Technology is the driver of success. It allows companies to improve workflows, enhance communication, and increase the bottom line. And there’s no industry where modern technology would not benefit a business.
Finding the right solution is important to staying competitive, solving unique challenges, and achieving long-term goals. It’s not uncommon for companies to misuse a particular technology and then deem it detrimental, shifting back to traditional methods that are long outdated. You certainly don’t want to go through the same, which is why you’ve come to the right place. This guide outlines steps to help you identify the best technology solutions tailored to your business needs.
Defining business technology
Business technology is an umbrella term that encompasses tools, platforms, systems, and processes designed to improve efficiency, streamline operations, and achieve specific organizational objectives. There are several main types of business technologies. The most common ones are:
- Platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Zoom. Their primary purpose is to facilitate seamless internal and external communication;
- Data management. Software solutions such as CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot) and ERPs (SAP, Oracle). These organize data to support decision-making and optimize processes;
- Marketing and sales. Tools like Google Ads and HubSpot Marketing Hub. They automate marketing campaigns, track customer journeys, and generate leads;
- Project management. Systems such as Trello, Asana, and Jira. These platforms help organize tasks, manage teams, track progress, and ensure timely project delivery;
- Automation and AI. AI-related technology like Gemini. Such solutions provide analytics, insights, and reasoning while reducing repetitiveness in daily tasks;
- Content creation and management. These include stock content platforms like Depositphotos, Pixabay, and Freepik; graphic design editors like VistaCreate; tools like Squarespace and WordPress; and more. They assist with sourcing and editing visuals, creating relevant content, and managing online presence.
FAQ: What areas does business technology affect the most?
Technology impacts business in various aspects. For example, automation tools and AI streamline mundane tasks, reducing errors and improving speed. This positively affects a brand’s efficiency and workforce productivity, allowing the personnel to dive deeper into tasks where human attention is essential. Security and risk management are also areas that take advantage of business tech. Cybersecurity tools protect sensitive customer data and intellectual property, and cloud-based solutions spread information across various places on the web. Sales, advertising, product development, and project management also leverage modern technologies.
5 steps to finding your ideal business technology solutions
Whether you’re running a small brand with a couple of employees or a solid company with quite a few subordinates, business tech solutions will definitely come in handy. The main question is, how do you find the best ones? Below is a five-step formula to help you land on your ideal toolset.
1. Audit your business to identify strong and weak links
Just like the number of purchases can help you define the most popular product or service, an audit can give you an idea of what tools might boost your overall productivity and success. Set aside enough time to comprehensively review processes, workflows, and tools. Evaluating these will help you identify areas where task execution is below expectations or where you often encounter roadblocks. Say your inter-department communication struggles the most. In that case, you’ll need to consider using different collaboration tools.
Don’t just focus on weaknesses, though. While fine-tuning weak processes is critical, remember that technology can also elevate your strengths. If you’re satisfied with your content marketing and see no reason to adopt new tools, think twice. Content API providers can give you a leg up on your competition, improving engagement, conversion, and visibility. In any case, don’t shy away from using SWOT analysis to learn whether you’d be better off using a best-of-breed or best-of-suite software strategy.
2. Revise your strategy to highlight priority areas
Aside from the audit, make sure to align your technology needs with your overall business strategy. This is especially important if you’re tight on budget and can’t disperse resources on tools that entail different areas. If this is the case, prioritize functions vital to your growth, be it customer retention, operational efficiency, supply chain management, or anything based on your primary goals.
While you do need to establish measurable objectives for each crucial area (like increasing sales conversion or reducing churn) to find the most pertinent tool, consider tipping the scales in favor of software solutions that work across areas. This will give you a strategic benefit, even if such a tool is more expensive.
3. Research relevant use cases for deeper insights
The availability of use cases depends on how popular a tool of your interest is. The more prevalent it is, the higher the chances of finding an informative, unbiased use case. Preferably, look into reports from companies in your industry or of a similar size. Investigate their core challenges, the implementation process, issues along the path, and the outcomes achieved. Importantly, pay attention to long-term usability, team adaptability, and ROI. It’s crucial that the tool is friendly in the adoption stage and pays dividends over the course of its use.
Studying real use cases helps you understand how a particular technology has changed a business and how it can transform yours.
4. Build a list of modern business technology solutions
Once you’re positive about your tools area-wise, it’s time to create a list based on key criteria. More specifically, consider these:
- Compatibility with existing tools and systems;
- Scalability to grow with your brand;
- Cost efficiency and flexibility in picking useful features.
Although studies show that technologies can decrease operation costs by a double-digit figure alongside many other benefits, don’t neglect to build a comprehensive list of criteria to ensure smooth integration. The more parameters and things you consider, the better tools you’ll manage to select and the more enhanced operation efficiency you’ll accomplish.
5. Conduct isolated trials of each business tech solution
The final step takes you from theoretical to empirical experience. Once you have a shortlist of tools, test them through free trials, demos, or pilot projects—whatever is available. Remember to evaluate performance based on KPIs critical to your success. These can be: time saved on tasks, user satisfaction, response time reduction, improved workflow efficiency, etc.
Moreover, gather qualitative and quantitative feedback from employees who will use the tools. This will help you compare results and find the solution that best aligns with your objectives.
Bottom line
Finding the right technology solution for your business is vital to bolstering your company in various ways. Auditing your processes, aligning technology with your strategy, exploring use cases, and testing tools thoroughly will let you make confident, well-informed decisions. These decisions will ultimately streamline your operations and enhance your strengths. They will also position your brand for sustained success in today’s highly competitive world.
About the Author
Anthony Wildeno is a copywriter and SEO specialist with five years of experience. His work has been published on some of the most famous blogs in the world, including The Verge, Forbes, and many others. Anthony is a great conversationalist and friend, and loves nature and observing the world around him. He has always found the positive in the negative, and knows how to turn even the most unpleasant situations into a treasure trove of knowledge and experience.
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