The last decade has witnessed a quantum leap in technological evolution. For instance, the field of data science has recorded a lot of advancements in data management, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and IT services. Even in this era where many businesses are going digital, you’ll still need the right technology tools to enable you to have a solid digital presence that’ll get your brand the attention it needs. According to BANG! Web Site Design, a website design company, ‘’Today, it takes more than just a great looking website to succeed online.’’
When choosing technology tools for your business, you should be careful to select the ones that will solve your unique needs, those that will be relevant for your business growth now and in the near future. Here are a few tips to help you make the right decision regarding technology tools.
1. Consider Tools That Boost Your Operational Processes
It can be pretty expensive to acquire and introduce new technology to your existing business process. Hence, you must be very intentional about its impact on your operational processes. Look out for tools that can improve your filing methods, bookkeeping or accounting systems, inventory management, communication, project tracking, and reporting. Your communication tools should improve team interaction, service delivery to customers, and the general running of your business from anywhere. There are many communication systems that are cloud-based, secure, and effective. Common platforms like zoom, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Slack, and Google Meet are a few useful options to explore.
2. Take Cues From Your Competition
Another quick guide for choosing the right technology tool will be to find out those used by your competition. This is particularly important as you can see the results gotten by others in your business space when they make use of such tools. You can either adopt the technology tools exactly the way they are being used by others or find ways to improve on them to suit your unique needs.
3. Aim to Ease Your Business Pain Points
Every business has a vision, mission, and goals. Your business isn’t any different. When seeking a technology tool to adopt, have in mind your vision and business goals. Understand what you are currently doing well and areas of your business that require improvement. These areas of improvement are your business pain points. One way to identify these pain points is through customer feedback. Ask for feedback from your customers, as they will likely be more than happy to highlight ways you can serve them better.
You can also make use of data analytics tools to help collect and analyze data pertaining to your customers’ shopping habits. Another important way to discover your business’s pain points is to conduct an independent analysis of the value added by each employee and business process. This will help you decide if there are technology tools that can help you handle any lag in your business operation and time management. For instance, tasks that are repetitive can be automated so as to reduce the time spent on projects.
4. Weigh the Cost Against the Benefit of the Tool
This is where rational thinking comes to play. Your business runs on a budget for effective management, so you must ensure that the cost of any technology tool can be accommodated in your budget. You should also ensure that the benefits your business derives from a newly acquired technology tool surpass the cost of the tool. Do not find yourself getting a tool just because it is trending when it does not really add any tangible benefit to your business.
5. Be Sure It Is Scalable and Easy to Integrate
When going for a new tool, consider those that are user-friendly and easy for your staff to learn and put to use immediately. You do not want something that will require hiring an expert to operate. Also, make sure your technology tools are scalable and can easily integrate into your current business process. Scalability is crucial because you need tools that will remain relevant as your enterprise grows.
6. Look for Tools That Meet Your Skill Gaps
As a business owner, there are certain aspects of your project execution that you may not be well-skilled to handle and will usually outsource. If there are technology tools that can do these tasks, you should go for them. This will greatly reduce the costs associated with outsourcing and take away the dependency on external factors, hence, improving your business efficiency.
