The 10 best business apps you need right now

Charlotte Lytton, for CNN
1 minute read
Updated 6:55 AM EST, Mon December 29, 2014
When you're starting a business, hiring a technology guru to make your mobile app isn't always an option. But thanks to BuildFire, anyone can be their own digital designer, and create an easy-to-use app in minutes.
BuildFire —
When you're starting a business, hiring a technology guru to make your mobile app isn't always an option. But thanks to BuildFire, anyone can be their own digital designer, and create an easy-to-use app in minutes.
courtesy buildfire
Sales and marketing app Showpad provides insights to its business users and gather activity reports on its content. It also allows for annotation on documents, making note-taking easily accessible for multiple users at a time.
Showpad —
Sales and marketing app Showpad provides insights to its business users and gather activity reports on its content. It also allows for annotation on documents, making note-taking easily accessible for multiple users at a time.
courtesy showpad
Perhaps now best known as 'Mail Kimp' (thanks to the mispronounciation on its adverts for cult podcast "Serial"), email newsletter service MailChimp is also available via a handy app, where you can schedule campaigns at the touch of a button.
MailChimp —
Perhaps now best known as 'Mail Kimp' (thanks to the mispronounciation on its adverts for cult podcast "Serial"), email newsletter service MailChimp is also available via a handy app, where you can schedule campaigns at the touch of a button.
courtesy mailchimp
When it comes to cloud-based storage, MightyMeeting is the ideal business app, allowing users to store and share their presentations from anywhere. Graphs can be shared in real-time, and presentations can be beamed directly to boardrooms using the service.
MightyMeeting —
When it comes to cloud-based storage, MightyMeeting is the ideal business app, allowing users to store and share their presentations from anywhere. Graphs can be shared in real-time, and presentations can be beamed directly to boardrooms using the service.
courtesy mighty meeting
Need access to your desktop on the go? Remote network client Splashtop allows you to get whatever you need wherever you are, with easy access to your home computer from any mobile device.
Splashtop —
Need access to your desktop on the go? Remote network client Splashtop allows you to get whatever you need wherever you are, with easy access to your home computer from any mobile device.
Courtesy splashtop
Wallet overflowing with errant business cards? Get your details digitzed with the ABBYY Business Card Reader: an app that scans and uploads card details in seconds.
Abbyy card reader —
Wallet overflowing with errant business cards? Get your details digitzed with the ABBYY Business Card Reader: an app that scans and uploads card details in seconds.
courtesy ABBYY Business Card Reader
With Locqus, staff can manage their workforce from their cell phone. Create jobs and assign them to employees: these tasks will then show up in their schedule.
Locqus —
With Locqus, staff can manage their workforce from their cell phone. Create jobs and assign them to employees: these tasks will then show up in their schedule.
courtesy locqus
Nutchache enables invoicing, expenses and time tracking for employees. The app is free to use, and has become a hit with business owners thanks to its array of different functions.
Nutcache —
Nutchache enables invoicing, expenses and time tracking for employees. The app is free to use, and has become a hit with business owners thanks to its array of different functions.
Keeping track of your expenses can be an unwieldy task, but Expensify makes things simple. The finance-organizing app is used by over 2 million people and more than 300,000 companies
Expensify —
Keeping track of your expenses can be an unwieldy task, but Expensify makes things simple. The finance-organizing app is used by over 2 million people and more than 300,000 companies
courtesy expensify
Canvas seeks to eliminate paper forms with entirely mobile versions, offering a digital tracker for your data integration, business calculations and more.
Canvas —
Canvas seeks to eliminate paper forms with entirely mobile versions, offering a digital tracker for your data integration, business calculations and more.
The 10 best business apps you need right now

Editor’s Note: Smart Business explores the ways companies are thinking smart to thrive in our digitized world.

Story highlights

Mobile apps are becoming the lifeblood of businesses, with vital services available at the tap of a button

Apps such as Expensify, Nutcache and Canvas are transforming the way organizations work remotely

They enable access to your office desktop and can help to create sales reports

CNN  — 

Getting bogged down filing pesky invoices? Need a new way to organize your workforce on the go? Then take a look at the apps transforming the business world, from expenses-trackers to handy group scheduling services. Whether it’s accessing your office desktop while on the move or assigning tasks to employees, the working world is available at the touch of a button – essential for keeping your business running smoothly 24/7.

These mobile innovations also offer a way of digitizing your paper work documents, including ABBY’s business card scanner and Canvas – an app designed to make all of your forms paperless. Whatever your business needs, get it done on the go with these brilliant business apps.

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