How Technology Can Help Improve Business Practices

Whether you are selling water on your local high-street or hand painted table tennis balls online, there is one thing every company will have in common, the people running it will want to improve their business practices. With so much competition in the digital age, the fact is, if you don’t have this mentality, you will never be as successful as you could be. Now, there are a number of simple solutions that everyone can do individually in order to improve their performance at work, from going to bed earlier to organising your plans for the next working day at the end of the one preceding it.

And don’t get us wrong, these can be incredibly important and, in an ideal world, every employer at every business should do everything in their power to be working at their optimal level. However, this article has been put together for those of us who are looking for that extra edge. And for us, in order to do this, you should be turning your attention to technology and how it can be used to help improve business practices. So, let’s take a look at four ways technology can be used at the workplace to do just that…

Marketing

We are starting with marketing, and more specifically, online marketing, for a very good reason. It is, without doubt, essential for any business and, there are right and wrong ways to go about it. When it comes to the best marketing practices, we simply want to outline some of the things you should be doing in the modern age.

If you look at it from a potential customer’s perspective, one of the first things you do when you want to buy a certain type of product or hear about a business directly is look it up online. So if you have not done so already, ensure that your website is a priority as this will extend your reach and allow the highest number of people to find you.

Shop Floor Operations

For the next point, we are going to leave the online world and go directly into the heart of any well functioning business, that’s right, the shop floor. Now, we are fully aware that shop floors can look very different, depending on the size of the business and the product being produced. Despite this, there is one thing we can say with absolute certainty, managing your shop floor efficiently is one of the most important practices a business can implement. Saying, this, there is a reason why so many shop floors are mismanaged. Mismanagement is due to how complicated the process can be, making it very easy to lose control of your manufacturing operations.

Thankfully, this is where technology can help. There are a number of software systems available, including KatanaMRP, which allow you to easily manage your shop floor. It enables its users to track floor operations digitally and in real time, meaning that you will never lose control of your business again. It even increases your efficiency by optimizing both your operators’ time and resources, allowing you to effortlessly stay on top of your entire operating system. Las but not least, its interface is simple to use and easy to navigate. This is one piece of technology that you don’t want to ignore on your way to the top!

Customer Service

While technology has changed many things about the world of business, it has not changed the fact that customer service is of the utmost importance. It has, however, changed how companies can deliver it!

We have already mentioned how important a website is and while this is a way of communicating what you offer you the general public, it is not the only step you should be taking when it comes to giving the customer what they want, when they want it.

Firstly, it is worth pointing out why customer support is so important. As you will be well aware, we are living in a world in which people have an abundance of choice and so, if they can’t get the answer they want and where they want, they can easily go elsewhere. This is why is is important to have a line of contact in a variety of channels. Remember that just because you like to go to a shop in person, it doesn’t mean that everyone does.

Make sure to cover all of the essentials and be reachable via instant chat, phone, email and on social media. There are a number of software available that allow you to gather your customer’s data, which is a great way to analyse their preferences and build a relationship. In essence, this means that you can build a profile for each of your customers and interact with them knowing all of their previous dealings with your business! So while customer service is one thing that will never die, technology has become the most intimate way to deliver it!

In-House Communication

If you want to improve efficiency, the first aspect of your business that you need to address is internal communication. Your employees need a way to communicate with one another in an open environment. Having information freely available to all of your employees is a sure fire way to foster a creative environment. After all, you never know what information could trigger an idea that allows you to streamline your entire operation.

There are numerous business communication platforms that have been designed for this very reason and we highly recommend finding the right one for you. You can organise chat rooms by topic or team, create private groups and direct message.

The Bottom Line

The fact is that technology has had a major impact on the world of business and you need to adapt or you will be left in the past. The good news is that there are literally thousands of options available so you can be guaranteed that you can find the right systems for you.