Is Legacy Technology a Roadblock for Your Small Business?

By Michelle Amodio
TMCnet Contributor

If you’re running a small business, you probably don’t have wired telephones and typewriters helping to perform your daily tasks. Smart business owners are investing in modern technology to streamline processes, but the fact of the matter is, technology changes and moves so fast that many of the employed tools put in place are already outdated. Even older versions of software solutions can hamper productivity and revenue levels, so it’s imperative that businesses, especially the SMB crowd, stay up to date on their apps and tools.

Of course, a simple update can keep you current on the best business tools, but it can also keep your time and money in check. According to David Smith (News - Alert), vice president of WW SMB for Microsoft, ““two-thirds of SMBs felt that using mobile apps helps them save time and money—some as much as 150 hours and $6,000 per year.”

Wouldn’t it make sense, then, that businesses keep up that momentum with a simple technology revision?

Antiquated equipment can easily lead to an overwhelming sense of irritation, greatly reduced productivity, and a self-sustaining cycle of increased negativity in the workplace.

Don’t stay in the personal computer "dark age," where employees labor on computers that lack sufficient memory, current software, appropriate back-up systems, and other modern features.  

In addition to making processes quicker, the latest technology offerings also make it easy to keep information up to date. Instead of searching through a room of file cabinets and trying to guess how information was stored in order to update a customer address, a few clicks of the mouse and can pull up a customer file from a database. What used to take several minutes to an hour can now be done instantly.

That is why the cloud has become such a prevalent piece to the business puzzle. One of the most obvious benefits of moving everyday business to the cloud is that it can provide small businesses with significant savings. For starters, cloud computing fully utilizes hardware. It improves collaboration, increases flexibility, and has greater integration with existing tools.

Both SMBs and enterprise businesses can take advantage of cloud-based solutions like Office 365, which has taken the native tools we are accustomed to and puts them in the cloud. Not only do businesses have access to the most up-to-date version when running virtually, but there is no physical maintenance. Because the move to the cloud frees up so much time previously spent maintaining physical servers, IT staff can turn their attention toward using the technology to help improve business practices. For example, some companies are taking advantage of Office 365’s mobile features to complete orders on tablet devices while out in the field with customers.

Different types of technology can help your business maximize efficiency and productivity, decrease expenses and increase profitability. Consider how your business operates and determine which technologies will benefit your organization in terms of saving time and increasing your bottom line.