Why you should keep your practice software updated

We all know the inconvenience of receiving a software upgrade prompt when we’re in the middle of something important. We often just click the “later” button, thinking we’ll get to it when we have more time. And we typically believe the software features we have right now are working just fine.

However, it’s not just enhanced features that we put on hold when we click the “later” button. By not staying current, you are risking your practice’s ability to continue operating without any hiccups.

After all, if your practice management system seems to be working fine, why spend valuable time to change it? While it’s good business practice to consider a software upgrade in the same light as any other investment, there are many benefits to upgrading and potential risks of not upgrading.

Why should you update your veterinary practice software?

Increased productivity and efficiency

A software upgrade allows you and your team to make the best use of the latest features available in your practice management software. This includes using new system capabilities and features that help you perform daily tasks in a more time-efficient and productive way. It also prevents you from falling behind developments in technology.

Improved communication

Remember the public telephone booth? Take a minute to remember what life was like when public phones were the only option you had when you were out and about. Mobile communication has literally transformed our personal and work lives. The ability to connect to your practice software via your mobile phone is a must-have communication tool available through integrations.

Greater security

Older versions of software typically have greater risk of being exploited by hackers, who can attack your veterinary practice management systems and cause downtime. The time spent dealing with a security breach could cost you a lot of money and compromise valuable customer data. Your veterinary software specialists are constantly improving technology and security to keep your systems running at maximum efficiency and safeguarding your customer information. Along with routine data backups, software upgrades are one of the most important ways to protect your practice data.

Improved software performance

Using the latest version also ensures that you benefit from fixes and avoid issues such as crashes, bugs, and other annoying occurrences that have already been rectified. Without an upgrade, it’s not realistic to expect these issues to just disappear on their own.

Reduced costs

You might think that skipping an upgrade will save you money. However, the opposite is often true. Systems running older software are more unstable and prone to freezes and crashes. That means a drain on productivity for your team and wasted time and money to solve the problem.

Worst-case scenario, a poor customer experience caused by software problems during a consult or at the front desk could cause the client to move to a more up-to-date competitor. Keeping your veterinary computer programs up to date is a small price to pay for ongoing customer loyalty and to support your business operations.

System compatibility and integration improvements

Most practices use a variety of diagnostic and administrative software to run equipment and deliver a seamless experience. Upgrades ensure that all your software solutions stay coordinated and integrated correctly.

Staff satisfaction

“Buggy” software is one of the main causes of staff unhappiness. Employees become frustrated with having to use outdated software and equipment, particularly when it lets them down in front of impatient clients. Not to mention the drop in productivity that happens when systems go down for extended periods of time.

Regular upgrades also reduce the stress of “change” on staff members. Delaying an upgrade could mean that your staff suddenly has a raft of new features to learn, instead of taking advantage of them as they are released.

When your vet software is up to date, you’re able to take advantage of the latest features and functionality, which helps your staff perform more efficiently and your business function at the optimal level. A win-win for everyone.