If you own a small business, you may think that technology has value only for big companies with huge technology budgets. However, technology is also creating numerous opportunities for small businesses across the globe. Technology is not only helping small businesses to improve their efficiency, but also enhance their productivity and develop innovative products. Here is a highlight on how technology is helping the small business.
Productivity
Small businesses often have to squeeze every drop of productivity from their operations. Technology tools are increasingly used by employees to get tasks accomplished in a timelier manner. This includes tasks such as printing marketing materials, providing customer service and support through online chats and email, and so on. The main aim is to ensure employees stay focused and use technology appropriately in order to save time. When employees have access to the right hardware and current software, they are able to work at their greatest efficiency.
Communication
Technology is helping small businesses to enhance communication within the firm, as well as with its customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. For instance, cell phones have nowadays become a necessity for business owners and employees alike. Mobile devices are must-haves for staying in touch with customers on the go and responding to inquiries in a timely fashion. Smartphones have even raised the bar higher as they provide internet access and business and email applications. Text messaging, social networking and email are other technological developments that have enhanced communication and helped small business to stay connected to their customers and enhance internal communication within the business.
Marketing
Technology has helped to free small businesses from the limitations of print advertising, especially when it comes to reaching existing and new customers. Online marketing ranges from simple informational websites, to marketing on search engines, to internet product sales. Email marketing is a low cost and effective method that helps small businesses to reach many people with business updates, coupons or newsletters. Mobile marketing is a new frontier that is helping small business to reach potential and existing customers through text messages, advertise through mobile apps, and offer branded applications that connect customers to the latest business news in an entertaining way.
Telecommuting
Nowadays, many small businesses offer telecommuting and flexible time schedules as benefits, largely due to the convenience that technology avails. Employees, customers, suppliers and other business stakeholders can stay in touch from various locations while working different hours through the use of online collaboration resources and mobile computing devices. Workers can now share digital documents through email, convey information via presentations, and develop training videos and manuals to orient new employees on what is going on in the business.
Customer Service
Technology helps to bring small businesses closer to their customers. Businesses can use email to respond to customer queries, use online chat to assist customers that visit the business site, and arm call centers with the most current phone equipment to make customer service representatives more efficient. Technology also gives a business’s customers a wide range of choices on how to contact the company.
Teleconferencing
Teleconferencing through the phone is a simple conferencing method, but recent developments in technology have brought online conferencing to the forefront. Online conferencing can link web cameras, audio, as well as integrated internet meeting spaces to come up with a highly interactive environment. The involved parties can view each other as they interact, share documents, work on projects collaboratively, and recreate the face-to-face meeting experience regardless of their physical location. This is one of the ways in which small businesses can expand their reach to engage global clients and partners.