Have a desire to improve your business? You're not alone. All over the world, thousands of small business owners are working to protect, enrich, and expand their companies through investing in and using the best technology for their businesses. To help you get ahead of the pack, here is our list of 5 technology tools every small business needs.

1. Data backup

If you are not protecting your data by making regular backups you are inviting disaster to strike your business. Whether it’s a computer hard drive that crashes, a theft, an earthquake, or simply a water bottle that gets knocked over onto your equipment, any information stored on your computer or server is vulnerable. It can all literally disappear in a matter of seconds. Luckily, it is extremely easy to protect your business against data loss. By incorporating a data backup strategy, you can ensure that all your data is copied and stored in a safe location, ready for whenever you need it. If you are not convinced how quickly data disaster can strike - or how important it is is to have a backup in place - check out this video from Pixar detailing the time they lost Toy Story 2. You might just find yourself rushing to get your own backup system in place.

2. Mobile technology

Smartphones and tablets are here to stay. And they are affecting businesses in a variety of ways. There are several different ways that you need to incorporate mobile technology into your business. Here are our top 3:

• Make your website mobile-friendly: The majority of consumers are looking at business websites from their mobile devices. And yet, according to SCORE, 93% of the websites for small and medium sized businesses are not mobile compatible.  If you want to increase the business that comes from your website, it is imperative that you invest in technology that makes your website responsive to mobile viewing.
• Allow mobile payments: More and more consumers are leaving their wallets at home. Encourage customers to stop at your store by allowing mobile payments, such as Apple Pay.
• Make your business mobile: Mobile technology is not just for your customers. It is also for you and your employees. Whether you invest in mobile technology for everyone or allow people to bring their own devices to work, encourage your employees to explore how their smartphones and tablets can enhances your overall business practices.

3. CRM

Modern customers are used to being courted. They are used to attention. And they don’t appreciate mistakes. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technologies are geared towards organizing your customer information and keeping you in constant communication. CRM technologies can be used for your marketing and sales agendas, and most can integrate with your website, email, and social media. CRM’s can automate a lot of your customer service, drastically reducing your workload and improving your overall efficiency.

4. Cloud computing

From file sharing to backup services, the cloud is changing the way that companies do business. Cloud computing makes it so that you can quickly and easily access your documents from any of your devices - no matter where you are. It gives you the ability to share documents with others, making sure that everyone is always looking at (and working on) the most up-to-date document. It also provides a safe, accessible-from-anywhere backup location where you can store all of your most important information. (And if you need a reminder as to why that is important, check out #1 above.)

5. Security

If the recent SONY hack taught you anything, it should be that every business is vulnerable to cyber attack. (And to be careful what you write in your email!) Whether it’s from a cyber criminal infiltrating your system, or a malware that gets sent through a nefarious attachment, your entire network is under constant attack. Shield your business, your information, your customers, and your money by investing in the correct level of security for your company.  Don’t be another victim. Be proactive and protect the things that are most important to you.

Don't Forget to Do Your Research!

While you may be tempted to go out and buy all of these technologies right now, as always, we encourage our small business owners to take the time and research the different products before making any sort of financial investment. Take advantage of webinars, free trials, and other offerings that allow you to make sure that this technology is right for you. And remember, whenever you have any questions or need some suggestions, you can call your Digity Tech Advisor. Our Tech Advisors are always ready to help guide you through your decisions and help ensure that you pick the technology that will add to your success.