Whilst the majority of people are comfortable with modern technology, there are some who still refuse to embrace the many gadgets we have at our disposal. Technology is evolving at a frightening rate. In less than fifty years computers have evolved from filling an entire room to being small enough to slip into a small handbag. Who knows where the world is heading technologically speaking. But one thing is certain: taking advantage of the many technological solutions available to small businesses will almost certainly save you money.
Online Banking = Saves Time
The introduction of online banking has been a godsend for small businesses. Being able to log in to your bank account from any computer, tablet or smartphone makes life so much easier. In the old days, the only way to check the latest transactions on your account or organise a payment was to call up the bank or go into your local branch. Both of these methods were only available during normal working hours, which was not always convenient.
Online banking means you can pay bills, make transfers, set up regular payments, and check your latest statement. For a small business, being able to administer the company bank account 24/7 allows you to stay in control of your finances. And as any small business owner knows, this is vital for the success of your business.
Internet Telephone = Free Calls
Telephone calls can be very expensive, especially if you need to make calls abroad or you regularly use a mobile handset. There are plenty of special tariffs and discounted call offers available from the big service providers, but one way of reducing your monthly call expenditure is to make use of services such as Skype.
As long as you have internet access, Skype calls to other Skype users are free. This is fantastic if you are calling a client in an office on the other side of the world. Instead of asking them to call you (and risk being labelled as cheap), you can suggest a Skype call instead. It is even possible to conduct a video conference over Skype. An online video conferencing solution is perfect for small businesses who can’t afford to invest in expensive video conferencing equipment as it’s free and easy to use.
Accountancy Software = Lower Accountants Fees
Keeping the books the old way is perfectly acceptable, but accountants generally use software systems to prepare your accounts. If you also use the same software packages, all you need to do is send your accountant a back-up of your accounts and they can prepare the end of year accounts for you. The alternative is that they take your books and input everything into their system, which inevitably will cost you more money.
Cloud Computing = More Productive Employees
Cloud computing makes it incredibly easy for multiple people to collaborate on documents and files. Instead of emailing over a report for your colleague to add his comments, you can upload it into the cloud instead. Files can easily be shared using cloud storage solutions such as DropBox. And as long as you don’t exceed your storage allowance, it won’t cost you anything.
Social Media = More Clients and Increased Sales
It is important not to underestimate the power of social networking. Billions of people all over the globe use popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. By increasing your business’s brand presence online and reaching out to new customers via social media, you won’t just save money on traditional advertising expenditure – you will also make money.
Don’t be a dinosaur – embrace technology and make it work harder for your business. It is the future after all!
Photograph by Stuart Pilbrow/Flickr