In today’s digital world, technology is essential for starting a business— in fact, starting a business can’t be done without technology. In the past, this statement would have been intimidating to some people, but using technology has become part of everyday life and business life as well. Here’s a look at three types of technology that you will need to start and run a small business.
#1: Computers, Mobile Devices, and the Internet
No matter what type of business you’re starting (e.g., e-commerce, in-person, hybrid), you’re going to need a computer or mobile device and the internet to help get you started. One of the best ways to get your business noticed is by utilizing the internet and establishing a solid online presence. Doing this will not only get your business noticed, but it will help you in your future marketing efforts.
Website
All businesses will benefit from having a business website— even if you don’t plan to sell any of your products online. A business website is a go-to source for your target audience to find out as much information as possible about you and your business. Your business website should include a little bit of background information about your business, you, and the people who work for you. It should also have a list and description of all the products you sell/services you provide, and contact information such as a phone number, physical address, and email address.
Social Media
You should also have a social media business page on at least one social platform. Having this combined with a business website will help strengthen your online presence, which again, is important for all businesses in today’s digital world. Some of the top social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You don’t need to have a presence on all of these platforms, but you should have a presence on the one(s) that make the most sense to your business and your target audience.
#2: Email and Other Communication Services
As a business owner, you’re going to be doing a lot of communicating with others, whether it’s your employees, your customers/clients, other businesses, and even potential candidates for hire. Because of this, you’ll need to sharpen up your communication skills, and you’re also going to need to have various modes of communication. Some examples of the different ways you’ll communicate with others include:
- Phone (mobile and landline)
- Communication apps (Messenger, Slack, Trello, etc.)
Your email and phone (usually provided by an internet service provider) services will be easy to set up, but you’ll want to look into different types of communication software that will help your business thrive. You’ll also want software that will communicate valuable information to you and your teams, such as customer relationship management software, project management software, and time-tracking software.
#3: Security Systems
Finally, you’re going to need the latest technology in security to secure your business. You’ll need security for both your physical business (warehouses and other storage facilities for e-commerce businesses) and the online portion of your business.
Physical Security
You’re likely housing valuable property in your business (i.e., the products that allow you to make money). Because of this, you’ll need a security system and security cameras to ensure that no one tries to steal from you or damage your property. Unfortunately, this may still happen, so it’s also important to have commercial property insurance so you don’t take a huge loss from stolen items or damaged property.
Cyber Security
The last type of security that every business needs is cyber security. As mentioned earlier, all business owners will use the internet at some point in running their business, and important and sensitive information about your business, employees and customers will be stored and accessed through the internet, or in “the cloud”. Cyber security is security for the cloud, making it extremely hard— if not impossible— for cyber criminals to access and steal this sensitive information. Again, as with insurance for physical security breaches, it’s still a good idea to have insurance for cyber security breaches.
Many— if not all— of these technologies you probably use every day outside of business, so incorporating their use into your business (if and when you start one) will be easy. Even if you don’t use these technologies daily, it’s not that hard to get started. Technology caters to both individuals and business structures to help make daily tasks more efficient and manageable.
