As a business leader, the choices you make when it comes to technology can make or break your company. Oftentimes, IT ends up being a costly burden, particularly when you take into account the constant barrage of security concerns.
But making the right choices can dramatically improve efficiency and future-proof your business for uncertain times ahead. Here are five tech-savvy tips to transform technology into an invaluable asset:
#1. Prioritize technology alignment
Most digital transformations tend to fail because many companies are misled by unscrupulous vendors to adopt the wrong technologies.
However, it’s crucial to align your IT solutions with your business goals and priorities. Start by evaluating your company’s IT infrastructure and identifying the bottlenecks that are affecting productivity, profitability, and security. For instance, if you noticed your company is hindered by an inflexible document storage system, it may be a good idea to opt for affordable cloud solutions like Office 365.
Evaluating your needs and researching possible solutions should be a continuous process to ensure the technology fits your business, not the other way around.
#2. Empower workforce mobility
Physical workspace and technology requirements are among the largest expenses companies have to bear, but the new age of workforce mobility is rapidly changing things for the better.
Thanks to cloud and mobile technologies, employees can now be free to work using their own devices from wherever they prefer to be. For employees, this enables a better work-life balance, while businesses can enjoy reduced costs and improved productivity.
Choosing technologies that empower workforce mobility can also help you reach out to the best talent, even if they’re in a different state or country.
Want to enable workforce mobility?
Make sure you have the technology you need! Read through our FREE eBook, Demystifying the Cloud: What it is and why you should care and get some background information on how it works and how it can benefit your business.
#3. Incorporate security into your strategy
Cybersecurity has long been considered a technical challenge for the IT department to worry about, while business leaders see it as a costly necessity. But, more than ever, cybersecurity is a great asset, provided you implement it early on in your digital transformation journey instead of tacking it on later.
By making cybersecurity central to your technology strategy, you’ll be able to free up pathways to innovation without adding risk to your business.
Modern solutions like single sign-on (SSO) and multifactor authentication (MFA) don’t just help you protect your data, they also help your employees become more productive by ensuring they only have access to the information they need to do their jobs.
#4. Use automation where possible
Automation is the driving force behind the fourth industrial revolution. Examples include artificial intelligence tools to help business leaders make sense of increasingly large data sets and workflow automation for eliminating tedious tasks and reducing human error.
Many everyday business routines can be automated, such as scheduling emails and social media posts, managing your supply chain portfolio and accounting, and much more.
If there’s a repetitive routine workflow, there’s a good chance there’s also a way to automate it and, in doing so, free up valuable time to work on more strategic and rewarding tasks.
#5. Limit workplace distractions
Technology has given us several ways to connect and collaborate, but it also brings countless distractions in the form of notifications and software bloat.
As technology infrastructures grow more complex, it’s more important for businesses to bring everything back together under a centrally managed infrastructure that’s free of unnecessary apps, features, and functions, and all the distractions that come with them.
When reviewing your current technology environment, be sure to look for any time-wasters, such as social media notifications. Employees should be trained to avoid multitasking as well, instead managing their schedules more efficiently so they can get more done in less time.
HERO provides IT support and services that eliminate obstacles and empower innovation for a more profitable and future-proof business. Call us today to request your free consultation.
Leave a comment!