Many entrepreneurs will be thinking about the year 2020 for a long time to come. Attracting new clients and gratifying existing ones, however, is the best way to get your business back on track and feeling secure again.
You must also equip your staff, whether they are working from home or in the office, with the resources they require to serve customers and complete their tasks. This can be challenging if you have concerns about data security or your employees’ ability to access mission-critical documents and business software from the comfort of their own homes.
You may get your life back in order and keep your sanity by checking out these five technological solutions that will have a positive impact on your company’s ability to function normally and grow in the future.
1. Reliable Technologies Build Resilience
Both your clients and employees rely on you. Customers count on you to solve every problem that arises, from incorrectly posted hours of operation to software lockouts. You need stable systems if you want to multitask effectively. You can’t afford to have any downtime with features like lightning-fast corporate internet and seamless wireless connectivity all across your building. Everyday operations for a virtual workforce require protected services like:
Maintainable bandwidth for online video chats
High-speed Internet service at a reasonable price for businesses.
Integrated redundancy, such as redundant internet service providers
Secure Virtual Private Network Options for Startups
A private network protected by a corporate firewall
Consistent in-office and off-site team phone service for small businesses
Anywhere, anytime access to your data in the cloud
Data should be backed up regularly and securely.
Your software will always be up to date and you won’t have to worry about the cost of downtime if you choose the correct business internet providers and technological services. Instead, your team can focus on their work without worrying about the security of consumer information.
2. Business Internet Security Solutions Reduce Downtime
A lot of data is being gathered by your company. Customer information like name, address, and payment details are stored. You are accountable for maintaining the confidentiality of this information. In addition, your online store and correspondence are dependent on your website. Services disruption, data theft, and financial loss are all possible outcomes of a cyberattack. According to a recent poll conducted by BullGuard among SMB owners,
Five percent of businesses in the last year have been the target of a cyberattack or data breach.
Half of respondents estimated that it would take 24 hours or more to fully recover from a cyber incident.
Twenty-five percent of those attacked reported spending $10,000 or more to stop it.
25 percent said it cost them business, and 40 percent said they had to start over because of the data loss.
The increased vulnerability of your business is a direct result of the trend towards remote work. Employees access company files using their own devices and WiFi networks at home. It is difficult to secure and standardise these channels.
Small Business Tech Solutions Enhance Safety
The proper tech company can supply you with low-cost ways to boost your safety. To stay safe from new viruses, your small business should use antivirus software that has automatic updates. You can further lessen the likelihood of cyberattacks by taking measures to secure your router and by employing managed security solutions.
Stress is reduced in more ways than one when worries about safety are removed. Deloitte found that “34% of small business owners reported privacy and security concerns” as a barrier to using technology, therefore this solves that problem as well.
3. Cloud Technology Provides Mobility and Flexibility
Businesses can’t function properly without easy access to critical information like stock records and client profiles. Many business owners found it difficult to provide the same high-quality experiences for their customers and employees when working away from the office, despite the fact that they still had access to the same network.
And remote workers aren’t going away, either.According to Gallup’s annual Work and Education poll, “One in four US workers are working entirely from home.” In addition, “13% of small business owners say all new employees they hire will work remotely or from home,” according to a survey conducted by QuickBooks Small Business.
With the help of technology, your team members may share and organise information from any location. Managed services, such as unified communications (UC), provide a centralised hub for all of your distant platforms, saving you time and effort. Your staff will be more productive and provide better service to customers as they will spend less time looking for and launching applications.
Your firm, your clients, and your employees will all benefit from increased collaboration because it increases employee happiness. Workers in the modern era value convenience and adaptability. By utilising IT, you can help your teams work together to achieve company goals.
4. Managed Services Support Business Continuity
To thrive in the new normal, business owners are concentrating on developing flexibility. Cloud services, subscription goods, and cloud services all help businesses save money and keep running smoothly, says Gartner. More people need cloud-based conferencing services since their need for cooperation has grown.In 2020, Gartner projects:
The market for IaaS (infrastructure as a service) is predicted to expand by 13.4 percent.
Forecasts indicate a 46.7% growth in the use of cloud-based conferencing services.
It is important to investigate how various technologies, such as managed services, might mitigate each risk your firm faces. Make sure you can reach essential features both at work and away from it. Then, devise a strategy to maximise the benefits of your technological investments.
5. Technology Opens the Door to Future Growth
Long-term planning is challenging because it requires you to foresee how your brand will evolve in tandem with your target market. No matter the approach taken, expanding sales and market share should be at the forefront. Advances in technology pave the way for successful future endeavours. Deloitte reports that “digitally advanced small businesses realised significant benefits,” especially in comparison to their less technologically advanced competitors.
Having twice the profit per employee
With sales increasing by almost four times what they were a year ago
The likelihood of employment creation is roughly three times higher than it was a year ago.
Having a rate of job growth that is more than six times as high as the national average
Securing essential technologies, such as cloud services and a cutting-edge small business phone system, frees up resources and allows the organisation to expand. And with “28% of small business owners saying they’re selling more products and services online,” many startups can’t afford to lag behind, as reported by QuickBooks.
Strengthen Your Workforce With Technology
Last but not least, technology raises morale in the workplace, a critical element in expansion. Deloitte found that “43% of US small business owners and managers said they have seen an increase in employee satisfaction as a result of using digital tools within their business.”
When applied appropriately, technology has the power to bring people together, resulting in favourable brand perceptions. The appropriate workplace solutions can help you save money, bring in more money, and develop a solid reputation.
Ease Your Small Business Concerns by Embracing Technology
Selecting the best combination of technologies to back your expanding organisation is key to achieving success. Managed service providers and your Internet service provider (ISP) collaborate with you to develop systems that meet your current requirements and make the switch to new processes as painless as possible. Despite limited funds, investing in technology can help a small firm cut costs and open up new revenue channels.