In the modern era, it’s a very rare kind of business that can get by without at least a little bit of technology. In some sectors, staying ahead of the curve technologically can give you a considerable advantage over the competition – or at least, allow you to keep pace.
Let’s look at a few key pieces of technology which might make a difference to the way that you do business.
Workplace Communication
Collaborating with colleagues on complex projects can be tricky. The difficulty increases exponentially with the complexity of the project. If you’re having to coordinate dozens, or even hundreds, of people, then you need a decent productivity app: something which will eliminate waiting around, and ensure that everyone is able to work whenever there’s work available.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen an explosion in working-from-home practices. Remote working presents a few advantages to both employees and employers, and it’s likely that we’ll see it persist long into the future. Businesses which lack the technology to implement working-from-home are likely to find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to recruiting and retaining new staff.
Increased Operational Efficiency
There are certain key processes in your business that might benefit from automation. Payroll software, data collection, and report generation can all confer benefits in terms of productivity, and leave your flesh-and-blood staff free to pursue other tasks.
Financial planning software is a good example. With its help, you’ll be able to obtain a complete overview of your business and all of its constituent assets, and have access to modelling and predictive analytics that aren’t accessible through other means.
Using Technology to Improve Security
A digitally-connected business is open to digital forms of attack. It’s critical that you put in place protection that will help you to deal with malware, data breaches, and other forms of digital threat. This means installing the appropriate software, and ensuring that it’s kept updated. But it also means educating your staff about the nature of the threat, and the appropriate ways in which the threat might be dealt with.
A common form of attack is a phishing email. If your staff knows enough to think twice before opening such a thing, then you’ll be that much more resilient. The investment in just a little bit of regular training can mean a huge amount of costs being avoided in the long-term.
Improving Customer Service
The right CRM software can help you to collect data from your customers, and offer a personalised experience that’s more likely to yield conversions. AI-powered chatbots can also help you to offer high-quality service to customers with complaints, without having to invest in a large customer service department.