Technology is an integral part of business ownership today. One way or another your company relies on the use of technology to operate and succeed and as with most things technology is constantly evolving. It is constantly being updated and improved for the better. It can be hard to stay on track of all of the updates that are available and not all will be relevant to you and your company.

However, it is important to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to new and improving company tech as it may make your life easier and importantly save you money. To help you give you the low down on upgrading your company tech, consider some of these upgrades and whether you can make them work for you.

Replaced outdated software and hardware 

This is the easiest place to start. Identifying software and hardware that is old and outdated should be an easy feat. Old and outdated tech will be affecting the productivity and efficiency of the workplace, not to mention the fact it could pose a potential threat to cyber security. Tasks will take longer to complete and staff morale will be adversely affected. Replacing software or hardware may seem like an unnecessary expense but after the initial outlay, it will be a much more cost-effective and productive way to run your business. 

Security is essential

With the advancement of technology, unfortunately, you also see the advancement of cybercrimes. Businesses can be particularly prone to cyber-attacks, research shows that cybercrimes against businesses worldwide are continuously increasing and failure to install the appropriate security can see businesses facing devastating consequences. Further, any business that handles personal or sensitive data is obliged by laws and regulations to ensure this data is adequately protected. 

Some of the adverse consequences of cyberattacks can be;

• A material loss, such as loss of money, intellectual property, or data.
• Operational disruption, businesses have seen the requirement for new measures to be implemented, staff diverted, or system failures as a result of cyber attacks
• Reputational damage, a company that has had confidential information disclosed or been subject to theft of sensitive data can face a considerably dented reputation.

If your business uses technology to store and utilize data, finances, or operations then you cannot afford to overlook cyber security. The good news is, is that although cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated so is cyber security and good managed IT services and companies should be able to provide your company with the appropriate level of protection it needs. 

Use the cloud

When it comes to technology cloud computing has been around a lot longer than you might think but has well and truly come into its own following the recent requirements to work from home. Cloud computing is a network of servers that are housed in an off-site location that enables the delivery of different services through the internet. Cloud computing can be used to save files to a remote database and retrieve them on-demand from any location, which makes it perfect for businesses operating remotely or from multiple locations. Cloud services will help to reduce costs, streamline processes and increase operational flexibility. If your company isn’t already using cloud computing it is doubtlessly something it will benefit from. If it using cloud technology then carry out some research to determine the different cloud service models that are available and whether you are getting the most out of your current cloud service provider. 

Make sure you are using the fastest internet possible 

Switching internet providers is unlikely to be a top priority, but it should be. Internet companies the world over are scrambling to provide the best, fastest and a most reliable internet connection and your company should be benefitting from this. Far too many businesses accept a slow load time but this does not need to be the case any longer. Further, a slow broadband speed can have real negative consequences. Slow loading or freezing Zoom meetings with clients do not give off a good impression of your business and its professionalism. Staff will become demotivated and distracted by slow loading and you will ultimately be wasting time and in turn money. 

Use automation 

Every business will have a number of repetitive and redundant tasks that take up unnecessary employee time and effort. Once again there is a technology-based solution. There are automation platforms that can look after these monotonous but essential tasks and give employees the opportunity to redeploy their time and attention to more critical matters. What is more, automation can be inexpensive and easy to set up. 

Analyse your data

Your business can generate and collect a lot of data, data that when in the right hands can have a real transformative effect on all aspects of your business. Data collection can help companies to identify customer and employee patterns, trends and behaviours, which can then impact the marketing, sales and financial decisions a business makes. Technology has provided businesses with a means to collect this data, analyse it, report it in real terms and make informed and educated business decisions using this data.  In fact the role of data analyst is becoming more and more commonplace. That said, not every company can afford or needs to hire the services of a full-time data analyst, and if this is the case consider outsourcing this task or hiring data analyst services on a freelance basis to collect, report and make recommendations on aspects of the business you need as and when you need them. 

Be more energy efficient

There has never been a better time than the present to become a more environmentally friendly business. Not only will becoming more energy-efficient benefit the world around you but it will have real tangible financial benefits for your business also. Switching to energy-efficient machines and appliances will mean you get more for your money and will see you saving in energy bills. A move that is likely to be crucial in the coming months as worldwide energy prices are set to enter unprecedented realms.