New technologies have always benefited businesses, from original analog machines like the typewriter to the kind of digital devices we use today. Here are three digital technologies your business can benefit from.
Video Conferencing
Software like Skype has really changed the way company employees and business partners can keep in contact with each other. We’ve had conference calling for a while, but it never really worked out that great. You didn’t know who was going to speak next so people were always interrupting each other. With video conferencing, you’ll get better results and you’ll be more productive with your time. You can easily take part in meetings as if you were there, rather than having to keep your own copies of the slides or graphs being shown - if they’re even available. The best thing about it is the price. Group video calls between three and ten people are free.
Digitising Paper Records
After a while, even new companies can start to build up stacks of old flies that are too important to just throw out. If you’re a well established business, you likely have rows of filing cabinets taking up valuable office real estate. When it gets to this stage, it can be time-consuming to keep everything in order so you can actually find what you’re looking for easily. Companies like TNT Business Solutions can take care of this burden by digitising these files into high-quality e-documents in a variety of file formats. They can even take care of the scanning processes, leaving you to focus on running your business without interruption. Alternatively you could train up yourself or staff. For instance take an online Microsoft training course which you can pick up in your own time. Microsoft SharePoint can help you manage your files online but needs the required training.
Email and Cloud Storage
After you’ve digitised your files, you can take advantage of the benefits of cloud storage. Google Drive and Microsoft’s OneDrive service both offer 15GB of storage for free and businesses can expand this for low-priced monthly contracts. Microsoft currently offer 1TB of data (that’s 1,000GB) for just £1.60 p/m with an annual commitment. You’ll be able to access your documents anytime from a variety of different devices, such as your PC, smartphone, or tablet. Any documents can be easily edited and be made instantly available amongst however many members of the team you decide. With this kind of technology. employees can collaborate on projects way more easily and use email services for fast communication.
Make sure you take advantage of any new technologies that benefit your company to stay competitive. Looking for more tips on how to improve your business? Take a look at our five core elements for a successful business plan.
