Technology and business have always had a tight connection. However, it was until recently that advanced technology became a vital component of any type of company or enterprise. Technology has completely changed the way we conduct business. Startups use websites, computers, personal digital products and cloud services to create competitive advantages in today’s economic marketplace. Owners should think of implementing advanced technology into their business model, and thus work with the best technology available.
Introducing “The Cloud”
There are lots of technological advances that impact today’s business ecosystem. However, nothing beats “the cloud”. This pioneering technology broke barriers between startups and companies with huge budgets because it took out the need of advanced investments in infrastructure. Within the cloud, any type of business benefits from super cheap, highly-efficient enterprise-level IT infrastructure.
The cloud offers excellent scalability, too. Companies now have the possibility of upgrading their infrastructure on a budget (per-need basis), without having to worry about making bad investments. Upfront costs are greatly reduced, and operating costs diminish in the long run because there’s no longer a need for in-house statistics. Subscription-based software, made possible because of the cloud, is yet another factor that makes the cloud so appreciated by today’s thriving companies.
Outsourcing
More affordable software and no in-house infrastructure are not the sole benefits of the cloud. Outsourcing has recently penetrated the workforce and it has proven to have lots of unexpected advantages. Prior to the cloud, needing a special kind of services usually involved finding a skilled person who could cater to that need; the interviewing process often took a lot of time, and in the end companies ended up hiring an employee they wouldn’t require after 2-3 months.
Outsourcing has completely changed the way people do business. Off-site workers are increasing in popularity, and there are certain benefits to this kind of practice we should emphasize, such as lower costs and increased efficiency. Outsourcing makes hiring the right person so much easier. Thanks to the wealth of freelancing platforms, companies can take all the time that they need to hunt for candidates and make the right selection.
Mobile technology
Some businesses see mobility as a crucial aspect of their productivity. Before the launch of advanced mobile technology, moving around (e.g. traveling) all the time lowered productivity. Right now, mobile technology lets us work from just about any corner of the world. That’s because we’re not bound to desktop computers anymore. Smartphones, laptops and tablets have taken the lead.
Just like with outsourcing, mobile technology plays a vital role in mobility, too. Back in the day, when we didn’t have the cloud we were forced to save our work on exterior devices. That took a lot of time and effort, which diminished productivity. Right now, we use the cloud because it syncs data in real time. Files can be accessed from anywhere, whether you’re using a desktop computer, smartphone or tablet.
Social Media
In today’s competitive business environment, social media is crucial. Although it’s not a technology per see, it’s a tool that helps businesses connect with clients and investors on a much deeper level. Nowadays, companies without social media exposure have little chances of attaining the recognition that they deserve. Leaving aside company websites, businesses should also have an official Facebook and Twitter account. These have to be monitored and updated regularly in order to grab attention and wake up people’s interest.
Companies that don’t believe in the great power of social media have little chances of becoming successful. We live in a world of Wi-Fi and intelligent devices, so it’s useless to advertise your business using old-fashioned marketing techniques. Groundbreaking technology permits enterprises and startups of all sizes and shapes to reach new markets. Instead of selling services and consumer goods to the local market, social media helps companies attain national and even international recognition.
Advanced technology has completely changed the way companies boost their levels of productivity. Access to information is facilitated by mobile devices and access to the cloud. Modern companies attain recognition through the proper use of social media, so it’s safe to assume that 10-20 years from now, offline marketing and traditional advertising will vanish from the face of the Earth.
By Daniel Lewis and Conosco.com!