Business technology includes whatever technological solutions businesses use in operations, production, interactions with customers, and services provided, among other activities. Technology in business also often scales with the size of the business. This means that technology in small business looks much different from that used in medium and large businesses.
What Is Business Technology?
As a business owner, you have certain operations that require using different technologies to complete. Everything from managing a personal calendar to sending an email to holding a remote board meeting by videoconference requires technology to complete effectively.
The core business technology used in any given business varies by industry. While an office building might use computers, word processing software, spreadsheets, printers, and VoIP phones, a hospital would require computers, imaging software, specialized equipment for lab tests, and beepers or pagers for medical staff.
So what is technology in business? Business technology is the set of tools that a business uses in order to complete any aspect of its operations required to conduct business within its industry.
How Do Businesses Use Technology?
As a business owner, you might wonder, “what is the role of technology in business?”. Even contractors whose work is largely physical labor can benefit from advanced technology in their sector.
If a roofing company sends a project coordinator to a client’s home with a tablet and some proprietary design software, the coordinator can demonstrate different roofing options to a client on-site, increasing their chances of making a same-day sale. While most would consider roofing to be a low-tech industry, using advanced technologies can help a roofing contractor outpace their competitors.
The truth is, all companies use some degree of technology in their operations. Common uses of technology in business include:
- Payroll. Time clocks, employee scheduling systems, and payroll systems utilize computers, data ports, databases, and proprietary timeclock software to track employee punches, vacation time, medical leave, and more.
- Hiring. Hiring systems use cross-connected platforms synced to third-party systems like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed to filter applicants through a company’s hiring funnel.
- Inventory management. If your company produces, sells, stores, distributes, or delivers any kind of product, you need an adequate inventory management system to track product movements between departments and through sales and returns.
- Task allocation. Assigning, monitoring, and completing operational tasks often requires the assistance of updated technologies and software.
- Communication. Most companies communicate largely by phone and email, making their systems vulnerable to attack without the appropriate cybersecurity measures and training in place.
- Data storage. Your company probably handles data every day, whether you work in construction, healthcare, or retail. Having physical and cloud-based data backup and recovery systems is essential in case of a data breach, power failure, or natural disaster.
- Security. Security systems may include digital access points, data protection, security cameras, and data feeds.
Top 5 Reasons Why Technology Is Important in Business
Your business technology can make or break your business model. Inadequate business technology solutions can cost you sales, client relationships, and may allow your competitors to take a larger market share in your industry. Ensuring that your technology solutions are adequate now and as your company grows can give you the edge in operations, data protection, and client communications.
Communication
Your technology solutions should make it easy to communicate with key partners, whether it’s your coworker down the hall or a multi-billion dollar client on the other side of the globe.
Security
Whether securing your building or your data, your technology needs the latest upgrades to keep up with new methods of physical and data theft.
Efficiency
Upgraded hardware like new MRI machines, computerized sheet metal cutting tools, and new model all-in-one printers can all make tasks more efficient by increasing speed and accuracy.
Employee Assistance
Slow or outdated technology can add hours of additional work every day to employee workloads. Updated technology solutions allow employees to complete tasks in a timely manner for higher productivity.
Time & Money
Improved efficiency and fewer calls to your IT provider makes for faster, more accurate completion of tasks before deadlines.
Technology Domains
Technology domains are the four categories of business technology. Each category functions within its own space, and companies utilize each category differently to fit their respective industries and individual operations. The categories connect through infrastructure, security, and data technologies.
Customer Interfacing Technology
Any technology that affects or interacts with the customer experience is customer interfacing technology.
Product Technology
Technology embedded within a product that enhances its function that the company still controls and can monitor or interact with “as-a-Service” is product technology.
Operational Technology
Manufacturing and mechanical systems use operational technology to complete and monitor tasks for both human and automated operators.
Business Process Technology
Business process technology supports daily operations for business functions, such as transactions, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and typical office IT solutions like printing and email.
Types of Technology in Your Inventory
When developing a business technology IT strategy for your business, one of the first things you need to know is your existing technology inventory. Once you know what you have, you can plan for what you need. Learn about which devices your company owns, how many, and update your registry of which employees have access to certain devices. Technology to inventory includes:
- Network devices (Wi-Fi routers, extenders, etc.)
- Cabling (power, data, phone, telecommunications, etc.)
- Office phone and communication systems (VoIP, conference calling, video conferencing)
- Desktop and laptop computers
- Peripheral devices (printers, fax machines, scanners, PoS, etc.)
- Mobile devices (cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc.)
- Heavy machinery (automated robot arms, drafting technologies, 3-D printers, etc.)
- Software (Microsoft 365, CRM, Adobe Creative Cloud, proprietary company software, etc.)
Contact Succurri for IT Solutions for Your Business
When developing your IT strategy to coincide with your business goals, you need an experienced partner in business IT management. At Succurri, we’ve proudly served our neighbors in the greater Seattle area from our offices in Everett, WA. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation for business technology solutions.
