1. What Is Document Creation Software?
2. Best Document Creation Software Products
3. How To Choose The Best Document Creation Software?
4. All Document Creation Software Reviews
5. Types of Document Creation Software
6. Examples of Document Creation Software

Document creation software enables you to create, edit, customize, and share text-based files. These apps can function as document generators, word processors, and PDF creators and editors that import data from third-party sources into templates. With this solution, you can create a range of documents such as contracts, notes, legal documentation, proposals, forms, and reports, among others.

Document creation software can also be used to store and share documents, either locally or on a common drive. These solutions are often part of a bigger suite of systems, or integrated with more robust business software. They can also be independent and focused applications.

The common features of a document creation software solution include:
- The ability to create text-based documents
- Ability to allow documents to be saved and exported in a range of formats
- Plus, they enable you to store and share documents

Document creation software can be used to create a range of useful documents such as reports, proposals, contracts, forms and more. Both freelancers and enterprises can use this type of solution for their business purposes. But how do you select the best document management software app among the many good ones available in the market? To help you, we have created this buyer’s guide which tells you the key features and factors that mark a high-quality application.

Get to know each product with free trial

The ideal way to start your search for the best document management software product is to sign up for the free trials of leading vendors. This will allow you to check out the various key features of each of these apps and gauge whether it can suit your business needs. You can visit the websites of these popular solutions to find out whether there is a free trial you can sign up for: Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat DC, Microsoft Word, Foxit PhantomPDF, and Pages.

Targeted Businesses

• Freelancers and solo entrepreneurs can use document creation software to generate the necessary documents for their business purposes.
• Small, medium-sized, and large enterprises can also use this type of system to go paperless, reduce manual work, and make their business processes more efficient.

Examples of Document Creation Software

• Google Docs: Create and edit web-based presentations, spreadsheets, and documents. The main advantage is you can store documents online and access them from any computer.
• Adobe Acrobat DC: A free global product for viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents. You can use it to accelerate business processes and let your employees work anywhere.
• Microsoft Word: Allows you to create, edit, view and share your files with others easily and quickly. It also enables you to view and edit Office docs attached to email.
• Foxit PhantomPDF: A multi-feature PDF editor that is ideal for teams of all sizes. You can use this solution to create, edit, organize, secure, collaborate and share, export, scan, and sign PDF forms and documents.
• Pages: A robust word processor that lets you create documents that look attractive and read beautifully. And with real-time collaboration, your team can be productive from anywhere.

Types of Document Creation Software

Document creation software apps can function as document generators, word processors, and PDF creators and editors that source in data from third party solutions and use them as templates.

Key Features of Document Creation Software

• Easy installation: You can use an installation script to automatically install the software. Typically, you can install the document creator on your own but if you run into issues you can seek the help of the vendor.
• Multiple document templates: The app creates documents for various clients based on predefined templates. You can use this solution to create an unlimited number of web-based document templates.
• Manage customer profiles: You can set up as many customer profiles as you wish. Plus, you can use predefined customer details (first name, last name, phone number, email) and add others if needed. Typically, there is a document counter and a link to all documents related to a given customer.
• Simple document management: After creating your document templates and a client database, you can easily produce documents from different templates, for different clients. Plus, you can create multiple documents for each customer from the same template. Another advantage is documents can be ordered by date and title and edited at a later stage.
• System options: The software allows administrators to easily configure the settings. They can define date and time format, grant access to other employees, translate the system messages etc. Top vendors protect your information from potential loss or misuse.

Benefits of Document Creation Software

Document/file repository

Cloud-based document creation solutions act as a central storehouse for all your vital documents that can be accessed, viewed, changed and shared with your team members. You don’t have to waste time waddling through stacks of folders to find the paper document you want.

Content security

Document creation software solutions protect your sensitive business information through rigorous security procedures and role-based access control that allows only authorized users to view important documents and files. You can depend on cloud-based systems to keep your critical business data safe in case of natural disasters or emergencies.

Anytime, anywhere access

Cloud-based apps allow anytime, anywhere access to documents from any internet-ready device. Thus, they are especially useful if your project work involves collaboration with team members who are based in diverse locations or work on the go.

Integration with third-party solutions

You can seamlessly integrate the document creation software with the other business systems you use to allow information to flow smoothly between the different platforms. This saves you effort and time, and also maintains data accuracy and integrity. Top applications also support email integration, allowing you to send documents and files to vendor partners, colleagues, and customers.

Latest Trends

Cloud is here to stay

Cloud-based software solutions are becoming widely used for their many advantages. This is true in the case of document creation software too as cloud ensures you can access documents from anywhere, anytime. You don’t need to work on a particular computer or inside a closed network to access your files. You simply need an internet-ready device. Another advantage is web-based document creation apps are easily scalable, making them an ideal solution for fast-growing businesses. To sum up, cloud-based systems offer the main advantages of ease of access and reduced expenses.

Social integration is important

Facebook and Twitter are used by millions of users every day to share information with their contacts and followers and catch up on trends. Not surprisingly, document creation software products have kept pace and have integrated social technology into document creation and file sharing, allowing users to seamlessly organize, store, and revise files.

Potential Issues

User error

User error commonly occurs if you use an old-fashioned document creation system. To tackle this issue, do your homework and select an updated and modern application. Its interface should be easy to understand and use, and allow you to intuitively create and manage files. The app should also allow you to keep your files and documents organized and accurate all the time.

Inadequate training  

It is essential to train your employees to effectively use the document creation software solution. Large organizations can use regimented training programs while smaller firms can conduct informal sessions. Plus, you can prepare and distribute training materials as such as FAQs and quick reference guides to assist your team members. Get feedback from users and update the guide materials regularly to make the training more up to date and useful.

First, be clear about the reasons why you wish to use a SaaS system. You should also have a good understanding of your existing infrastructure and business procedures. This information will assist you to easily integrate the SaaS software with your existing infrastructure without any difficulty.

The second consideration is a follow up to the first one. Ask yourself what you want the SaaS service to do for your organization. Then, be clear about the features the software should have. For example, if you want enhanced data collaboration between different business sections you need a platform that can be accessed by multiple users. However, if you need a competent system that is similar to an on-premise solution, you need to invest in a SaaS product that can be accessed by only a few users at a time.

After you pick a suitable vendor, do not sign an agreement before you take a good look at the Service Level Agreement (SLA). The SLA will clearly define what the SaaS vendor is offering and the compensation they will pay if they do not deliver the agreed services. Read and comprehend the SLA thoroughly to know what you are getting into and to avoid issues later.