The need for efficient and effective auditing processes has become more critical than ever. If you’re navigating the complexities of choosing the right auditing software for your organization, you’re not alone. The digital transformation accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of adopting advanced solutions, particularly in sectors like hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, and food and beverage. 97% of companies say the COVID-19 pandemic sped up their digital transformation initiatives.
At GoAudits, we’ve witnessed the acceleration of digital transformation firsthand through our collaboration with esteemed clients. In a case study with Hygiene & Safety Consultants (HSC), Director Oliver Hurst validated the transformative impact of digitalization, particularly using GoAudits, our auditing management system.
GoAudits helped us reduce paperwork, save countless hours and grow our business turnover.
Oliver Hurst, Director at HSC
A Pandemic-Induced Acceleration of Digital Transformation
The shift from manual and paper-based auditing practices to robust audit management software is evident across various industries. McKinsey & Company reports a ten-year acceleration in digital transformation in specific countries and sectors during the pandemic. It indicates a lasting impact on customer behavior and organizational processes. As businesses adapt to this new reality, the demand for innovative solutions, especially in inspections and audits, has surged.
The focus has shifted from debating the adoption of auditing tools to selecting the right audit management software tailored to your business needs. So, what features should you look for in a top-quality auditing software tool? Let’s dive right into it.
Source: McKinsey & Company
Auditing Software: A Brief Overview
Auditing software is a powerful tool designed to assist businesses in conducting efficient and accurate audits. It streamlines the entire auditing process, from risk assessment and data collection to reporting and analysis. By leveraging auditing software, you can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of your audits, leading to improved compliance and overall business performance.
Implementing auditing software offers a multitude of benefits that can transform your business operations.
Here are a few key advantages:
- Enhanced Accuracy: Auditing software minimizes human errors and ensures the accuracy of your audits by automating calculations and data analysis.
- Increased Efficiency: Streamline your auditing processes by automating repetitive tasks, allowing your team to focus on higher-value activities.
- Real-Time Reporting: Gain access to real-time audit reports and insights, enabling you to make informed decisions promptly.
- Improved Compliance: Ensure adherence to industry regulations and standards by using auditing software’s compliance features.
- Cost Savings: By improving efficiency, auditing software can lead to significant cost savings for your business.
Choosing Auditing Software: 10 Audit Management Software Features to Consider
Here are the top auditing software features you must consider when looking for auditing management software.
1. Desktop and Mobile Auditing App
An auditing management software that offers both desktop and mobile interfaces can significantly simplify your auditing process. With the ability to start and complete inspections with your phone or tablet on the go, as well as delegate tasks easily within your team, you can keep track of progress efficiently while saving time and resources.
Using mobile devices makes it particularly easy to take and attach photos as visual evidence. An efficient auditing software should offer an easy way to capture, annotate, organize, and share images with minimal effort required.
This visual evidence can be used not only to support findings but also as an effective means of communication. Plus, the desktop version offers real-time visibility of progress and analytics for better business growth forecasting.
A user-friendly interface that simplifies the completion of checklists and forms. The intuitive design ensures that end-users can navigate effortlessly, minimizing the need for extensive training.
2. Offline Functionality
The ability to conduct audits without an internet connection is a game-changer. That’s why the availability of using the auditing software uninterrupted in areas with limited connectivity can’t be emphasized enough. With offline functionality, you can perform audits in remote locations or areas with poor network coverage. Your data syncs seamlessly once you’re back online, ensuring that no audit findings are ever lost.
3. Cloud-Based Software
With cloud-based software, you can access your audit data and tools from anywhere, at any time, on any device with an internet connection. Cloud-based software facilitates seamless collaboration among audit team members, regardless of their physical locations. You can easily share audit findings, documents, and notes in real-time, fostering effective communication and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
Cloud-based software often operates on a subscription basis, eliminating the upfront costs associated with traditional on-premise software. Cloud-based software providers implement multiple layers of protection, including encryption, access controls, and regular security audits, to ensure that your data remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access.
4. Instant Reports
Reports are a critical source of information that enables users to share their findings in a clear and effective manner. The ability to generate reports instantly can be a game changer. Audit software shouldn’t confine you to the tedious task of composing reports. It should seamlessly generate reports after each inspection, ready for immediate sharing.
When selecting auditing software, it is essential to consider the types of reports it can generate. Ideally, the auditing software should provide customizable reports that are concise, comprehensible, and cater to the specific needs of your organization or industry.
These reports should offer:
- Smart scoring
- Automated input
- Real-time insights
- Historical trends and recurring issues
- An overview of corrective actions relevant to your business
The auditing software you choose should not only streamline the report generation process but also provide automated input functionalities. You should be able to choose your preferred layout from the templates and customize them to meet your specific needs.
Here’s a sneak peek of a report that our customers can create with the GoAudits auditing software. It allows you to add photos, geo-location of the auditor, user name, and time stamps to save valuable time.
5. Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
The corrective and preventive action (CAPA) feature is crucial for issue resolution and ongoing improvement. During inspections, the ability to assign corrective actions to specific team members, whether internal or external, ensures that no task slips through the cracks. It not only addresses immediate concerns but also establishes a foundation for preventing future issues.
