Business technology is engineered to enable you to do more with less effort. The companies that perform best in any economic environment are those which can realize the greatest productivity from their workforce. Technology is one advantage that can make tasks of all kinds easier and more accurate when implemented properly.
Here are some of the ways that incorporating the right technologies will streamline your business processes.
1. Access to Information
All you need these days to utilize a vast array of information is a fast internet connection and a reliable network. Many companies have come to rely on cloud-based databases that can be used from anywhere at any hour of the day. This makes it possible for mobile and remote employees to share the workload without being at the office.
Information you can discover online makes it easier for you to identify and react to changes. A simple internet search is all you need to find the latest tools, knowledge, and insights that will keep your business competitive.
2. Manage Employees
Even when team members are spread around the world instead of in the same room, collaboration is necessary to build relationships and get things done. There are free productivity tools like Google’s G Suite that can help your employees communicate and share files efficiently.
Microsoft’s cloud-based Office 365 goes beyond the usual notions of a desktop productivity suite by enabling a digital ecosystem. This also includes business services like OneDrive or Dynamics CRM.
Office 365 allows your team to use productivity apps along with communication tools in different configurations. Customizable cloud platforms allow you to adapt powerful apps for your specific needs. Online solutions offer better security and more efficient data manipulations for customer service or process analysis.
Integrated capability to work with mobile devices further enhances productivity by putting instant messaging, email, and business apps right in your pocket. The on-the-go internet access that smartphones provide makes it easier for team members to stay connected with each other and with customers over social media and other online channels.
3. Improve Marketing Results
Internet technologies have allowed small companies to transcend the limitations of print advertising, where corporations with large marketing budgets once had the advantage. The internet allows you to connect with thousands of consumers at a very low cost. It also allows you to reach out over several different channels that consumers use heavily, including social media, search engines, paid ads in news feeds, blogs, sales pages, and more.
Email marketing is another popular and cost-effective platform for customer engagement. You can distribute newsletters, coupons, special bargains, and other offers by inviting website visitors to subscribe to your email list. There are a variety of email management apps that make it easy to send thousands of emails, each personalized to fit the customer.
The hot marketing medium today is mobile advertising. This involves emailing content directly to your audience’s smartphones or tablets. It’s also possible to develop your own app to distribute your marketing, or lease space on someone else’s.
4. Work From Anywhere
If your company has a need for mobile employees such as salespeople or field technicians, you have to keep them productive with the right technologies.
Using a VPN (virtual private network), you can provide remote workers a secure channel for communications. Employees can log in from anywhere to keep in touch using email or text. Mobile apps will also provide them the ability to share documents and collaborate on projects in near real-time.
New technologies have made it simple for employees to telecommute from home or on the road. Teleconferencing, for example, allows your and your employees to have face-to-face meetings via web cam or collaborate in online virtual spaces.
These same technologies enable you to consult with clients or vendors without any need for either party to travel. This saves both participants time and money.
5. Connect with Customers
Technology helps to build relationships between your company and your customers. You can answer questions with email and provide online chat to facilitate customer service through your websites. You call center agents can utilize the latest telephony systems to reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction.
Higher levels of efficiency in customer service are achieved through a variety of new technologies. This can include Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for quick access to each customer’s data. This enables your call center to offer more personalized interactions while improving the opportunity to upsell.
6. Ensure Digital Security
With all the concern over hackers and data breaches, technology is actually your best defense when it’s used responsibly. That means observing sound practices for data protection and business continuity. Best practices include enforcing the use of strong passwords, off-site storage of data backups, and maintaining updated software with all the latest fixes and security improvements.
Your company’s security software should start with installing the latest anti-virus and firewall applications. It’s your first line of defense against malware, data breaches, and the loss of critical information.
7. Monitor Business Progress
Modern business productivity software is becoming predominately cloud-based. This enables you to better track your progress toward realizing your business goals. Online actions such as clicked links, page views, customer abandonment, and other metrics can be recorded for analysis.
Monitoring and reporting tools for following these metrics enable you to gain insights into important factors such as customer preferences, ad performance, and marketing trends.