Achieving success as a new entrepreneur is challenging. Perhaps you do not have the time needed to commit fully to developing your new business. Maybe your resources are limited and startup costs are high. It is also possible that you are entering a saturated market with plenty of competition.
The number of obstacles you will face as a small business is high, and you will need all the help you can get if you want the brand to still be around in five years. This is where business technology enters the picture. In 2023, there are seemingly infinite technologies that can benefit your brand. It can be nearly impossible to cut through the clutter and determine which tools your business could use.
It is best to start with some of the basics. What technologies does your small business desperately need just to have a chance of long-term success? Let’s see what tools should be a priority for you, depending on your industry and available resources.
Technologies Small Business Need
Customer Relationship Management
In the old days, a simple combination of pen and paper was enough to keep track of customer data and sales information. Eventually, this transitioned to data entry on the computer. Now, much of this initiative can be relegated to a Customer Relationship Management tool or CRM. CRMs make the task of tracking customer interactions and making better decisions easier.
Many processes that used to be done manually can be automated. Information can be shared between departments far more efficiently. Small business owners can keep track of their growing customer base effectively. A CRM could be exactly what your company needs to grow.
Social Media Platforms
Social media are free to join. You can also establish a significant presence on various platforms without having to spend a dime. But most importantly, these platforms are where you can communicate directly with the audience. Between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you can connect with a huge percentage of your ideal customer base.
Creating business profiles and pages that people can follow grants direct access to their feeds, meaning you can share content, comment, and build communities on these platforms. Social media are key to a small business’s marketing plan, so build a presence on the channels that are most popular with your target audience.
Hybrid Cloud
Cloud computing allows businesses to access the Internet and online applications without having to host local servers. Though many brands may be hesitant to give up the control and security they feel with an in-house network, there is always the option to adopt a hybrid cloud model.
This means you can migrate certain business processes to the cloud with the help of getgsi.com while still maintaining some operations on-site for greater control. If your brand carries a heavy load online and uses many internet tools for operations, then a hybrid cloud solution can make life much easier and the company more efficient.
Communication Tools
A company with efficient communication is more likely to be successful. When employees across the organization are on the same page, or they can be in mere minutes, the business will operate far more smoothly. The right communication tool can foster this. There are plenty of options to choose from, but the best ones can integrate with project management.
They also should be able to foster various channels of communication depending on the specific needs of a conversation. Consider a tool like Slack that is perfect for small businesses and integrates easily with other common tools like Google Drive, Canva, Trello, and Monday.com.
Upgraded Office Equipment
The tools that employees use in the workplace are just as important as some of these other technologies. The right office equipment can make a workspace more comfortable, fostering greater productivity from individuals. For example, you could invest in L-shaped desks that have adjustable heights so that employees can sit or stand while working.
Ergonomic mouses and keyboards allow workers to avoid cramps in their hands after long hours on the computer. Dual monitors provide a larger visual field when people have multiple applications open at once, preventing them from having to click back and forth. An upgrade to the technology equipment in your office could have a larger impact than you would expect on productivity and culture.
The Role of Technology is Key in 2023
Even if you consider your business to be a little more old-fashioned, it is impossible to deny that new business technologies make it easier to succeed as an entrepreneur in this decade. The innovations listed above can improve operations and productivity in your company so that you have a greater chance of long-term growth.
Whether you adopt social media platforms for marketing, the hybrid cloud for computing opportunities, or new office equipment to make workers more comfortable, your business may be in desperate need of some innovation.
