Nowadays, most people understand that technology is an essential component of running a business. PCs, laptops, mobile devices, printers, servers, and storage arrays are all common in the offices of the typical UK company.
We spoke with the IT support London company Babble on what kind of technology businesses often use. For a long time, Babble has been helping businesses in modernising their technology so they have given us five essential technologies that small businesses should consider implementing into their workplace.
1. Cloud-based Collaboration and Communication Tools
Two crucial and intimately connected elements of corporate productivity are collaboration and communication. Because of this reason, people have placed a lot of technological investment in this area.
In small businesses, smooth communication and teamwork are extremely beneficial. It ensures that any activities, initiatives, and procedures are done as effectively as possible.
Collaboration and communication technologies have become even more important as the business world is steering towards more freedom in remote and hybrid working. In this department, Microsoft Teams is a very popular solution from the Microsoft family.
2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
If a small business wants to find success, it is essential for them to have strong customer relationships. This is because it strengthens brand reputation, which attracts new clients and makes the original customers more loyal to the business – thus making them want to come back to the business for their products/services again.
CRM software is able to help small businesses manage their client data and interactions more effectively as this software automates and speeds up many parts of customer relationship management.
3. Project Management and Task Tracking Tools
When it comes to project and task management, small businesses often encounter particular difficulties. Small businesses must be more effective and well-organised in their project management strategy since they have limited resources, such as time, money, and staff. Project management technologies, according to Babble (a managed IT services London company) provide excellent answers to these problems, including:
- Centralised Project Information
- Task Assignment and Resource Management
- Communication and Collaboration
- Time Tracking and Reporting
- Gantt Charts and Data Visualisations
4. Financial Management Software
Any success in small businesses is based on good financial management. If any business wants to accomplish their aims and objectives, they have to be able to plan, organise, direct and control all their financial resources. For small businesses, there are many benefits in specialised financial software like:
- Accuracy and Efficiency: By automating procedures, financial software lowers the possibility of human mistake in data entry and computation.
- Streamlined Bookkeeping: Bookkeeping chores like monitoring expenses, registering transactions, and managing accounts payable and receivable are made easier with the help of financial software.
- Real-time Financial Insights: Financial software gives decision-makers in small businesses access to real-time financial data and reports, enabling them to make well-informed decisions.
- Invoicing and Payments: Invoicing and payment processing features are frequently included into financial software.
- Scalability and Integration: Numerous financial software programs may be expanded to meet the expanding demands of small businesses.
5. Data Security and Backup Solutions
Unfortunately, data breaches and cyberattacks are becoming more common and sophisticated, leading to much more disastrous repercussions for the victimised businesses. This is why it’s so important to protect any private business data, especially in small businesses as the slightest safety violation may be detrimental enough that the business may not recover from it. Data security technologies were created for the purpose of shielding private business information from various online dangers and any unwanted access. Here are some methods that these technologies use to protect business data:
- Firewall Protection: creates a barrier between a business’s internal network and the outside internet.
- Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: looks for and eliminates any viruses, malware, or other harmful software.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): keeps an eye on network activity for any signs of malicious behaviour.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): requires higher-up employees to provide multiple pieces of identification (e.g. password, fingerprint, etc.) to gain access to the private business data.
“Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security” (or EMS for short) is a popular security technology used by small businesses. According to Babble, a company that offers Microsoft 365 consultants, EMS is perfect for protecting Microsoft 365 environments.
