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There are always new buzzwords in tech, that’s a vital part of the industry. What’s amazing about most new piece of technology is the impact that they have on small businesses – almost every piece of new technology can be applied to entrepreneurship in one way or another. We are living in an age of unprecedented technological change – technology is continually developing and evolving.
Each month there seems to be a new innovation that has the power to impact how effectively a business is run significantly. The internet is, of course, one of the most incredible pieces of technology that the business industry (and the world) will ever benefit from, as it offers so much potential. So for business owners, this is a crucial resource to take full advantage of, as it can make running your business so much simpler and more straightforward.
Intrigued by the concept of using technology to make running your business that little bit simpler and more straightforward? Below is a guide to seven essential pieces of technology that every company needs to take full advantage of.
1. IT support
The first piece of technology that every business owner needs to invest in is adequate IT support. This is particularly important for business owners who are running virtual businesses or businesses that rely primarily on their websites and virtual software because if something goes wrong and your IT systems go down, you could be left without a business to run. That’s where investing in specialized IT support comes into the equation, because by taking this step you are protecting your business from going offline should help to prevent any business-related issues from occurring.
2. Cloud computing
Expensive IT equipment has now become a thing of the past. Instead, it’s cloud computing that has become highly popular with business owners. The cloud computing model has been life-changing for many small businesses because it cuts the cost of running a business, offers flexibility that is needed to grow, and makes providing higher quality customer service easier than ever before.
Two of the best examples of cloud computing are Gmail and Dropbox. These two pieces of software come with all kinds of potential for small businesses and can be used anywhere, at any time, from a wide range of devices. What’s amazing about cloud computing is that a four-person startup can use the same technology as a large, 1000-person business, it has the ability to level the playing field.
3. Specialist software
It’s no secret that every business relies on certain things to stay afloat, such as scheduling shifts, paying team members, and doing inventory, for instance. These tasks can all take up a lot of time, time that smaller businesses don’t necessarily have, which is where specialist software comes in.
Specialist software can allow even the smallest of businesses to have a competitive edge in terms of how they run their company. For instance, software like QuickBooks can enable smaller firms to make managing their finances far simpler and more straightforward. The idea behind this kind of software is that it can help to reduce the time that has to be spent on these kinds of things, giving business owners more time to focus on the other areas of their businesses. Another example is big data analytics software, which has become such a powerful asset nowadays. You can even generate custom maps to gain a better perspective of your data.
4. Automation
By using specialist technology to deal with mundane or repetitive tasks, business owners can ensure that they aren’t wasting time on things that they don’t need to waste time on. Automation can be incredible for smaller businesses as it can mean that there is adequate time to deal with every task at hand, instead of having to waste time on things like dealing with payroll, for instance, or having to waste money hiring someone to deal with these things. For example, specialized event rental software is a complete solution for rental companies and streamlines their workflow tremendously.
The good news is that when it comes to automation, there are plenty of tools that you can use to ensure that your business and its tasks are properly automated. The technology that you need shouldn’t be too expensive either; usually it is relatively affordable because it’s designed for smaller businesses on a budget. For example, you can automate your calls with robocall software and free up a huge amount of your time that can be used on more productive things.
5. Video calling
In times gone by, a meeting meant having to leave your business and head to a conference center, which meant wasting a great deal of time on the commute there and back. However, thanks to the invention of video calling, this no longer has to be the case. A large number of business owners from businesses of all shapes and sizes utilize video calling for business meetings.
The great thing about this type of tech is that it enables you to hold meetings anywhere. Whether you are in your office, at home or even travelling, you can use this tech to host meetings as and when you need them.
6. Smartphone apps
Smartphones themselves are incredible pieces of technology for business owners, but it’s the applications that you can get on them that have the potential to be so powerful. The fact is that smartphone apps are an incredible piece of technology because they can offer so many different things – every app design is unique from the next, which is what makes this type of technology so essential for business owners.
Of course, it’s not just apps for smartphones but also for tablets too, which means that however you choose to work, you can access these incredible pieces of tech. There is quite literally, an app for everything, which means that whatever you need, you should be able to find support for it, it’s just a case of sourcing the right app first.
7. A good website
This might seem like an obvious one, but the truth is that not every business owner has a website or at least a good website. It’s not just about designing a simple website; it’s about creating a site that is of a high quality and is designed to offer you and your customers the ideal site. You need a website that is smart and professional, while your customers require a website that is designed to be user-friendly and simple to navigate around.
Any good business website also has a blog attached to it, as blogging is a fantastic way to increase lead generation and boost website page views. That is, as long as the content on your blog is relevant, interesting and informative. You may also want to consider adding video content to your website, as video content has become highly successful in terms of boosting user engagement because it quickly shares a message.
There you have it, a guide to seven essential piece of technology that every business needs.