The Future of IT for Small Businesses: Trends to Watch

The current pace of technology is truly something to marvel at. In the span of a generation, we’ve gone from computer punch cards to voice-activated Internet searches. To put that in perspective, punch card technology had been used since 1801, when Joseph Marie Jacquard invented a loom that used stacks of cards to weave complex patterns in silk, including a portrait of George Washington. That tech remained largely unchanged until NASA used it to land men on the moon in 1969. The Apollo mission also employed massive computers that took up whole floors but didn’t have nearly the capacity of that smartphone in your hip pocket. Sure, there are people who complain we still don’t have the flying cars we were promised as kids. But that doesn’t negate the fact that technology is advancing at a torrid pace, and small businesses stand to benefit.

Futuristic technology that can help your small business today

Without further ado, here are the top trends you should consider adopting for your small business:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning — Yes, generations of science fiction writers have warned that teaching machines to think for themselves will be disastrous for the human race. But until that day the Cylons rebel, small businesses can get a powerful boost from tools that employ AI. Important tasks that AI/ML can handle include automating routine tasks and mining vast quantities of raw data for critical business data. AI/ML will not only save you time, and therefore money, but it can guide your business development decisions to steer you away from pitfalls towards rich opportunities.
• Self-Service — This might forever remain a foreign concept to New Jersey gas stations, but it’s catching on with independent-minded consumers who want greater convenience and autonomy over commercial transactions. Especially if your business caters to young consumers, you want to enable self-service as a natural course of business. This user-friendly trend also helps you reduce the burden on your customer service team, who can focus on more complex challenges.
• Auto-Remediation — Imagine being able to resolve customer experience issues in real time without getting any of your employees involved.
• Mobility and remote work — You’re no doubt aware of these trends, even if they haven’t caught on with your company. But be aware: these trends which allow employees to perform on the road or from a home office, are only going to accelerate, and there will be pressure on your company to follow suit. Mobile and remote work have benefits for your clients as well as your workers, who tend to be more dedicated and loyal when management demonstrates a concern for their working conditions. In addition, your company could see a decrease in expenses related to office space, hardware, and utilities.
• Enhanced cybersecurity — The bad guys aren’t going away, so businesses must employ proactive strategies, including AI, to stay ahead of the constant threat.
• Internet of Things — IoT is the technology solution that connects consumer products to the Internet for a variety of purposes, such as enhanced customer experience and product development research. IoT can also help businesses manage inventory more efficiently to boost their bottom line and better serve their customers.
• Blockchain — Blockchain technology is an advanced database mechanism that allows your business network to better share information. Blockchain enables you to guard transactions against fraud and costly errors. You can also scrutinize your contract performance for tighter management.

These descriptions are necessarily brief, so it’s difficult to convey the particular advantages a business like yours might gain. Business owners who are not early adopters of technology might also feel a bit of trepidation. Do I really need this? How steep a learning curve will my workers and I have to summit? If I don’t jump on board, will my business really suffer?

The answers to these questions require knowledge of emerging technology and of your business, which is why it’s beneficial to speak to an IT expert at KMF Technologies. We take pride in the personalized service we give our customers. We take the time to learn about your business processes, so we can offer specific technology solutions. If you stand to benefit from “futuristic” IT trends, we can explain why “the future is now,” and how you can garner the greatest benefit from a reasonable investment of time and capital. Call us today.