How to Use Technology to Improve (or Start) Your Business

If you are like most people, you use technology all the time to make your life easier. You stay connected with your friends, partner, and children with your smartphone, you stream music and videos, and you email colleagues and family members. You might also use virtual calendars to keep everything from your daughter’s dance recital to your son’s dentist appointment organized or online reminders so that you don’t forget something at the grocery store and you do remember birthdays.

Why not apply some of those same technologies to start or improve your business?

Choose the Right Technology

Technology for technology’s sake is pointless. If you just start adding on tech solutions to your business operations, you could end up duplicating your efforts and actually causing more work for yourself. The right technology will increase your productivity, not detract from it. Put careful consideration into some of the tasks that take up your time and look for tech solutions that address those issues directly.

Use Automation to Your Advantage

Automation tools are a good example. They can be configured to send responses to customer emails or generate daily to-do lists. You can also automate functions. For instance, you can install a browser extension that lets you automatically save webpages for future reference or autofill your passwords. Automation helps in accounts payable and billing too. You can automatically send out invoices, payment reminders, and more. Every minute saved counts.

Meet Your Customers Where They Are

Technology also lets you meet your customers where they are. Your customers probably spend time most days on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Some technology solutions will make it easier for you to interact with those people. The right tech will let you distribute content you create and follow-up on mentions of your company. You can use technology to create social media profiles, company accounts, and a website for your business as well.

Stay Connected Wherever You Are

With the right tech, you can set yourself up so that you can work from anywhere too. Something as simple as a dedicated smartphone or a laptop that is robust enough to let you run your business out of the office can go a long way to helping you be more efficient and get more done in the course of your days.

Systematize Your Efforts

Technology solutions can help you simplify your efforts as well. No matter what business or industry you are in, you are going to have documents to manage, appointments to plan, and projects to oversee. It can feel like a lot, but there’s almost always an app for that. Project management and workflow applications such as Trello make it easy.

Learn from Larger Companies

Finally, take a note from larger corporations. Amway is an excellent example of a company that has used technology and social media to its advantage. It makes videos on ways Independent Business Owners can plan to make money with Amway. Learn from Amway’s example on how to create media that inspires new employees while also selling your products.

Conclusion

When you have your own business, technology is your best friend. Automation, project management, and social media combine to help you make the most of every minute. Add the right equipment to the mix and your business can be a powerhouse.