When it comes to the availability of technology and related tools, there has never been a better time to run a new business than over the last ten years. With the rise of personal computing, handheld smart devices and wireless internet, several sections of most businesses’ workflows have been greatly automated by the rise of an assortment of apps and all-in-one services. The business of sales has been especially fortunate with inexpensive and innovative technological advances, with the three following items being just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Chatbots
One of the biggest challenges for successful online businesses of any size is to meet the demand for general customer service inquiries. This is due to a 24 hour a day, seven days a week website being available anywhere in the world with an active internet connection, regardless of people’s schedules actually running the business in question. Installing a chatbot program and service onto a site allows the flow of frequently requested information to continue not only when your personnel are not in the office, but also while you or your employees are assisting customers in need of more complicated and intricate service.
Streamlining eCommerce
A competent point-of-sale system can simplify your business process in many different ways. Thankfully, e-commerce systems, from full-on content management systems (CMS) to powerful e-commerce plugin solutions for an open-source CMS such as Joomla or WordPress can streamline and automate most of your POS needs, from credit-card transactions or NFM based payment options like ApplePay to automatically calculating shipping costs with various couriers all over your service area, including international shipments.
Telecommuting and Long-Distance Working
One of the most cost-effective savings in the modern workplace, thanks to the proliferation of high-speed internet and versatile personal devices, is the ability for many workers, including executives, to be able to work remotely, whether from home or in teams at conferences or other events. While physical space is always needed to secure house goods for sale, office space–depending on a business’s need–is a flexible and negotiable cost for the first time on a wide scale. While you might feel the need to establish specific rules for telecommuters, especially if time clocks are involved, the savings in office space leasing can be significant.
There are a number of other new tools that can be helpful to today’s business owner, such as smartphone apps, group email services, and on-the-spot web development professional services. There are most likely going to be a number more in the coming years that have not even been properly conceptualised by many business owners and stakeholders. The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to technology is that, when advances come, they are almost always positive and it pays to keep an eye on the horizon.
Using technology can help limit working overtime for your business. Click here to find out how.
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