Technology is all around us, and particularly in this strange, stressful climate we are living in, it is being utilized more than ever before. Businesses are one of the many beneficiaries of recent technological advancements, and thanks to these developments, many businesses have been able to survive one of the toughest times they have likely ever experienced. Here are three ways that technology is changing businesses for the better.
The Cloud
“The cloud” is a buzzword that has been thrown around a lot recently, but it is actually quite important to the survival of many businesses during the pandemic. In fact, by the end of 2020, 67% of enterprise infrastructure will be cloud-based. In short, the cloud allows businesses to move their files to a remote virtual location so that they can be easily accessed by everyone—no matter where they are. Instead of having to either be on-premises to access business files—or worse—having to connect to your corporate servers via a clunky VPN, the cloud gives everyone easy, seamless access to what they need. This has been a lifesaver for anyone who is unable to work in an office setting due to the pandemic, and may eventually lessen the need for employees to return to the workplace even once restrictions have been lifted. The cloud not only gives easy access to files, but also allows people to run programs, such as cloud accounting software, remotely so you have complete control over all of your essential business processes.
Improved Productivity
Think about how tough it used to be to perform simple tasks on computers. Even if you never experienced this personally, odds are you have heard tales of the “olden days” of the Internet and how much things have improved since then. Instead of having to wait for what feels like hours to connect to the Internet—and lose the connection if someone picked up the phone—you can now do things in minutes without any fear of a dropped connection. Technology has provided us with a variety of tools that have vastly improved our work lives, from customer relationship management (CRM) software, that helps keep all customer data streamlined and organized, to video-conferencing software like Zoom, that makes remote meetings run successfully. Further, 87% of CIOs believe digitally empowering their employees can drive at least 5% additional revenue growth over three years. This means that the more technology that is available to employees, the better they will be able to do their jobs, so it is essential to stay ahead of the curve and arm your staff with the best tools.
Better Customer Targeting
Customer targeting is much less of a guessing game now than ever before. With the advancements and popularity of social media, you can get your information in front of your target audience with little effort. You can set up an ad campaign on social media in minutes and have it seen by hundreds of thousands of people, all of whom have at least limited interest in you or your product. If you are lucky enough to have a dedicated web development and marketing team, it is also very easy to learn about your target audience directly from your own website. Software exists that allows you to see exactly what people click, where they linger, and what they steer clear of on your site, so you can get a sense of what is resonating with your audience and what needs to be edited. With technology like this, getting your message seen by the right people is simple.
The Bottom Line
Times are tough for businesses right now, but technology can make things a bit easier for your company and employees. Whether you are using the cloud for easy file access for everyone or running ad campaigns on your favorite social media site, now more than ever, constantly evolving technology will have a large impact on the success of your business.
