Essential pieces of technology for your small business

Featured article by Julia Evans

Running a small business can be exciting, but it can also be exhausting. There is a lot to think about and sometimes you need a little help with the components to make sure the whole machine is running smoothly. Here are some great pieces of tech or software that can take some of the pressure off you so you can focus on what really needs your attention.

A Payment Platform

These days you cannot run a business without being able to facilitate credit card payments or online transactions. Everything is done through the internet and people rarely carry cash. To stay competitive with other businesses you need to be more flexible with mobile payments. Getting a card reader with bluetooth means you can turn any smartphone or tablet into a payment device and take payments on the go. Not only does it make it easier for you to get paid by your customers, but it saves time and helps you keep accurate records of your finances. Remember to take special care with regards to the security of your customers’ financial information.

Security Technology

Every business, no matter the size, has a responsibility to their customers to respect their privacy and protect their information. It is not just your customers’ financial information that you need to keep safe – hackers are also out there looking to steal intellectual property. As a smaller business, you probably rely heavily on cloud technology to share documents and communicate potentially sensitive information, without the proper security in place you are putting yourself at risk. Upgrade your tech and train any staff on the proper security protocol.

Online Chatbot

24-hour customer chatbots let companies offer full-time support to your customers without you having to employ full-time staff. Consumers expect chatbots or live chat facilities on company websites – they can deal with some enquiries instantly on your behalf, but any complicated concerns will need to be addressed by an employee. The chatbot service helps to make customers feel as though they are being heard and will make them less likely to pursue complaints. Services like LiveChat can help you provide automated customer service across multiple platforms whilst also tracking the data so you can learn from it.

Smart metering and automated meter readers

Smart meters and automated meter readers can help you slash the costs of running your business by giving you complete control over your energy usage. It also means an end to estimated billing and manual meter reads. Monitoring your energy consumption can help give you a better idea of where you can cut down. Used in conjunction with smart bulbs and timers means you can keep the bills down to a minimum.

And Finally:

Marketing Software

There is plenty of software like MailChimp and Hubspot that can help take your marketing efforts to the next level. You can streamline workflows, increase collaboration between different marketing channels and create a comprehensive marketing plan that you can edit, update and share with your team.