Growing your business involves learning how to make money and use it responsibly. It’s easy to believe that a fancy piece of well-marketed software can help free up your time and expedite the growth process. However, that’s usually not the case and you’ll likely end up paying for software that you dont need and burns through your bank account.
Then again, other technology is found to benefit most growing businesses. When it’s set up and implemented correctly, this technology can improve operations, increase efficiency and lend a hand to revenue-generating efforts. Investing in the right tools is not a wasted expense. However, with so many options it can be challenging to decide which ones you need and which ones are distractions.
In today’s blog, we’ve outlined 5 tech tools you should use to grow your business and 2 that will only take up space and money.
Tools To Use:
1. Direct Messaging Platforms
It doesn’t matter the size of your business or where everyone is located, a communication tool is essential to all businesses. These tools allow for targeted communication that can be one-on-one, small groups, whole departments, or the entire business. Tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack are popular options that offer video call capabilities, integrate with other tech tools, can leverage AI and more. Other critical factors to consider when choosing a direct messaging platform are whether it’s high-speed, easy to use and scalable, and if the company provides great support.
2. Project Management Software
This is essential to keeping internal and external projects on track, on budget and organized. With this tool, you can work with others on your team to set deadlines, assign tasks, monitor deliverables, track issues, connect with clients for feedback and more.
However, there are many options available that have more features than what you need. When choosing a project management software, you should first see if there are any industry favorites. Finding these unique options can help you get the project solutions you need.
3. Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM)
If you’ve been tracking leads and customers with a pencil and paper, a simple spreadsheet, or maybe not at all, then this tool will be a game changer. CRMs allow you to store your customer information in one place, which can help streamline your sales process, strengthen customer relationships, and increase sales. Again, look for industry-specific options first.
4. Cloud Computing Solutions
These are vital for all organizations that share data or collaborate on projects. The cloud is a web-based hub that holds all your data virtually and can be manipulated by anyone with access at any time, even at the same time. It syncs to all connected devices to share changes in real time, allowing for better collaboration and scale-up as your company grows.
5. Cyber Security Solutions
Digital tools make running your company easier, but they also invite new threats into your business. Cyber security is a serious concern for business owners. You handle sensitive data, financial information and more for you and your clients, so safeguarding it against cybercriminals is vital. Computers, USBs, mobile devices, servers and networks must all be secured.
While there are antivirus and firewall solutions available for you to set up on your own, having an IT company with a cyber security expert monitoring your network is recommended. Hackers break through standard firewalls regularly, which leave people who think they are protected unknowingly exposed. With 24/7 monitoring, an IT team can patch those holes before cybercriminals can find them.
So, we’ve covered five tools all business owners would benefit from, but what about the items you don’t need?
Tools To Avoid:
1. Ineffective AI Tools
With the launch and popularity of ChatGPT, a wave of new AI-powered programs has popped up. It seems like there is an AI tool for everything now. The problem is whether these tools can be used effectively. Many programs were rushed to market and are still in the early stages of development. They have frustrating bugs, limitations, and don’t produce quality results. Be very selective about which AI tools you use and ask yourself these questions: Do you need it? Does it work?
REMEMBER: whenever you sign up for a free trial or create an account, you are giving your private information to a company that could experience a data breach and have your information exposed. Choose carefully!
2. Duplicates
Are you paying twice for the same tool? As software companies merge and add or develop new features, you might find you can consolidate your tools. For example, if you’re using Canva to design images for social media and Hootsuite to schedule them, you could reduce the number of tools you use from two to one because Canva can schedule the posts for you! There are likely other areas in your business where this can happen, so spend some time evaluating what you invest in to see if you can eliminate anything.
When it comes to running an efficient business, choosing the right tech tools is critical to your success. Instead of spending your limited time researching the best options, schedule a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our team first to see how we can help! Click here to book now or call our team at 281-646-1200 to get started.
