How Technological Advancement Affect Modern Business
The influence of technology on daily life is constantly increasing and evolving. Business meetings are now scheduled via email and iPhone, tablets are sitting in classrooms, and news comes from websites, not newspapers. Technological progress requires companies to continue to expand, develop and adapt to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Technology is changing not only the way a company does business but also the way people are valued by a company. There was a time when people were valued because they knew a certain profession. With the Industrial Revolution, people saw the value of their jobs and the workforce declined significantly as machines were able to perform routine tasks faster and more efficiently. The business climate has changed from a trade-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. In this new way of doing business, employees were valued for their intelligence. As technology evolves, companies need to gain a competitive edge.
Not so long ago, our most important medical advances and best business strategies were the results of human knowledge and intelligence. However, as technology becomes more advanced and intelligent, complex algorithms are increasingly responsible for a number of advances. How can a company continue to value its people while taking advantage of incredible technological advances? Some experts believe that employees’ social skills are becoming increasingly valuable to businesses as technology continues to grow and support cognitive functions.
It is not only in the way people are valued that technology changes the way a company operates. The ever-increasing number of devices and possibilities of these devices is an important factor of influence in the daily operation of modern companies. The smartphone has influenced every aspect of life, from how people receive messages to how they discuss them. In addition, these devices allow companies to stay in contact and in touch at all times, both with employees and consumers.
While a secretary or administrative assistant was responsible for time management and appointments, a smartphone can now easily do the job. Smartphones not only help with planning and communication, but they are also a way for companies to remain visible to consumers. Many large retailers have been using websites for years to keep their customers connected to products, but as technology evolves, these websites must operate more efficiently than ever. Reactive mobile websites are increasingly in demand as consumers want to access information in motion. Companies are also using smartphone application features to offer consumers exclusive offers.
As the demand for technological advances increases, so does the amount of data stored and generated by companies. Although it is possible to use external hard drives or USB devices to store data, the most reliable method is to use a cloud storage service. Cloud storage allows users to retrieve information from any device or computer, provided they have access to the Internet. Cloud storage is an amazing technology that benefits businesses enormously.
Because technology is such an important factor in business success or failure, it is essential that companies manage data carefully and strategically. Data loss can essentially destroy a business. It is therefore essential that appropriate measures are taken to ensure safe and secure data storage. Using a cloud storage service such as Ross Backup helps ensure data protection to keep a company running in a constantly changing technological environment.
Technology has revolutionized the way companies do business by allowing small businesses to compete on an equal footing with large organizations. Small businesses use a range of technologies from servers to mobile devices to develop competitive advantages in the economic market. Small business owners should consider implementing technology in their planning process to streamline integration and allow for future expansion. This allows owners to create operations using the most efficient technology available.
Effects on operating costs
Small businesses can use technology to reduce their costs. Basic enterprise software allows an organization to automate back-office functions such as accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll. Mobile technology allows home offices and field workers to interact in real-time. For example, field workers can use mobile applications to capture their daily expenses as they occur and automatically synchronize them with the office’s accounting software.
Protecting confidential information
Business owners can also use technology to create secure environments to store sensitive business or consumer information. Many types of software or business technologies are easy to use and allow business owners with little information technology experience to get the most out of their tools and functions.
Improvement of communication processes
Business technology helps small businesses to improve their communication processes. Emails, text messages, websites, and applications, for example, make it easier to communicate with consumers. The use of different types of information technology communication media enables companies to penetrate the business market with their message. Businesses can also get more consumer feedback through these electronic communication methods.
The technology also improves communication between offices. For example, social intranet software provides employees with a central portal to access internal documents and contracts, update them, and immediately transfer relevant data to other departments. These methods also help companies reach consumers via mobile devices in real-time.
Increased employee productivity
Small businesses can increase the productivity of their employees through the use of technology. Computer programs and management software typically allow employees to process more information than manual methods. Business owners can also implement business technologies to reduce the number of human workers in business functions. In this way, small businesses can avoid paying labor costs and benefits to employees.
Even basic business technology can have a major impact on employee performance. For example, by placing employee performance assessment information in an online framework, supervisors can create easily measurable goals for their employees to achieve and maintain business goals. Business owners can also choose to expand their activities using technology, not people when technology enables better production performance.
Expanding the customer base
Technology enables small businesses to access new economic markets. Instead of simply selling consumer goods or services on the local market, small businesses can access regional, national and international markets. Retail websites are the most common way for small businesses to sell their products in many different business markets.
Websites are a cost-effective option that consumers can access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when they need to buy goods or services. Small businesses can also use Internet advertising to reach new markets and customers through carefully placed banners or ads on the Web.
Collaboration and outsourcing
Business technology enables companies to outsource business functions to other companies in the national and international business environment. Outsourcing can help companies reduce costs and focus on fulfilling the business function that best suits them. Technical support and customer service are two common functions that companies outsource.
Small businesses may consider outsourcing certain activities if they do not have the facilities or manpower available. Outsourcing technology also enables companies to outsource functions to the most cost-effective regions, including abroad.