The growth of new forms of technologies has opened up a world of opportunities for small, medium-sized, and large enterprises. While some technologies aim to increase productivity, others help companies efficiently interact with their clients. Technology infiltration and adoption have allowed businesses to grow unprecedentedly, reducing the discrepancy between small enterprises and large organizations.
Certain areas of technology advancement are growing faster than others, such as cloud-based solutions and remote-working tools. For most enterprises, this growth has changed the way they acquire talent because they can hire experts from anywhere in the world.
Today, more than ever, everyone would agree that IT solutions provide a holistic solution for all types of modern organizations, from smaller start-ups to large multi-international corporations. Modern businesses are integrating new IT solutions, from production and optimization to business process automation and data accessibility.
Many technology solutions are coming up that give small businesses an edge in a highly dynamic marketplace. Below we discuss top small business IT solutions your teams and your bottom line will thank you for implementing.
1. Remote Workplace Solutions
Modern workplace solutions are a must if you want to scale your business, encourage growth, productivity, and engagement. Workplaces are evolving rapidly, with new business processes and new security challenges. Sophisticated legacy systems don’t live up to the task anymore as they are inefficient and unproductive for the tech-savvy modern workforce.
Modern IT solutions enable employees to be productive “on the go” in their mobile devices as they’re in their workplaces. Whether it’s a document or email editing, storage, or processing – full-productivity suites like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 exist. Remote workplace software integrates different products into a single package. So, having the right cloud tools can help support and connect employees to work anytime, anywhere, and on their devices.
2. AI and Data Privacy
AI has transformed the modern business landscape with exciting developments such as; performance review, product predictions, increased efficiency, and improved workflows. Streaming services, navigation apps and ride-hailing apps all utilize some form of AI technology. As AI becomes smarter, its application will extend beyond industries and sectors and impact every career and profession.
AI is currently being used to track customer shopping behavior and provide actionable data and insight to small businesses. AI is being incorporated in some e-commerce platforms. But with better and more refined data, AI can provide companies with information for marketing and advertising.
Today, AI is only getting better at predicting consumer and market behavioral patterns and offering purchase analyses. With AI, your employees can identify critical changes in product (or service) patterns, isolate these trends, and create detailed reports. In addition, AI will enable your employees to perform deep-content analysis and give evidence-based judgment. AI is inarguably an IT solution your employees and bottom line will thank you for implementing.
3. Mobile Sites and Payments
Alongside better AI and remote-work software, companies are looking at how they can gain a competitive positioning with mobile trends. Smartphones have already been credited with more than half of the web traffic. That means that most transactions are now being completed on a device rather than a desktop computer.
Increases in smartphone ownership alongside uptake of internet connectivity mean that people can use smartphones for mobile payments. That also means that small businesses have to consider new ways of marketing and outreach, including using mobile apps that have become cheaper and more accessible.
Depending on the industry, these apps can extend features such as; improved customer service, video chats, and improved online shopping experiences. Building an app can reinforce a relationship with a customer base while giving you an edge over competitors who haven’t yet leveraged mobile.
4. IT Security
IT security is an essential component in preventing unauthorized access to protected resources such as computers, laptops, data, and networks. IT security preserves the confidentiality and integrity of confidential data, blocking access to outside parties and hackers.
IT security essentially prevents malicious attacks and security breaches that may impact your business. IT security ensures that only authorized personnel can access and adjust your network and sensitive data. The role of IT security is to guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive IT data.
Top cybersecurity solutions for small enterprises include:
- Online traffic protection systems
- Network firewalls
- Safety event tracking tools
- Protected remote access
- Identity and access control systems
You can protect your bottom line from internal and external threats by having strong IT security and reinforcing your security posture.
5. Inventory Management and Analytic Tools
Poor inventory management can cause issues with workflows and lead to over orders. While small businesses may not delve into better inventory management as an urgent need, it’s altogether crucial to have a dedicated inventory management solution for tracking which orders are going out and which supplies are coming in.
The pressing need for better inventory management solutions has led to new, innovative software for tracking inventory. There refers to software that provides insight on which products are doing well and which ones need better marketing. A program that assesses inventory can significantly impact businesses that don’t know how well a product is selling.
Bastionpoint – Technology Toolkit for Small Businesses
Small businesses are living in an exciting era of new technological deployments. Implementations such as artificial intelligence, IoT, virtual reality, blockchain, and data analytics are already taking a front seat in transforming vital business operations. On the other hand, more data, faster communication, and faster automation are ushering in advances in several sectors. Small businesses can benefit from technology trends. By staying on top of these technological advances, you can improve your customers’ experiences and your bottom line.
Contact Bastionpoint for time-to-value small business IT solutions.
Chief Information Officer / vCIO
I provide CIO and IT Support Services alongside a mid-sized technical support team of engineers for business. Bastionpoint Technology is a managed service provider for businesses ranging from 1-500 users! We specialize in Legal, Medical, and Professional services, but support so much more. Retail, Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Non-Profits, and you’ve certainly heard of our clients. We offer unlimited on-demand services, with an on-demand price point to meet every client’s needs. Just call on us – we put your business first!
https://www.pexels.com/photo/desk-laptop-office-friends-4960464/