Small businesses seemingly always need to take a long look at the way they do things because they need to be as efficient as possible to carve out a market share. This often means using technology to make everything work. There are many different types of technologies that can help any SMB build more efficient operations, but the two we will outline in today’s blog, are two technologies that are probably doing the most to help SMBs improve. 

Artificial Intelligence 

AI is all the rage today, but unlike a lot of the IT that businesses try, AI is here to stay. There isn’t a technology that has more promise that is already on the market today, and sure, the effectiveness and costs of the technology are pretty variable, but there are some pretty stark benefits for businesses. Here are three ways AI is being used by businesses:

Customer Service Automation

There are several ways that a business can use AI to make their customer-facing processes more attractive and efficient. One of the most prevalent at the time of this writing is through the use of chatbot technologies. Chatbots are AI-powered systems that can handle routine customer inquiries, provide information, and even assist in the purchasing process. This technology not only enhances customer experience by providing instant responses but also frees up human resources for more complex and revenue-generating tasks.

Data Analysis and Insights

Being able to acquire information that allows for better insights and decision-making is one of the great benefits of the digital age. With AI, these platforms are getting better. AI can analyze historical data to identify patterns and trends, helping businesses make informed predictions about future outcomes. This can be applied to various aspects, such as sales forecasting, inventory management, and identifying market trends.

Process Automation

AI can give businesses the ability to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. This includes automating data entry, invoicing, and other administrative processes, allowing employees to focus on higher-value tasks that require creativity and critical thinking. The more you can automate, the more unburdened your staff is.

Cloud Computing

You probably are already quite familiar with cloud computing. Most businesses utilize some type of cloud resource whether that is tied to its data backup, its email, or some other complementary computing resource. Many organizations don’t, however, truly understand the benefits they could be gaining from using the cloud for their organizational computing needs. Let’s look at three major benefits of cloud computing. 

Cost Efficiency

Cloud offerings feature the pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing organizations to pay only for the resources they consume. This eliminates the need for large upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure. Cloud providers also operate on a massive scale, which enables them to distribute costs across a large customer base. This results in lower per-unit costs for services, making it more cost-effective for organizations compared to managing their data centers.

Scalability and Flexibility

One of the biggest benefits of cloud computing is the on-demand resources it provides. By providing the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand the cloud can deliver the amount of flexibility and scalability they need. This flexibility allows businesses to respond quickly to changing requirements, ensuring they have the right amount of computing power and storage at any given time.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Finally, one of the most important uses of cloud computing is protecting the integrity of an organization’s IT infrastructure. Business continuity is a big part of ensuring that any would-be operational problem your business could run into, and has actions that remedy those problems enough to continue operations. 

The first way that cloud computing influences data redundancy is through the data backup systems. One of the best practices when rolling out a comprehensive backup system is to have a reliable offsite backup. Backing up your business’ data to the cloud is quite possibly the best way to do it. Another way the cloud helps is through its integrated disaster recovery options. In the event of a natural disaster or other disruption, organizations can quickly recover their data and applications, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.

Technology is a big part of doing business in today’s digital world. Other technologies such as the Internet of Things and blockchain present new ways to accomplish organizational goals. If you would like some help determining how to deploy innovative technologies for your business, give us a call today at (415) 295-4898.