Look for auditing software that not only notifies the user of the issue but also equips them with crucial details, including priority and due date. This will ensure a high level of accountability. You should also look for the ability to set up detailed roles and hierarchies within the system. It will ensure users have access to and can perform only what is necessary. It will maintain a secure and controlled auditing environment.
6. Tasks and Workflow Automation
Workflow automation is a crucial feature to consider when selecting audit management software. After completing an inspection, the ability to efficiently assign corrective tasks to the appropriate personnel is paramount. You should seamlessly communicate issue details, priority, and due dates as part of a comprehensive corrective action plan.
A common gap with many audit software is that corrective tasks can only be assigned to users within the same software. Ensure you can assign tasks to people in other departments or even external suppliers, without a need for them to log into an unfamiliar software.
Audit management software should allow you to set up workflows and rules for report distribution, approvals, tasks, and reminders. It will ensure that the right individuals are engaged, streamlining the auditing process and promoting collaboration across departments.
You should also be able to configure automatic notifications. This functionality will enable you to send timely email notifications to both approvers and task owners.
7. Real-Time Analytics
When considering auditing software, the effectiveness of analytics features and smart dashboards is paramount. Many software solutions claim to offer top-notch features in this regard but to truly enhance cost savings and time efficiency, it’s crucial to delve into the supplementary features integrated into analytics.
The software should offer a holistic view of audit scores across various locations, teams, or topics. Ensure you are able to dive into every detail for a nuanced view of your auditing data.
The auditing software should also provide real-time visibility, with results immediately visible and compiled after each individual inspection. It will ensure that you can stay updated on the latest information, making timely and informed decisions.
8. Scheduling
When it comes to choosing auditing software, one crucial feature that deserves your attention is scheduling. By scheduling regular inspections and creating a comprehensive business calendar, you can ensure that audits are conducted efficiently. This not only helps in organizing tasks but also designates the right colleagues or auditors to specific audits, promoting accountability.
Consider audit software that makes scheduling a breeze. The software should also allow you to effortlessly bulk schedule and assign inspections based on individuals or locations, streamlining the entire process.
No doubt, planning and scheduling are pivotal aspects of audit management. When choosing the audit management software, ensure it allows you to plan audits well in advance. Configurable reminders will be an added advantage. It will contribute to the accountability of your team, ensuring that everyone stays on top of their audit responsibilities.
9. Checklist Templates
A comprehensive checklist template library provides a starting point, with checklists that you can tailor to your specific industry, regulations, and organizational needs.
Predefined audit templates will save time, enabling you to swiftly initiate audits without the need for time-consuming template creation. These templates will ensure that your audits adhere to the highest standards and address critical risk areas.
Create your own audit library to promote consistency across your audit team, ensuring that all audits are conducted using the same standardized procedures. This uniformity minimizes the risk of errors and omissions, fostering a culture of compliance and adherence to best practices.
With GoAudits, you can start with one of our checklists, or build your own checklists using a simple drag & drop interface. Or, you can simply let us do it for you at no cost!
10. Cost-Effectiveness & Free Trial
When selecting auditing software, cost-effectiveness is a crucial factor. You want software that provides value for your investment and doesn’t strain your budget. Look for software that offers flexible pricing options, such as subscription-based models or tiered pricing plans, allowing you to choose the features that best suit your needs and budget.
Moreover, consider software that provides a free trial or a demo version. This enables you to thoroughly evaluate the software’s functionality, user interface, and compatibility with your systems before committing to a purchase. A free trial or demo allows you to test the software in your specific environment and ensure it meets your requirements.
By opting for cost-effective auditing software with a free trial or demo, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and operational needs.
Why is GoAudits the Best Auditing Software for Your Business?
Selecting the right auditing software is crucial for streamlining your operational audits. When choosing auditing software, GoAudits is a standout choice, offering a comprehensive solution that enhances efficiency without drowning you in paperwork.
Here are some reasons why GoAudits auditing software is the right choice for your business:
- It offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies checklist and form completion, minimizing errors and eliminating the need for extensive training. Alternatively, we can assist you in creating tailored checklists that perfectly align with your business needs.
- With automated report-sharing, you can instantly generate inspection reports upon completion and establish rules to automatically share these reports with relevant stakeholders. You can personalize inspection reports to reflect your brand identity and business requirements.
- You can also assign corrective actions to specific team members, both internal and external, directly during the inspection process. It ensures that no tasks fall through the cracks, enhancing accountability.
- You also get the unlimited assignees feature at no cost. External or occasional users can collaborate without the need for dedicated logins or paid licenses. They simply receive an email with a link, providing them with direct access to their assigned tasks.
- Smart dashboards give you a comprehensive overview of your business performance. It visualizes audit scores across locations, teams, or topics, empowering you to make informed decisions and drive improvements.
- Configurable daily, weekly, or monthly summary emails ensure that you receive timely updates on the status of audits and assigned actions.
- You can export granular and summary audit data into various formats. It enables you to integrate audit data into your existing systems.
- You also have a library of pre-defined checklists that can be easily customized to suit your specific needs, further enhancing the efficiency of your auditing processes.
GoAudits’ recognition by Capterra as one of the highest-rated and most popular software in 2023 solidifies its position as the auditing software of choice.
