Undeniably, technology has significantly improved the business landscape. Thanks to the technology solutions available today, businesses can effectively and efficiently collaborate with teams, meet customer needs, target audience segments, do business online, and more.
But for businesses yet to embrace technology into their processes, the number of solutions available can be overwhelming. Some entrepreneurs will see themselves clueless about what app or software to prioritise and which ones can be integrated later.
If you see yourself in this situation — someone who wants to maximise technology but doesn’t know where to start — this article is for you. Here, we’ll provide tips on maintaining a profitable business by taking advantage of technology.
Choose the Right Office Equipment
Gone are the days when employees had to complete tasks manually. Nowadays, there are various office equipment designed to help employees accomplish tasks using lesser resources.
One way to take advantage of technology is to invest in the right office equipment. Printers, monitors, desk lamps, and office chairs create a conducive working environment that lets employees do more during the day. Office equipment also promotes healthier and safer habits, resulting in fewer sick days and absenteeism at work.
Stores often give out promos for office equipment, so keep your eyes peeled. For instance, Argos, Costco, and Lidl have weekly offers, often including office equipment at very affordable prices which deliver high performance.
By taking advantage of such offers you will be able to save money on expensive tech but at the same time operate your business with high efficiency.
Automate Processes in Your Finance Team
Keeping your business financially healthy is important yet time-consuming. Finance teams must complete processes seamlessly, as errors can adversely affect the business in many ways.
Embrace technology by automating as many processes handled by your finance team. If your business often makes and sends invoices, the process can be very daunting and slows down other processes in your business which could demotivate your employees because of the repetitiveness of the task. You can eliminate the boring repetitive invoicing task by using a free Google Sheets invoice template which will help you automate this process, so you can send invoices to your customers in a matter of minutes.
If you want an all-in-one solution to your finance team’s needs, invest in accounting software.
Hire Using Video Surveys
Hiring the right people for your business is easier said than done. The process is often time-consuming and stressful. And when not done correctly, it can cost a lot of money.
Technology can improve your business’s hiring strategy. Instead of jumping to several calls to look for applicants, harness the power of social media. Post your job ad on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media platforms to attract the best talents. Hiring on social media is a smart business move as it’s free and allows you to reach a wider audience, especially if you’re process relies on a social media recruiting strategy.
To take it up a notch, consider investing in recruiting software. It’s specially designed to speed up the recruitment process and improve the quality of your hires.
Delegate Tasks to Your Team Using Screen Recording Software
Scheduling meetings every time you have important announcements is time-consuming. Your employees could have used this time to complete other tasks.
Save everyone the hassle of joining meetings by using a free screen recording software. With this tool, you can record any announcement you want to share, and your team can view them during their downtime or vacant hours.
Screen recording software also makes it easier to delegate tasks. You can record yourself detailing the tasks and how to perform them, and your team can view them repeatedly until they understand the material. This will save you plenty of time from personally training team members and repeating instructions.
Automate Your Marketing
Is SMS marketing part of your existing marketing campaign? Have you implemented an SMS marketing campaign for months but still not gotten the expected results? It might be time to use an SMS marketing platform.
Manually implementing an SMS marketing campaign is always possible but doesn’t guarantee the best results. An SMS marketing platform is a better option because it streamlines the entire process, gives customers a choice to opt in or out, and promotes engagement.
A robust SMS marketing platform, lets you reach a wider audience, and enables you to monitor, track, and improve your SMS marketing efforts.
Offer Web-Based Payments
Customer experience is important because it promotes loyalty, encourages brand advocacy, and helps retain customers. Harness the power of technology in providing the best experience to customers by offering web-based payments.
Some of the most common online payments for websites are PayPal, Stripe, Square, and Authorize.net. It’s best to provide multiple payment gateways to your customers, especially if you’re offering products and services internationally.
Most importantly, avoid requiring customers to make an account before they can use any of your online payment gateways. This creates friction and discourages customers from shopping on your site.
Embrace a Tech-Driven Business
Taking advantage of technology to ensure profitability often has a steep learning curve. This is especially true if your employees aren’t tech-savvy. Your workforce will likely have to spend weeks or months before fully utilising new tools, software, or apps.
But the number of resources everyone will spend learning these technology solutions will be worth it in the long run. Being a tech-driven business can be your key to standing out from the competition and attaining long-term success in the industry.