Entrepreneurs are business savvy. They are passionate about success and understand what it takes to grow their companies. Keeping their business at status quo is not an option. Staying ahead of the competition often involves significant investment in technology tools to help manage daily business operations.
Inc.com recently wrote about a survey conducted by Palo Alto Software, where 500 small business owners were asked about their technology habits and plans for the future. The top 3 tech trends they found were:
1. They’re Spending More on Tech
According to the survey, 81 percent of respondents said they were planning on investing more in the coming year. Additionally, 48 percent said they would be willing to spend more than $5,000 in the next coming year on technology. It’s safe to say that technology is valuable for businesses and continues to be an investment many are willing to do.
2. They Operate in the Cloud
Small businesses favor the cloud as evident by the survey that found that 37 percent ran over half their business in the cloud. Moreover, 44 percent said they use more than two cloud-based tools for their business operations. The cloud is on the rise due to the many benefits it offers business owners such as real-time data, remote access and system integration.
3. They’re More Mobile Than Ever
Palo Alto Software found that 89 percent of small business owners use their smartphone to run their business. Furthermore, 63 percent said they are planning on increasing their usage of mobile devices in the next year.
Haven’t Embraced Technology Yet? Now is the Time to Reconsider
If you are a business owner that has not embraced technology, my advice is to reconsider. Start by examining your business processes. Think about how technology could free up time and resources. Look at all the non-value add things that you do every day.
What if you could automate the majority of those items?
Imagine if the time and those resources wasted on non-value added activities were focused on growing your organization. Cloud technologies have brought enterprise technology to small businesses. Solutions are affordable and scale as your business grows. In addition to cost savings, newer technologies bring a wealth of new information that enable you to better plan for growth. Instead of focusing on the costs, examine the opportunities that technology will bring your company.