01 Apr
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The pace at which the world is experiencing advancements in technology is unmatched by all historical standards. Tech-businesses have outgrown conventional conglomerates and now rank as the most capital-rich companies on the world’s stock markets. New services and apps continue to revolutionize the way people conduct business in the 21st century.
Table of Contents
Six Tech Related Mistakes You Should Avoid
However, this massive growth has also created complications for businesses as they continue to integrate technology. Some technology mistakes can potentially threaten the survival of companies. To ensure that your business is not making those mistakes, we have compiled six errors you should avoid at all costs:
-
Exposing your business to risk by not encrypting emails
Several small businesses or entrepreneurs take too big a risk by not actively seeking encryption of their email accounts. While email services such as Google and Outlook do provide a standard of security, but sometimes that’s not enough. These encryptions work as long as the sender and recipient are using the same service provider.
It can potentially expose one’s emails to online threats unknowingly. Emails tend to contain private and sensitive data exchanged between members of an organization. Data leaks and cyber-attacks are common. A business may never realize when its confidential email data is under attack. Therefore, it would be best to invest in encrypted email services to hedge one’s business against potential threats.
-
Relying on outdated documentation systems
Small-scale family businesses passed down from one generation to another often operate on traditional paperwork and documentation systems. Previous generations designed those systems for their era, and after years of trial and error, those systems achieve some degree of perfection, if any at all. The problem that arises is that those systems rely on a system of stacks of paper, filing cabinets, and endless folders.
Switching to a digital database through platforms might seem like a daunting task at first since it often runs the risk of creating unnecessary bottlenecks during the switch. However, if Microsoft Excel isn’t your first choice, excel alternatives might ease you into the spreadsheet process. With the use of spreadsheet software, the ease of data access, reduction in storage costs, and secure backups are unmatched by conventional documentation systems.
-
Not upgrading your technology infrastructure
Business owners often neglect the importance of their devices, such as servers and computers. They are a one-time expense and are used for an indefinite period. It is not uncommon to come across old devices lurking around in office spaces or being used by employees. This can become problematic in the long-run as old devices often lack security features, performance upgrades, and modern options. Such devices are constantly at risk of cyber-attacks alongside disturbing employees’ productivity as these devices frequently run into freezes and unnecessary reboots.
So what should businesses do? They should invest in regularly upgrading their technology infrastructure by replacing outdated devices. Some devices demand significant upfront capital, such as high-performance computers. Such devices allow users to upgrade specific components such as data storage, memory, and processors. Upgrading individual components can serve as the “sweet spot” in curtailing operational costs as businesses can beef up their existing systems without spending large amounts on its replacement.
-
Discouraging productivity by not investing in tech-related employee training
Some businesses do provide a quality set of tools and devices for their employees but often ignore the importance of their training. What good are high-performance devices if the users cannot extract their full potential? By investing in tech workshops and courses for employees, businesses can train them on modern ways and hacks to increase productivity and work efficiency. Moreover, since technology is a continuously-evolving domain, one-time training programs are not enough.
Instead, a better approach is to schedule training and workshops over time. Informational overload can also be counter-productive as employees may not be able to make complete sense of new technological methods being taught to them. Therefore, reasonably spaced-out workshops and training programs can serve better as employees will get the chance to apply new teachings to their everyday tasks.
-
Loosing Out On Cloud Computing Solutions
The technological revolution has gifted humanity with devices such as computers and smartphones increasing overall human productivity. However, the circle does not end there. The emergence and rise of cloud computing have had a far-reaching impact on personal and professional lives. Businesses were previously limited to physical hard-drives for their storage uses. While hard-disks were a significant jump from filing cabinets, they still ran the risk of data loss due to corruption, short-circuits, and other natural hazards. Moreover, accessing data on hard drives demanded physical presence in the rooms containing them.
Cloud computing has changed the game. Data can now be accessed, edited, deleted, or backed up on cloud servers and networks. People can now access their data from anywhere in the world with a stable internet connection. Moreover, cloud-computing has eliminated the need for building physical backups as every bit of data can be stored on the cloud without running the risk of data losses. Moreover, the need to physically access essential software programs and databases has also been eliminated. Employees can now conveniently work from their homes’ comfort as business software is accessible via cloud services.
-
Not focusing on your business’s social media presence
Many might not consider this a tech-related mistake. However, given the evolution of MarTech and the interdependence of social media and technology, neglecting social media presence is a blunder like no other.
Some businesses do function well without actively leveraging social media as a tool. However, losing out on social media is akin to not storing large volumes of water during a period of high rainfall. This simply means that social media is a powerful MarTechtool in today’s era and can do wonders for one’s business. The range of marketing options available through social media can be tweaked and optimized to serve all types of business needs. Regardless of one’s business niche, social media has the power to reach out to all kinds of audiences.
Marketers can tailor social media advertising to the exact audience a business requires to build successful marketing communication campaigns. Even if a business does not invest in social media marketing, it can build trust among existing customers simply by maintaining an active presence on social media. Social media operates on engagement, and high engagement levels with one’s audiences have always been the hallmark of every successful business.
Conclusion
We aim to suggest the common mistakes businesses often unknowingly commit, especially when integrating technology into their business model. With the help of the information above, most companies can identify the areas they should work towards. It will help in improving the existing processes and can set the course of a business towards success. We all learn from our mistakes. If you or your business are making the mistakes mentioned earlier, maybe it’s time to seek solutions actively.
