Technology can help business owners to make the most of their capital and grow their businesses faster. Mobile and web-enabled innovations have made it easier for business owners and employees to focus on marketing, relationship management, and sales without neglecting other vital tasks like accounting and project management. Here are some of the most critical technologies that empower small businesses.
1 Financial Accounting
All businesses rely on practical accounting and transaction management to stay afloat. This is necessary to pay suppliers and staff promptly and manage inventory and customers. Automated accounting packages help to monitor cash flow and payments in one place. This way, budding entrepreneurs don't have to spend much time on mundane admin tasks. This gives more time to focus on meeting client's needs and performing tasks that will bring in much-needed revenue.2 Mobile Tech and Telecommuting
Over 80 percent of small business owners use one type of mobile device or another. Many entrepreneurs use their phones and tablets to schedule appointments and communicate with customers on the go and in the office. They also use them to create notes and to-do lists, while many monitor their social media accounts and transfer funds with their smartphones. But these are only some tasks you can carry out with mobile devices.You can use smartphones to create documents and print them wirelessly, thanks to devices designed for mobile devices. Likewise, you can also use the camera and photo features for marketing products, taking customer testimonials, and team collaboration. For reporting and appraisal purposes, ask your team members to take photos or create short videos, tag them, and send them to your admin department.
3 Marketing and Sales
Online marketing tools can help small firms to connect to a large audience within a short time. With social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and YouTube, it is possible to promote your products and services faster, attracting hundreds of leads and prospects daily. These leads can be qualified using pre-defined criteria and taken through your sales funnel. In addition, you can start a blog on your business website and direct your social media followers to your articles. On your website, your opt-in form can also enable you to capture leads you can follow up with email marketing.4 Collaboration and Training
No matter how far apart your team members are, it is possible to reach them with powerful low-cost communication tools. Set up teleconference calls with Skype and Apple Facetime to ensure all members are on the same page. Create training podcasts and post them online so your coworkers can review the material at their leisure. Team messaging tools, like Slack, also allow you to communicate quickly with all team members at once.5 Cloud Computing
Most small businesses no longer install costly IT servers, on-site application software, or bulky hardware. Instead, small firms have embraced cloud computing which reduces overhead costs, enhances flexibility, gives a better customer experience, and boosts business growth.Dropbox and Google offer a suite of cloud computing applications. They provide apps for email, document creation, storage, scheduling appointments, and collaboration. All employees can use these tools on various devices from any location with an internet connection. These technologies create a level playing field for businesses regardless of size. A tiny startup can utilize the same tools as an industry leader with 5,000 employees.
6 Automation
When you use computers to handle mundane, repetitive, or data-driven tasks, it is possible to have more time for creative work that adds excellent value to your company. For instance, when new prospects visit your website, you can provide them with live chat assistance. This can, of course, be time-consuming when you only have a few team members on board.To handle most of these tasks, intelligent chatbots that automate commercial conversations may be used to solve your client's problems. This is a great time saver because many professionals spend almost half their day communicating via chat applications and email. This significant operational burden can be reduced by extracting useful information from previous conversations to automate routine or transactional tasks.
If you still need to fully integrate technology into your business, consider all its benefitste tools and gadgets can help you to be more productive and efficient while saving you time and money. This will help your business to grow faster and put you ahead of your competitors.
