It’s hard to keep up with how quickly things change these days. In a world, this fast-paced, a business that doesn’t adapt well will not be able to compete.
Consumers are more tech-savvy than ever—they expect your business to be, too. Stay ahead of the curve by utilizing technological innovations in your daily operations.
We’re going to catch you up to speed with a few of the latest technology trends in business. Implementing them in your strategies can improve your efficiency, boost your online presence, and increase your profit margins.
Remote Work
Working from home started as a way to protect the health of staff members during the pandemic. But since its rise in popularity, many employees have found that they prefer it to working at the office.
Some businesses are opting to close their brick-and-mortar locations, switching exclusively to online operations.
However, certain challenges arise with working at home. Employees may begin to feel isolated from a lack of communication. A few remote workforce solutions include daily video conference check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and access to a messaging platform like Slack.
If you can measure the productivity of your workers, you might find that some work better than others when they’re away from the office. It’s up to your discretion how you plan to enforce a remote working policy; you may choose to do so on a case-by-case basis.
Streamline Software & Devices
Compatibility can be tough. When one employee is on a Windows computer and the other is on an Apple, there may be issues with sharing files, software, or communication.
Make integration easier by getting all employees to work with the same software. When everyone uses identical platforms for sending messages, emails, and files, communication is simple. You can avoid common snags that arise when employees are unfamiliar with each other’s devices.
Keep everyone on the same page by providing your employees with the same set of computers, programs, and processes.
Search Engine Optimization
Does your business have a digital marketing strategy? If not, it’s time to make one. The days of phone books and word-of-mouth recommendations are long gone—now, it’s all about your online presence.
More often than not, customers turn to online reviews to determine which is the best plumber, pizza place, or IT company in their area. With an optimized website, you’ll rise to the top of search results, and it becomes that much easier for those customers to find you.
The importance of SEO in digital marketing cannot be overstated. It involves things like building a mobile-friendly website, improving loading times, writing engaging content, and more.
Your website is the face of your business. Show customers that you’re at the top of your industry by rising to the first page of Google search results.
Authentic Social Media Marketing
As consumers, we’re familiar with the tone and wording of most advertisements. We see them everywhere we look. The moment that people realize they’re being fed a lie, they scroll away.
If you’re planning to advertise on social media, you need to write copy that’s genuine and captivating. The moment people notice that your marketing is inauthentic, they’ll click away.
You need to meet your customers where they’re at. That means using language and references that they’re familiar with. Consumers can smell inauthenticity from a mile away—they’re privy to it after years of seeing poorly written ads.
The Gig Economy
Businesses know how costly it can be to hire new employees. There’s the hiring process, training, and the expense of losing them if they aren’t a good fit.
Using apps like Fiverr or Upwork, it’s easier than ever to hire freelancers to perform a range of tasks. You can outsource the work you need to be done—no more, and no less. That means no firing or rehiring costs if things slow down. During your busiest seasons, try offloading some of your work to freelancers.
Enhanced Cybersecurity
Now that more businesses have pivoted to working remotely, the weaknesses in their cybersecurity are more exposed. Hackers are targeting these weaknesses to obtain customer information, credit cards, and more.
Suffering from a cyberattack jeopardizes the reputation of your business; it makes it more difficult for customers to trust you.
Since 2018, security breaches have increased by 11%. Investing in cybersecurity is a worthwhile endeavor, both for your customer’s safety and your bottom line. Boost your cybersecurity to keep your business and your customers safe from hackers.
These technology trends can make your products and services more convenient, efficient, and accessible. The market changes as quickly as the world around us these days; keep your finger on the pulse by incorporating the above technologies in your business.