How can technology improve your efficiency and productivity going into the new year?
Luckily for us, we live in a digital age. Tech is evolving at a rate at which no one could have anticipated – in fact, in some of our population’s lifetimes, we have taken to the skies and then the moon! Regardless, some are apprehensive about the future. In the following two articles, we will take a look at what is on the horizon for technology, and we will outline just how important the right tech – and professionals supporting it – are. If this is achieved, your future can be secured with the help of technology.
As we said, the world of tech is always evolving, meaning that the workplace is always in flux – there are very few workplaces that aren’t constantly undergoing or considering improvements. With another year of changes approaching, what will 2022 bring to the table?
A New Year – A Fresh Start
2021, for many, was a year to forget! Many are still feeling the repercussions of the pandemic in their workplace, and for some the ways we are now working have evolved to be unrecognisable to those pre pandemic. The world of work went into survival mode – understandably – but things have changed, and it is now time for a new approach.
These recent times have had positive repercussions, having brought about the realisation that some of the less than obvious issues contained within the way we conduct business processes must change. Some of these challenges – usually the seemingly small and insignificant ones – have come to the surface, so these must now be solved.
Luckily, businesses owners are resilient, and did what they had to in order to continue trading when the pandemic struck. Some – be it out of caution or through their lack of knowledge on what is possible – are still doing that now. Many have been using their home PC’s and laptops to help the company to survive. But, unfortunately, this came with various challenges.
Throughout these articles we will highlight some of the issues that many faced over the last year and some of the tools and methods you can implement to be sure that they never happen again – in turn, allowing you to progress into 2022 with a positive forward-thinking approach.
Unfamiliarity with the capabilities of IT
Business owners always have the best interests of the business in mind, obviously, but this can lead to some of them being over-cautious. There are also many that are so busy that it can be difficult to keep up with latest trends in tech or be able to distinguish what the right ones are to spend their money on. Most are using the Cloud – simply due to its popularity and its recommendation from any and every IT provider – but they aren’t using its capabilities to its full potential. Most don’t have modern VoIP telephony to allow their remote working team to be involved and communicate with both the internal team and the client base. Data backup is also not considered enough by business owners. Cloud computing offers a way to have Data backups in various locations, allowing you to guarantee business continuity to your clients – ensuring that you will always deliver on your promise.
The wrong IT and what it can mean for business
Many ended up with the wrong tools in their ‘home office’ due to the necessary rush which arose from the pandemic. Most of these tools were provided by the boss on a whim out of desperation and with very little planning, but some also by employees themselves. Outdated, unprotected, and incapable software or hardware can have a detrimental effect on business functionality and also security.
This is referred to as ‘Shadow IT’.
For those that don’t already know, Shadow IT is IT that you – the employer – have no control over. Having no organisational requirements for control, documentation, security, or reliability, makes it a hot bed for security issues.
The aim for all business owners is long term prolonged business functionality and growth; to make this a reality you need to make decisions that will help your company to achieve your goals now and into the future. A cheap, quick fix is rarely the best option – you need to invest – it will be worth it! The last year or two has already forced many businesses that were successful pre pandemic into reviewing their strategies on how and where they work, and they understand that the world is changing and so the way we work in it must change simultaneously – it is time you do the same.
The New Strategy Going into 2022
A remote working team is normal practice for many businesses now. The change happened for two reasons for most; either it was made as a precautionary measure in case of another lockdown, or businesses noticed others achieving their goals with the reduced cost that it offers and wanted their savings. Some still haven’t made the change, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t in the midst of a transition. Some have found issues in their business that without the pandemic – and even the consideration of adopting a remote work team – would not have been noticed.
Here are two business challenges that every business owner noticed, due to Covid-19, and why you should resolve them as soon as possible.
- Lower risk – increase levels of security and compliance.
- Increase profit and productivity.
Why address them?
Lower risk – increase levels of security and compliance
You will feel a number of impact points if you do not address these challenges, including:
- Loss of time
- Loss of data
- Loss of reputation
- Loss of clients.
And if the above is allowed to continue this can then lead to the most important of all:
- Loss of revenue.
What can lead to these impacts?
The risks that can lead to these impacts:
- Cyber threats
We are familiar with the potentially disastrous effects of a successful cyber-attack, which can range from the theft of sensitive information all the way to deliberate attacks on electricals, potentially causing equipment failures if the attack is strong enough.
Phishing emails, Malware, and Ransomware are just some of the most common forms of cyber attack. There are, however, different methods of attack being developed and unleashed daily, most with the capability of causing damage that could result in your business having to be closed down.
Cyber attacks aren’t just about the data that is lost – it’s also about the ongoing reputational effects that follow on from that breach. I don’t know about you but once a company or organisation I purchase something from lets me down it takes a lot to regain my trust.
- Reduced pressured resources
Business owners must use the often-limited resources at their disposal as effectively as possible. Balancing the value of tools to the functionality they provide can be difficult, because they must help you to achieve an efficient thriving workplace. This has been made even harder with many having to cut their workforce and lower production – making it even more difficult to use all the resources at their disposal effectively.
No business can afford to waste money, so use everything you have to its full potential. In the following article we will take a look at the second challenge, the impact of not rising to that challenge, and the risks that can lead to that impact.
Your Success is Our Success
We’re a young, fun, and enthusiastic bunch of down-to-earth people that strive to relieve our clients’ IT headaches. We love to engage and create enjoyable relationships with our clients, but ultimately we’re here to help your business to run smoothly and securely. Our team has many years of experience in IT Consultancy, Website Development, Email/Web Hosting, Server Builds/Installations/Maintenance, Network Issues and IT Security… and more! Contact us now to find out more about how we can help you.
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