A few minor tech investments can bring your business to the next level. You’ll be able to cut your spending, increase your profits, and boost your productivity. Below are the invesment that every SMB must make:
Many small business owners shy away from investing in modern technological solutions. Price is often the most prominent issue, as many top tech solutions are rarely designed for those with more limited budgets.
The second issue is usually just a lack of trained staff. Implementing new technology in the workplace requires an experienced IT department, which is easier said than done.
With this in mind, you can still use some of the best tech trends without putting a dent in your budget. Look at some of the brightest and most affordable tech investments you should make as an SMB.
Best tech investments that every SMB should make
Below are the most necessary technology investments that every business must make:
Invest in collaboration tools
Collaboration tools are becoming increasingly important for an SMB, especially now with the rise of the remote workforce. Remote work has grown by 44% over the last five years, and many SMBs prefer to hire remote employees rather than in-house ones.
You need proper office space for an in-house team with high utility bills and invest in furniture, computers, air conditioning, and more. You need to invest in their salaries and benefits for a remote workforce. It makes sense why a small business owner would prefer to hire remote employees.
Whoever you hire, you need to ensure that your whole team can work together seamlessly. And this is why you need collaboration tools.
Everyone can work together with proper collaboration tools wherever their team is located. Your in-house and remote teams can work together on the same projects. You can get in touch with your clients more efficiently. You can keep track of everyone’s progress and ensure all the deadlines are met.
Implement a BYOD policy
The Bring Your Device (BYOD) policy is gaining traction in offices worldwide for a good reason. You’ll enjoy many benefits by allowing employees to use their smartphones and laptops at work.
Primarily, you’ll be able to cut costs. You won’t need to invest in employee-specific devices or additional equipment. This way, you can generate up to $350 of value per employee annually. But this isn’t the only benefit.
Most employees feel more comfortable using the devices they’re already accustomed to. They have no learning curve; they know exactly how to use them. They can even fix minor issues with them without the need for an IT specialist.
When your employees are comfortable with their equipment, they’ll be more productive and motivated. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Don’t forget cybersecurity
The BYOD policy has many benefits but can come with a few risks, especially Cybersecurity.
You won’t have complete control over how your employees use their devices. Even if they use them exactly as they should in the workplace, you’ll risk your business data if they aren’t careful when using them at home.
So, ensure your employees know all the proper cybersecurity measures at work and at home. Secondly, have them use a VPN whenever they’re online.
With a reliable VPN, your employees can stay anonymous online. No one can intercept their connection to a network, and no one can monitor them. It can virtually eliminate the risk of an expensive data breach.
Also, make sure that all the devices have strong firewalls. A good firewall is your first defense against hackers and cybercriminals, so this should never be neglected.
Chatbots are the biggest trend
Regardless of your niche, your business must always be available to your customers. They need to be able to reach you whenever and wherever they want. The only way you can ensure this kind of availability is with chatbots.
AI chatbots are powerful customer support agents that are very affordable as well. They can easily be implemented on most sites and even across different social media platforms.
The best one can hold human-like conversations and answer over 80% of customer questions. They’re accurate and will improve your response times and the quality of your customer service.
All you need is a single chatbot, and you’ll be available to your customers 24/7, almost everywhere on the internet.
By allowing chatbots to handle most customer interactions, you and your team can focus on more critical business matters. This will increase efficiency, improve customer satisfaction rates, and boost profits.
Share this article
About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
More from Rebecca JamesRelated Posts
How to Avoid Gambling Restrictions in 2024
KEY TAKEAWAYS Gambling is prohibited in multiple countries as it is addictive, and many people go ba...
20 Best Penetration Testing Tools For Security Professionals
KEY TAKEAWAYS If you’re in a hurry, then have a look at the list of 20 best penetration testin...
The Role of Developer Security in Software Development
KEY TAKEAWAYS The revolution of DevOps has reduced the SLDC and resulted in the creation of many sof...
How To Detect Hidden Cameras And Listening Devices? A Complete Guide
Many people feel like someone is watching them or listening to their conversations. They may be righ...
What is Virtual Firewall and How it Helps Us in 2024?
Scientists and technicians are trying to invent the latest technology protection to create barriers ...
7 Ways to Fight Against Ransomware Attacks
KEY TAKEAWAYS Ransomware attacks are growing frequently and affecting every sector of the business i...
