But thanks to technology, there are a handful of optimization tools anyone can take advantage of to work more efficiently. If you're looking for affordable, user-friendly technologies you can easily explore to optimize your business, this post is for you.
Here, expert business analyst, Kate Richardson, who has experience using several tech tools, has compiled some of the best technologies you can utilize to streamline business processes and improve efficiency.
How to Use Technology to Improve Business Efficiency and Productivity
Below are some of the best ways technologies can help you boost your organizational efficiency:
Cloud-Based Software
The trends we see in technology today are gradually impacting other fields, including the business environment. Online jobs are increasing, and for the most part, this means conventional workspaces have to step up their game.
Changes in processing, data collaboration, and storage are on the rise. And unlike in the past where on-premises ERP systems were predominantly used, business owners are making the most of cloud-based management tool for a better workflow. In 2023, 42.5% of EU businesses utilize cloud computing, primarily for email, easy access to files, and office applications.
Interestingly, the technology is flexible and easy to use, compared to in-house solutions and physical hosting. It simply gets your system hosted on servers you can easily access online. Instead of the regular on-site servers, you can save data on external servers that are regulated by your service provider.
These modern data centers provide digital marketing tools on multiple operating systems and are well-managed.
Among other things, cloud computing allows you to run programs online without necessarily setting up or maintaining servers. Forget hardware, you can handle your business's IT systems with just a web browser and a strong internet connection.
Business Communication Tools
Typically, your goals and business model (SaaS or not) will go a long way in determining what type of communication tool will be the most fit for your company–whether internal or external.
Internal communication tools are best used to significantly improve information flow among employees, encourage teamwork, and create a greater sense of belonging. The external ones, on the flip side, are used to attract clients, minimize churn, and build up the company's reputation.
Business communication tools come in a wide variety of forms, from virtual to physical, direct to indirect, professional to informal, and spoken, written, visual, or audio. They include logos, traditional business cards, websites, blogs, email, emails, catalogs, flyers, posters, and other printed materials
Plus, media releases and other forms of interactive support such as videos, podcasts, instant messaging, chats, webinars, wikis, forums, games, and surveys, are additional useful resources.
When it comes to finding the right communication tools, you have to consider the people you're trying to reach, what you intend to convey, how much money you have, how often you'd like to disseminate, the format you're looking to use, the tone, and also the style.
Additionally, you should assess how likely they are to succeed by gauging their influence on KPIs like:
The open rate
The number of clicks
Conversion rate
Level of satisfaction
ROI (Return on investment)
Employee Advocacy Software
Although most businesses have employees as their most valuable assets, they are still very underutilized on social networks where several consumers interact.
Employee advocacy software is a great tool for businesses to boost their employer brand and increase efficiency. It can also help to attract top talent, grow their social media following, and increase the number of qualified leads they receive from sales and marketing.
By utilizing several employee advocacy apps, company founders can send personalized content feeds to staff through their preferred devices and channels. Next, employees go ahead to share with just a single tap.
Mobile Applications
According to Zippia.com, the typical smartphone user checks nine to ten apps daily and thirty apps monthly. Statista predicts that by 2026, users will have downloaded up to 143 billion apps from the Google Play Store, up 30% from 111 billion apps in 2021.
With statistics as staggering as this, there’s just one key thing to note as a business owner—you need a mobile application.
These days, even the most basic activities like ordering food online, getting a dry cleaner to pick up your dirty clothes, and ride-hailing, plus hobbies like betting on your favorite sport online can be done via an app.
For the sports lovers who use betting apps like 10bet, affiliate sites such as MightyTips break down instructions for 10bet setup, so they’ll have no hard time getting started on the go. Little wonder we have more people choosing mobile apps over on-site options.
A customized mobile app is a great way to improve business operations. With it, you can provide customers with the details and services they need in a user-friendly manner. No one wishes to spend hours waiting for a particular site to load. What do they love? Easy access to your business with just one click.
Project Management Software
While emphasizing the importance of project management software to business leaders who are looking to tackle inefficiency, Jason Fried, the founder of Basecamp, said,
“Project management software makes it easy to pretend like you’re being productive when you’re not. It’s a lot easier to add tasks than it is to actually do them.”
For managers, it offers a perfect centralized system for assigning tasks, setting deadlines, tracking progress, and reporting on projects as a whole. Tools like Trello, Slack, Wrike, ClickUp, and ProofHub are ideal for professionals across creative industries who may need to boost efficiency and collaborate on major projects.
Freelancers or anyone working on virtual side gigs may also take advantage of this technology to stay organized or complete repetitive tasks with automation tools.
Streamlining Your Process: How Automation Can Help Your Business Thrive with the Right Tools
One of the best tricks for staying on top of your game as a 21st-century entrepreneur is to leverage technology. As Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group puts it, "Technology is a key tool for any business owner, and it's essential to stay ahead of the curve'"
With it, you can improve collaboration streamline processes, and also automate tasks. You can as well spend less time and resources than you would normally and focus on optimizing your business.
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