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You’re a business owner, but not in tech, so why do you need to focus on adapting technology in your daily workflow? Some might say you don’t need to. However, I’m here to put a mistake in your mind and prove that technology is critical to any business in any vertical. This includes you!
We know technology can be intimidating. It can also be complex, and the options seem endless. So, if you choose the right one, is it worth the cost, integration headaches and doubts? Yes! Here are my top three reasons to focus on technology, and I’ll explain how to integrate it into your business:
1. Not applying technology means you may face a technology deficit
Let’s face it, items that don’t have tech and software subscriptions in your books mean your company will Reach a point where you cannot grow further. Whether your marketing team is missing an important customer acquisition prime data point, or your efficiency ends up leaving you behind, your competition may overtake you (we’ll talk about this in the next point). No matter what obstacles you encounter, the point is that your growth will have to slow or stop. Once the train leaves the station without you, you don’t want to wait until that time to use technology!
Related: 5 Technologies All Entrepreneurs Need to Use in the Digital Age
2. Results are everything
No matter your business or vertical, your most valuable resource is your team. How do you make your team work smarter, not harder, and ultimately produce the best results? The answer is the right technology! Even if your employees are used to their ways and don’t want to learn new programs, you must choose the right operating system and provide the proper training. A small setback in the learning curve will mean a huge boost in productivity.
I once came across a mid-sized company that was technically lagging behind by not prioritizing this aspect of their business. This inadequacy leads to a lag in marketing and sales compared to competitors. I liken their technical prowess and abilities to a shootout.
If a company can increase the automation of its operations in the area of marketing, it will allow it to understand its target customers and really understand how to sell to the market in an efficient and results-driven manner.
A data warehouse and a consistent CRM will allow the business to properly segment and more accurately target its best marketers. Identifying, understanding, and addressing low-hanging fruit like the abandoned cart funnel is critical.
When you’re focused on results, there’s almost always a need to integrate technology to increase efficiency and drive sales in the long run. It’s always easier and cheaper to integrate the right technology early on to ensure your team is trained and uses it along the way!
Related: How Technology Shortened the Road to Fame
3. In the absence of correct technology
I’ve seen all kinds of technology integrations, from tech-savvy millennial CEOs to companies that rely on data and analytics for every business decision, to companies that don’t integrate it at all but still use pen and paper in every important department. However, if you get closer to the latter, it could expose your team to a huge security risk. If you have little or the wrong technology, you can also put your customers, reputation and finances at risk!
I’ve even seen clients use only a single source for primary bookkeeping and documentation, such as Excel. One wrong move or careless mistake can completely change your calculations. Or worse, delete everything! If this isn’t risky, I don’t know what is.
Technology can feel overwhelming, which is why we often hear that people are reluctant to add it to their daily workflow. However, there are some easy ways to make this change. Start by finding a company that will provide you with a technical audit – this is usually cheaper than you might expect. Take their advice and apply it in batches.
You probably don’t need to go from 0 to 100 in the first week. You can slowly add, integrate, and manage key technologies across departments according to your needs. As I mentioned before, the key to technical success is training! Empower your team to make technological leaps with you and work together. Everyone can learn new tricks, it can even be fun! Finally, make sure you have the infrastructure to create the ideal environment for success. This includes having basic technical hardware and compatible systems.
Use this article as a sign to take your first steps to improve your business with technology!
