external users to collaborate.

9. MailChimp

Email marketing is a 24/7 job. Tools like MailChimp make it easy to launch campaigns from a mobile device. With just a few taps you can create the same campaign on your mobile device that you would have created from your desktop. You can even monitor campaign progress, edit subscriber profiles, and run multivariate reports, all from your handheld device.

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Analytics and Data Management

10. Salesforce Sales Cloud Professional

The best CRM software gives you access to customer and sales data that can be used to improve business operations. Relying on desktops and laptops to access that data puts you a step behind your competitors, most of whom are using mobile apps from standouts like Salesforce. The king of CRM, Salesforce offers the most comprehensive and flexible platform on the market, even on a mobile device.

11. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM gives you a similar level of functionality as Salesforce, but it ties in nicely with the rest of the Zoho software ecosystem. If you want a CRM system that organically ties into your email, document management, and email marketing client, turn to Zoho.

12. Active Network

Of all the membership management software we tested, Active Network has the most robust iOS and Android applications. With the tool you can track basic membership information, collect donations and fees, communicate with members and prospects, and plan events, all from a smartphone or tablet.

13. Sprout Social

What good is your business with a solid social media strategy? You can access the best social media management & analytics tools from your mobile device without sacrificing any functionality. Sprout Social offers iOS and Android apps that let you identify influencers, ideal moments for customer engagement, and the data that proves it all true.

14. HootSuite

HootSuite, which is available on iOS and Android, offers a mature, complete set of social media management and analytics tools in a nicely designed hub. With it, you can conduct comprehensive monitoring, influencer identification, and publishing tools.

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Human Resources

15. BambooHR

Managing a company's human resources network is a full-time job. The best HR software and management systems let you conduct applicant tracking, benefits administration, and performance reviews all from a handheld device. BambooHR offers all these features and more.

16. Fairsail HRMS

Fairsail HRMS is a highly configurable tool that accommodates companies with multinational operations. It offers applicant tracking, benefits administration, and other add-ons and it integrates with third-party payroll and other outside vendors. Oh, and you can access the majority of these features directly from your mobile app.

17. Deputy

If you don't need the fancy-schmancy features in a full human resources suite, but you'd like to be able to schedule shifts, try Deputy, which is the best HR employee scheduling and shift planning system on the market. With Deputy's iOS and Android apps you can make group announcements, integrate with Intuit QuickBooks and ADP, and of course, you'll be able to make sure you're fully staffed at all times.

18. SuccessFactors Perform and Reward

Similarly, if you want an HR suite that's specifically focused on performance management, SuccessFactors is an ideal platform for mobile users. With the app you'll be able to schedule feedback, calculate performance with regards to compensation, and produce custom reports, all via iOS and Android apps.

19. Zoho Recruit

You don't want to miss out on the best candidates for new positions at your company. The best applicant tracking systems let you create new job postings, search for candidates, communicate with candidates and colleagues, and work with recruiters, all from iOS and Android apps. For the best applicant tracking tool for mobile users, check out Zoho Recruit.

20. Zenefits

The best benefits administration tools give your human resources team, as well as your employees, the ability to research, record, and update benefits data. With Zenefits on iOS and Android, you'll be able to access an entire set of traditional benefits data, as well as access termination management, stock options modules, and compliance information.

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This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.