Small business technology is an integral part of every business. But often small business owners feel overwhelmed by the options, products, and competing theories surrounding small biz tech.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good news is that by learning only a few things about technology, you’ll simplify your day-to-day business operations and become a better business owner. Don’t believe us? That’s ok. Check out our 4 tech tips below and see your business success go through the roof. You can thank us later.

1. Don’t Cheap Out on Technology

Small business tech isn’t just important; it’s your lifeblood. Why? Because in the modern world communication relies on technology and your customer service relies on communication. Without it, your customers get frustrated, your employees can’t keep up with the demands of their jobs, and your business suffers. While at first glance the thought of investing in new business technology might sound expensive. But in reality, the inefficiency of keeping around an archaic system actually proves to be more expensive in the long run.

We don’t suggest you break the bank. But you’d be surprised what you can accomplish with an iPad and a few key apps. There are a variety of cost-effective, simple- to-use technologies available. Investing in the right ones is imperative if you want to reduce downtime, increase customer satisfaction, and continue to increase your profits.

 

SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons the iPad is the Perfect Tool for Small Business

2. Harness the Power of Analytics

Analytics can tell you anything you want to know about how your business is operating. It also answers questions you probably never thought to ask. Knowing what customers think of your web presence and what demographic typically purchases from you is imperative. . Understanding the who, what, where, and why aspects of your small business helps you develop a strategy that will target your ideal customers and keep them happy.

small business owner using pos tech to monitor store performance

3. Make it Mobile

Gone are the days where a 24-hour response time was considered standard business practice. These days, people expect you to be everywhere and respond to them in an instant. If you’re not mobile, the chances are good that you are missing out on time-sensitive opportunities. If you can’t manage staff and monitor your store performance on the go, it’s time to invest in small business technology that provide you these options. To fully optimize your chances to do more business, make sure your website has a mobile optimized version. Even if all of your business transactions happen offline, most customers will search for you on their mobile devices. This means their online experience needs to be as frictionless as their in-store experience.

 

SEE ALSO: How BakeHouse Turned their iPad POS into a Profit Machine

4. Embrace the Cloud

One of the most expensive small business technology costs is data storage. However, more and more small business owners are moving to cloud-based business tools 4 to take advantage of free, or inexpensive, data storage. Dated PC-based point of sale systems often required separate database servers. This meant business data was stored on a separate machine. Modern cloud-based POS software stores all of your data in the cloud, which means that management and key decision makers have access to accurate sales data, whenever and wherever they might need it.

Your POS system isn’t the only small business technology tool that can benefit from making a shift to the cloud. Tools like Google Drive allow small business owners to keep important information and documents stored in one secure place. While, accounting tools like Quickbooks can integrate with your POS system so that you can send your accountant accurate, automated updates, regardless of where they (or you) are in the world.

Simple changes, like using cloud-based business tools or mobile technology, can make a big difference in your business, improving the way you communicate with employees and run your business. Research the options available to you and start building your business on a solid tech foundation. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

Yamarie Grullon

Yamarie Grullon has years of experience creating helpful & engaging content for small business owners. As Director of Content Strategy at ShopKeep, a leading iPad Point of Sale System, Yamarie provides merchants with practical advice on all things related to business or point of sale.