Technology is an investment that pays off for businesses of all sizes. However, the adoption process frequently involves trial and error, and many small firms don’t have the luxury of doing so when it comes to such investments, especially given the ambiguous business environment of today. That could help to explain why several small organizations have been slow to adopt the mobile technologies that have altered larger enterprises. Since the advent of the PC, smartphones have significantly enhanced productivity. According to a survey, using a smartphone gave respondents an extra 58 minutes of work and leisure time per day on average, and their productivity rose by 34%.
The following three investment areas according to our experts strike a balance between security, cost, and efficiency and should be taken into account by small enterprises looking to increase productivity.
1. Cloud-computing:
“Although cloud computing has been available for a while, the cost of running a business from the cloud has drastically decreased. Increased collaboration and freedom from desk-bound work are two benefits of moving your data and business activities to the cloud. Small businesses can gain a lot from cloud-based platforms, like amazing scalability, excellent reliability, better security, and significantly lower administrative expenses, to mention a few. Small businesses should examine their current IT carefully and determine whether it is strategic. It’s time to outsource if the response is negative.”
Josh Thill, Founder of THRIVE ENGINE
Email serves as the most basic illustration of involving cloud computing in your business setup. Even while most small businesses no longer find it necessary or advantageous to do so, many nevertheless host their Exchange servers. Irrespective of the provider you pick, moving email to the cloud enables you to easily scale an incredibly dependable service and gets rid of restrictions related to managing your internal data center. More significantly, you can reroute your scarce resources to aid in achieving strategic objectives. Instead of paying an IT manager to maintain your Exchange server, you can hire that same professional to concentrate on finding the technology products and solutions that will give you a competitive advantage. This professional has a vast knowledge of how your business operates and what IT services you require.
2. Adopt AI, analytics, and machine learning:
These keywords may sound completely unattainable for a modest business investment. Small businesses may not be able to afford to create unique AI systems, however, there is one crucial exception: Off-the-shelf software solutions are incorporating new technologies that enable you to accomplish more with your data.
Tim Parker, Director at Syntax Integration
3. Go mobile:
“Although the term “mobility” has been in popularity since the 1990s, earlier attention was paid to laptops and optimizing internet connections. Thanks to recent technological advancements, mobile-only workflows are now conceivable with enterprise-class smartphones that are as fast as many PCs and 5G broadband services that are available in vast areas of the world. Offering staff assistance for using their mobile devices in the workplace through a Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program is a wise investment, even in the absence of genuine work mobility.
However, you may achieve much more if you make the devices essential to daily operations. When compared to maintaining Windows desktops or laptops, managing smartphones and tablets is much more affordable, making them perfect for information consumption and basic data entry chores. Foldable smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, are increasing mobile productivity by integrating PC-like functionality that is intended for commercial use. In many situations, foldable can help your company save money by enabling device consolidation and enhancing productivity while on the go.”
Megan Young, Manager at MCS Rental Software
When utilized in conjunction with the appropriate software, high-performance hardware only performs to its maximum capacity. For organizations, that increasingly involves the use of cloud-based software. By establishing a simple process that makes it simpler for employees to perform their duties, providing employees with the appropriate apps can assist increase productivity. Small firms should review their systems and procedures to find methods to make employees more productive while on the go.
Spending money on the future
For instance, you can track market trends, consumer preferences, and corporate performance using analytics. Real-time feedback might help you obtain greater insights to make more educated decisions. Regarding machine learning, businesses like Netflix and Amazon create individualized recommendations for what to watch or buy next using this technology. Similar software may be used by your company to streamline operations, assist workers in setting priorities, and weed out unimportant data.
The challenge for small firms is to discover what software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers are heading in this way and would then hook their wagon to the fastest train. The power of these technological advances justifies making these changes, even if it means switching your (CRM) software provider or choosing a different project-management solution. Many small firms find it challenging to commit to technological advancement. However, when more sophisticated technologies emerge, conduct an environmental scan of your critical apps to identify any potential gaps or underutilized features.
Smaller companies may not have the resources to make significant IT investments, but they must still harness the tools and technologies available to enterprises of all kinds. Cloud, mobility and AI-powered software are the market’s top IT trends for small firms looking to boost their profitability and competitiveness.
