There’s no denying that we live in the age of technology. No matter what industry or aspect of life we look at today, technology influences it in some form or other across the globe.
Technology is about innovation and innovation in business is all about doing things differently in order to provide better products and solutions and an improved service to customers.
Technology is not just essential for day-to-day business processes, but it can also help companies to achieve growth and success when utilised effectively.
Getting ahead in today’s business world doesn’t necessarily mean being the biggest company or adopting the latest, most cutting-edge technology, but it does mean choosing the right technology equipment to profoundly impact your business’ daily operations.
The key for any organisation is to consider what it is about their operation that eats up most time and money. They should then pinpoint this and look for ways in which technology can help. Automation, conferencing, project management, customer service, and communication are five fundamental ways to do this – but there are bound to be more that fit you and your business.
Make it your mission to review your operations and find better ways of using technology to boost efficiency and you’ll stand a good chance of making your business run smoother.
Here are six benefits of technology you should try to achieve from any IT changes in your business:
AUTOMATION & PRODUCTIVITY
Information Technology allows businesses to speed up key company processes, make more informed decisions, reduce human error and costs increasing operational efficiency. The initial step is to analyse how your staff are spending their time and automate time-consuming regular tasks by using software technologies. This frees up your valuable human resources and allows them to focus on creative projects and innovation – activities that require a greater degree of human engagement.
Task management tools allow you to stay on top of daily Business responsibilities so you don’t miss anything. Email management processes allow you to stay on top of your inbox and ensures you are answering every message.
COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION
Communication is essential in a company and one of the main benefits of technology for business is the wealth of resources available to communicate quickly and effectively from any location. With the increasing business adoption of mobile computing devices (laptops, tablets, etc) and software like Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), cloud systems, and skype conference calls, employees are able to collaborate effectively, even across great distances, and work almost anywhere. Doing so helps you to recruit the best talent, reduce travel costs and the time it takes to start a meeting, improving efficiencies and enhancing teamwork across the whole business.
RELIABLE STORAGE
Some technologies, such as cloud computing, provide easy and reliable data storage that protect the company’s valuable records while minimising the need for server upkeep. Because you are distributing the load across several powerful servers, it can do the heavy lifting, meaning you don’t need to worry much about individual computer specifications or server crashes. With most cloud plans, you only pay for the data you use, which could easily reduce the IT costs for your business.
INFORMATION PROTECTION
Unsecured data can ruin companies’ competitive position and reputation and cost them thousands – if not millions.
Storage systems such as virtual vaults or cloud storage can keep company information safe by only allowing certain users within your company to access, withdraw, add or change the documents. Encrypted passwords offer increased levels of security, making it difficult for computer hackers to access data and preventing private information from being leaked.
ENHANCED CUSTOMER SERVICE
A business can’t survive without customers, so using technology to improve customer service can pay big dividends.
A good interactive website will, of course, be essential for the vast majority of businesses. Technology allows you to build eye-catching effective websites that should be user-friendly, mobile responsive and optimised for search engines.
Online chat support services and 24/7 customer service via social media platforms like Linked In, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great ways to promote your business,
set you apart from the competition and help increase your profits.
Email marketing and Digital technologies can accelerate business growth because they allow companies to reach a wider audience cost-effectively and build lasting relationships with customers to promote brand loyalty.
COST SAVINGS
The biggest benefit of technology in business, are the financial savings it affords small businesses and global corporations alike. Increases in productivity allow companies to do more with fewer workers, reducing payroll costs normally spent. Advances in communication can reduce travel costs. Data storage can reduce warehousing or server maintenance costs. By using the right technology for your business you should be reducing the financial costs to your business and setting your company up for success.
WHERE DO YOU START?
In order to reap the benefits of technology in your business, you first need to review the company’s existing technology in relation to your current and future business requirements. Start by asking yourself:
- Who is using your existing IT systems, and what are they doing?
- How efficient are your current operations?
- Are there any bottlenecks which cause problems?
- Are staff getting stuck on less important tasks?
- Are you duplicating effort between different departments?
- Are there ways of working faster or tasks that could be automated?
- Is your current technology going out of date or causing compatibility issues?
- Are your business needs or processes likely to change in the near future?
WHAT BUSINESS PROCESSES SHOULD YOU AUTOMATE?
Business process automation is not restricted to a handful of functions. Some factors that can indicate the need for automation include:
- High-volume of tasks
- Multiple people required to execute tasks
- Time-sensitive nature
- Significant impact on other processes and systems
- Need for compliance and audit trails
If an activity meets all the criteria listed above, it’s very likely you need to automate your business process.
Technology has changed every aspect of the workplace and businesses will continue to enjoy the benefits as new inventions are introduced.