Technology has always played a vital role in businesses across all industries. Leading businesses are quick to adopt the latest technologies as they recognize that they can improve business practices, increase the productivity of a company, and can eventually lead to increased profitability and a larger market share. Many sectors of business have historically relied on the latest technological innovations to drive improvements. The car manufacturing industry is an obvious example, as robotic technology and automated production lines have been present in many firms for decades. This technology helps to improve production levels, reduces errors in manufacturing, and ensures a high consistency of quality in the final vehicle. The healthcare sector is another key example of industry adopting the latest technologies. MRI scanners and retinal correcting laser technology are just two examples of how technology has been incorporated to offer improved healthcare and better patient outcomes from assessments and surgeries. Put simply; technology is one of the key drivers of business change. In this article, some key examples of the latest technology that is used across various businesses will be explored in detail. In every case, technology has offered a range of benefits that help a business to function more effectively and efficiently.
Faster Internet for Improved Productivity
Many companies now rely on internet-based services to conduct their daily business. From using cloud-based services to streamline business functions to building and maintaining websites for e-commerce, the Internet has become a vital part of many business activities. Every internet-based activity involves the sending and receiving of data between computers and servers. Some activities, such as downloading large files, benefit from having a fast and reliable internet connection. When you consider that a multitude of online activities take place in business every day, it is of paramount importance to have fast access. This ensures that there are no prolonged delays when accessing online resources or downloading complex information. If your business has outdated or slow internet access, it will be losing time in every online activity. The cumulative effect of this can be to lower the levels of productivity in your workforce. You can read more about how slow internet speeds can affect your business by clicking here. If you are a business owner in Missouri, USA and need to improve your internet connection, search for a fiber internet service in Wentzville that boasts consistently high upload and download speeds. Many businesses find that upgrading their internet service provider and enjoying faster, more reliable internet access can lead to productivity gains across departments due to lower cumulative waiting times for online services.
Businesses that handle high call volumes should adopt cloud-based phone solutions to enhance their business communication and operational efficiency. A robust VoIP solution offers seamless integrations and automation features, saving time and reducing manual efforts. With high reliability and uptime, these systems ensure consistent availability, which is crucial for maintaining a positive customer experience.
While Nextiva is a reputable VoIP provider, exploring alternatives to Nextiva can be beneficial due to factors such as cost considerations, specific feature requirements, or the need for more customizable solutions.
Drone Technology in Business
nly a decade ago, utilizing drone technology was almost unheard of in most sectors of business. The technology was still in its infancy, and the applications of these devices were not yet fully explored. Today in 2023, drone technology has become a major part of business in many different sectors. For example, in the agriculture sector, drones are now commonly employed to undertake a wide range of roles, including quickly assessing crop yields and monitoring fields far more effectively than could be achieved by using human workers. Drone technology is also widely used in the manufacturing industry. When companies use hazardous chemicals in their production processes and a spillage or accident occurs, drones are now deployed to assess the severity and damage caused by the incident. This removes the need for a human operative to be physically present at the site (they simply operate the drone and receive visual images from the cameras mounted on the device) and therefore improves the safety of the workforce. Drone technology is now also routinely used for undertaking inspection work across industries. Once again, this removes the need for human workers to put themselves in danger by working at heights or in an unsafe environment.
VPNs for Safer Agile Working Practices
It is now common practice for employees to work from a wide range of locations during their working week. This agile working practice allows staff to move from site to site whilst still undertaking key business activities with the help of a laptop and smartphone. However, it must be recognized that using a public internet connection whilst working is a dangerous practice. Public access Wi-Fi hotspots (such as those found in hotels and shopping centers) are often unsecured networks that are easy for hackers to infiltrate. Unprotected tech equipment is at risk of being monitored by cybercriminals, and data could be intercepted or even stolen. Thankfully, most businesses now recognize this risk with public internet access whilst working and insist on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by their increasingly mobile workforce. VPNs work by encrypting the data that is sent and received over public Wi-Fi systems and create a new IP address for the laptop or smartphone so that hackers cannot track its location. Put simply, VPN technology allows agile working to take place without the risk of data breaches or malicious online activity taking place.
Supporting Hybrid and Remote Working
Technology has played a key role in allowing hybrid and remote models of work to flourish in recent years. In 2020, once the Covid-19 virus became a global pandemic, millions of staff members around the world were required to work from home to slow the spread of the virus and to comply with restrictions on movement in many countries that were rolling out “lockdowns.” Put simply, effective remote working would not be possible (or at least incredibly inefficient) without the use of various apps, platforms, and software systems. Video conferencing software allows a remote workforce to stay connected without the need to be physically present in a shared location. In addition, the use of project management apps has allowed workers to collaborate effectively without needing to be together in the same office. Applications such as Trello and Slack allow the progress on key tasks and projects to be updated in real-time so that there is an accurate understanding of what has been completed and what still needs to be done. This reduces the risk of work being duplicated when teams operate remotely and helps to combat “silo working” cultures. Today, there are a wide range of online project management and collaborative apps that promote effective teamwork. Click here for more information on some of the best software that is suitable for many different types of business activity.
