Our rapidly developing world demands a constant awareness of new ways to harness technological innovation – failure to acclimatise to this new business environment may leave you fatally far behind the cutting edge. Here are some low-cost ways to increase your productivity and efficiency by using business technology services.
Go paperless
Secure data archiving provided by cloud based services is making traditional filling obsolete, while the increased prevalence of tablets and online contracts has dramatically reduced the need for paperwork. That’s just as well, because going paperless saves time and money by streamlining administrative tasks, and removing the need to physically store your records.
This is one of the easiest ways to cut-costs and improve efficiency. Follow the example of Yale University, which saved $100,000 in 2013 by adopting electronic replacements for paper timesheets, and $60,000 when it stopped printing and mailing physical annual report statements.
Embrace social media
Social media marketing has become a great way to establish a dialogue with customers. An effective online presence will keep people in touch with your current services, and help maintain a connection with consumers and clients. Keeping an eye on trending topics is also advantageous, they often allow businesses to link their services to popular issues, and can give you an edge when it comes to entering new markets.
Taking advantage of social media can increase your profits and raise your profile, but it doesn’t have to take up much of your time. Forward-thinking businesses are using automation tools to increase efficiency, and decrease time spent on repetitive tasks.
Invest in apps
Apps are readily available at a low cost, and they can save you time, reduce your costs, increase your productivity, and allow you to serve customers more effectively. With thousands of developers vying for attention, there’s an app for any business requirement you could think of, from contact management to advanced note-taking programs.
These applications are perfect for handling tasks which would previously have eaten into your company’s time. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council recently reported that 78% of small businesses felt that using apps had saved them substantial amounts of time, with owners estimating an average saving of 5.6 hours per week. That’s close to a whole day of extra work.
Don’t fall behind, and don’t think that new technologies will cost you the Earth. You can dramatically improve your business with the right technology services, and you can save money at the same time.