As we enter the age of big data, the businesses that are able to use the wealth of information available to them and gain valuable insights into their customers are the businesses that will move into the future.
Luckily, there are many different types of technology that can help you use this data, store information, and collaborate with employees and coworkers from anywhere.
This is some of the technology that your business shouldn’t be without:
The Cloud
By now, “the cloud” is no longer a buzzword, and is instead how businesses and consumers everywhere store their information. The cloud will make your daily task more efficient, easier, and often cheaper. By incorporating the cloud into your business, you can focus on maximising the usage of your resources, saving your team time, and your business money.
Mobile Technology
Anyone participating in the modern business world now has a tablet or smartphone within arms reach. And it’s not just these types of mobile technology that can help you grow your business. You can find some great examples at idbs.com, including the E-WorkBook Electronic Laboratory notebook.
Live Chat Customer Service
If you want to give your customers the best possible service, providing live chat customer service is the way to do this. The latest technology makes it possible for businesses to provide high-level support through the use of live chat- meaning customers no longer need to get on the phone or wait for an email when they want to contact you.
These days, conversational chatbots are becoming more common, and we can definitely expect to see more businesses using these in the future. Chatbots are automated systems or “robots” that can answer questions, take payments, direct customers towards new products, and more. By implementing chatbot technology, you can easily connect with your customers 24/7, without needing to hire additional customer service representatives.
Analytics
With all the data available, it’s easy to fall victim to information overload. And key insights about your business and customers can get lost amongst all the noise. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in custom software which can analyse this data.
This software can be used to create dashboards which are updated in real time, and can provide ongoing information about your employees KPIs, sales, marketing, product, and more.
AR
If you ever played Pokemon Go, you’ve already used AR. But the businesses of the future will be using it in the development of cutting-edge applications. An example would be a smartphone app that would overlay information about different products within the shop itself. According to research by Gartner, 100 million people will be using AR during their shopping by 2020. By the end of this year, one in five global brands will have already incorporated this technology into their shopping as well.