These days it seems like everyone is starting a small business, and everyone is trying to figure out how to do it properly.
Whether you are selling products or offering services, gearing your business for success from the beginning will mean deciding what is important on many different levels. One of those levels is an investment in technology.
While that might seem like an obvious choice, it may not be to some small businesses. Sure, technology is important for keeping your business functioning well, but it’s also important to do other things that will benefit your small business in the long run.
What Technology To Invest In?
While it really depends on the business needs, there are a few pieces of core tech that every business should have to hand.
Good Internet Connection
This is pretty self-explanatory. You need to be able to communicate with your customers and staff as easily as possible, and this means having a good internet connection available at all times, online and off.
This is another one where it’s important to consider the needs of your business because the types of solutions you choose for internet access will need to be flexible enough to grow with your small business.
There are a number of different types of internet connections available for businesses; check out the article What’s the difference between Utah Broadband and Comcast for a great overview.
Secure Data Storage
An internet connection is the backbone of most businesses these days, but data storage can be just as important. For example, if you’re doing business in an area where the weather is not always reliable, then it’s vital that your data is safe and secure online.
You can also work with cloud services that will safely store information for you on secure servers at all times. That means no more disappearing files or paper copies that could get destroyed by water or fire.
Software That Can Connect With Your Customers
This is, of course, the most obvious piece of technology to invest in when starting a small business. First, you need software that can connect with customers and help them with their needs.
There are a number of different ways to do this through social media, website design, business management tools, inventory systems, and more. The important thing here is finding software that is designed for your specific type of business.
A Business Management System
When you are starting a new business where there are many transactions happening every day, it’s easy to forget about the basic costs of running your small business.
Keeping up with those costs is vital to the financial health of your business and something that isn’t often given as much due as it should be. A good business management system will help you manage all of the finances and other aspects of your business.
Laptops With Good Webcams For Remote Work
These days, employees that are working remotely need to be able to communicate clearly, especially if they are working in meetings. There are a number of different types of webcams available for laptops, but not all of them are good to use for video conference calls.
A good webcam system will have an option for you to customize the color and brightness of your webcam so it’s easy to see details on the other side while you talk.
You should also consider getting a laptop with a microphone if you want your team members that are working remotely to be able to hear clearly while they talk.
High-Quality Devices For Your Staff
Does your business need high-quality photos? Your photographer needs a decent camera. Does your business want amazing social media videos? Give your video editor a laptop designed for video editing. Does your accountant deal with massive spreadsheets? They will need a fast processor.
Good devices come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important thing is to do some research to find the right tools for your needs.
If you have employees working for you, then good equipment for them will be an investment that will pay off in the long run. One of the most common challenges that small businesses face is finding good staff that are willing to stay with you even if your business demands are changing.
A Mobile-Friendly Website
These days, the internet is the place to be for companies of all sizes. A website that isn’t mobile-friendly can be a real problem for small businesses, even if they are just starting out.
A website that isn’t mobile-friendly means that it will look bad on any device that is smaller than your computer monitor.
