Comparison between General Application Software and Function-specific Application Software

General purpose application software performs common information processing jobs for end users but not in support of a specific purpose. Because they are significantly increases the productivity of end users, they are sometimes known as productivity packages.

Spreadsheet program is a general purpose application. It does spreadsheets, but those could be spreadsheets that you use to balance your checkbook, or manage your fantasy football league.

Database software is a database contains a list of information items that are similar in format and/or nature. An example is a phone book that lists a name, address, and phone number for each entry. Once stored in a database, information can be retrieved in several ways, using reports and queries. For example, all the names listed for a given area code could be printed out and used for a commercial mailing to that area.

Word-processing software previously done on typewriters with considerable effort can now be easily completed with word-processing software. Writing tasks such as keying in reports, letters, and tables, as well as merging documents, can be performed easily.

Function-specific application software is more limited in what it will do, but it usually goes that one thing much better than a general purpose program. You can use general purpose software for more purposes but limited capabilities for each purpose; but you can use function-specific software for few purposes but with greater capabilities for each purpose.

TurboTax (a tab preparation package) is a special purpose application. Sure, it adds and subtracts numbers like a spreadsheet, but you can't use it to track your fantasy football league. It does one thing - prepare tax returns.

Business application software supports the re engineering and automation of business processes with strategic e-business application like customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and supply chain management.
Other examples are software packages that Web-enable electronic commerce applications or apply to the functional areas of business like human resource management and accounting and finance.

Data mining, enterprise information portals, or knowledge management systems are software empowers managers and business professionals with decision support tools.