Whenever I ask my colleagues what their big career goals are, the common response I get is: “I want to start my own business!” When you live in a place like Silicon Valley, this idea is as normal as having a cup of coffee every morning. But people often forget that starting a new business is challenging.
Small businesses are defined as independent businesses with fewer than 500 employees, and they make up a large portion of the U.S. economy. In 2020, there were 31.7 million small businesses competing within the U.S. For an entrepreneur who dreams of starting a successful business, this is an intimidating situation to be in. That’s where Jonajo Consulting comes in. At Jonajo, we help our partners implement the technological tools they need to become successful.
Are you curious to learn more? Here are 5 ways that small businesses can benefit from technology:
Share and Collaborate
Current online software tools can encourage cooperation between employees. A popular example would be Google Workspace, which has apps like Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Calendar. Employees can easily work together by sharing files, editing documents, and messaging one another. The flexibility of this software lets employees work anywhere in the world, even from the comfort of their own home. We also recommend using these technological tools to improve your workflow: Asana (a task organizer), Slack (a messaging app), and Zoom (a web conferencing app).
Connect With Customers
With the rise of the Internet and social media, connecting with customers has never been easier. Small businesses can send customers relevant content and promotions through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They can engage with their audience on these platforms by responding to comments and questions quickly. Another channel for customer communication would be online forums on your business’s website.
Automation
Small businesses must use their time wisely, which is why automation technology is a beneficial tool. Automation lets you automate simple activities, like sending emails or saving new files to Google Drive. With automation software like Zapier, small businesses can save time by automating basic tasks.
Cloud Computing
In the past, companies stored their data in giant servers, which cost a lot of money. But now, cloud computing and IT infrastructure lets you manage all of your data online. Cloud computing is the delivery of servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics over the Internet. There are three different types of cloud computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). IaaS gives small businesses the most control over their IT infrastructure, whereas PaaS and SaaS are managed for you. Small businesses can pay for any amount of cloud computing services, which provides flexibility and cost savings.
Improved Data Security
For any business, protecting your data from cyber attacks is critical to long-term success. Small businesses can use technological tools such as encryption, data masking, and tokenization to keep their data safe. In addition, two-factor (2FA) authentication can prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing your business’s important applications.
Small businesses must also be mindful of what they store in their database. In one of our previous articles, we talked about types of customer data that should never be stored in a database. You should never store these kinds of information: credit card numbers, social security, medical information, passwords, and security questions. If any of this information gets exposed during a cyber attack, the consequences can be severe.
Conclusion
And there you have it! These are the top 5 ways that small businesses can benefit from current technology. We hope you can use this guide to start a successful business. If you feel that your business is struggling to implement these tools, Jonajo Consulting would love to help you. For 25 years, we have helped businesses implement the technological tools that were mentioned in this article, such as business process automation and information architecture. Our other services include application development, website and mobile design, and global talent management. If this interests you, please visit our website to learn more or send us an inquiry. We hope to hear from you soon.
