Business software is software that is used for business purposes. The term is often used more specifically for software that helps a business achieve certain goals through the applied principles that the software supports.
Examples of applied principles for business software are decision support software (DSS), where technology helps make decisions, and customer relationship management (CRM), where software helps a business compile and maintain detailed customer or client profiles along with other types of advanced accounting. Business software such as DSS or CRM often uses general principles such as sales force support, transaction automation, algorithmic data analysis for sales or any other design tasks. Other business software will focus on supply chains or other practical forms of resource management.
Some experts also define business software by what it excludes. Gaming applications and similar software would not be considered business software unless it is used in a client or demo environment. The definition of business software has changed with the proliferation of useful business software tools; Today’s dynamic marketplace, including DSS and CRM tools and more, contrasts with the early days of business software development, when many business applications were simply generic end-user programs labeled as “business use” software, such as basic spreadsheets or other tools.