Startups / 7 min read

Technology your small business can’t afford to ignore

Finding the right tech for your small business can be tough, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

However, these days there are some solutions that you can’t afford to pass over simply because they’ll end up saving you quite a bit of time and money in the long run. After all, the right software can keep your most sensitive data safe, help you manage your finances, and allow you to communicate with your team members in real time so that everyone is on the same page.

The key is to narrow down your needs before starting the search for new tech.

What do you and your team spend the most time on? Which areas of your business need improvement? What are your competitors using that you don’t currently have access to?

For instance, many smaller businesses don’t have apps that integrate with their website due to the cost of hiring a developer, but you can utilise the services of Pagelizard and their new no-code app building platform Reptile to build and maintain a custom app without the typical stress and financial commitment.

Once you have a few ideas on what to look for, do some research on the latest tech available and read customer reviews to get an idea of the best fit for your needs.

Here are a few aspects of business that will benefit greatly from the right tech solutions:

Keeping information secure

Many business owners struggle with cyber security because they invest in the right software but don’t update it, or because they underestimate the target on their backs simply because they’re a smaller company. Hackers and thieves will go after small businesses the same as larger ones because they anticipate a lack of strong security, so it’s crucial to find the right tech for your specific needs and keep updating it.

You’ll also need to train your employees well, especially those who have access to passwords and other sensitive information. Choose a secure website host, backup important data, and encrypt your site, especially if you take customer payments online.

You can also take steps to keep certain info safe by using password-protected documents. A PDF editor can be found online that allows you to make changes to the document without changing it to another format first, and you can download the finished product when you’re ready to share it.

Easily managing payroll

Managing payroll is another area of business that needs to remain secure, but it should also be easy to navigate for busy entrepreneurs. Fortunately, there are several software solutions that can help you keep your tax responsibilities, deductions, and payroll system on track, and these are affordable options for small businesses that don’t need a lot of bells and whistles.

Look for an option that offers automatic payroll scheduling to help you stay organised, as well as automatic tax-filing and calculating so you never have to worry about making a mistake. The right payroll platform will also allow for same-day direct deposit and the ability to manage employee benefits, all in the same place.

Keeping utility costs down

With prices rising all over the world for everything from gas to groceries, it’s crucial for small business owners to utilise tools that will help them keep costs down wherever possible, and while using affordable security and payroll tools can help, it’s also important to be proactive when it comes to conserving energy.

Whether you run your business from home or you own a storefront, managing utility costs through smart tech is a great way to free up cash flow and ensure that you won’t be hit with a nasty surprise after a hot summer or freezing winter.

Managing team projects

With the global pandemic came many changes to the way businesses run their daily operations, including allowing team members to work from home. As remote work became more popular, business owners began to see the financial benefits, which include saving money on utilities and helping employees boost productivity as they eliminated office distractions.

If you’ve been thinking about offering permanent remote work, or if you already have but haven’t explored the tools available for team communication, do some research on the best options out there.

Stay organised

Whether you want to stay on top of team projects, use data analytics tools to find out more about your customers, or stay informed about the latest available tech, you’ll likely be using a slew of apps on your favorite smart device to do so.

Staying organised when you have so much information to manage can be a challenge, but you can start by using the cloud, which will streamline the most important aspects of your business so you can manage everything no matter where you are in the world.

How are you selling your product?

What is the way that companies sell today? Most of them use a website to offer their products to their customers, but you should consider investing instead on an app. An app puts your business in the hands of your clients and prospects (literally) 24 hours, 7 days a week. Many businesses create a ‘simple’ app initially and, if they see what’s selling best, they adjust the app accordingly.

Through an app you can collect and analyse data from your customers (much more accurate than through a website and certainly 100% better than offline transactions). With the information you gather on the app you're able to streamline your marketing strategies and goals.

App as a selling tool

Pagelizard offers a quick and simple way to build your own app without code using the new software Reptile.

Reptile offers:

• no-coding platform, only very basic computer knowledge is required;
• cloud-based mobile app builder (no download or install required);
• visual editor facility (using drag and drop features) and
• choice of templates and plug-ins for functionalities (library/catalogue).

In conclusion…

Finally, it’s essential not to get caught up in every piece of new tech that comes along. While many software solutions and smart devices can be helpful to small businesses both now and in the long run, it’s crucial to do some research into your options rather than jumping into a service or app simply because it’s the latest on the market.

This will help you avoid wasting time with services that go under after a few months, and it will also lend credibility to your business if you’re able to stay consistent with established resources and tools.

Finding the right tech options for your small business can take some time, but it’s important to do your homework when searching for the best fit. Read reviews carefully, and take stock of your specific needs in order to maximise the services and tools you choose.

What is different about the Pagelizard and Reptile teams?

Our new modular app platform is the most efficient way yet to build and support apps. Imagine the business app of your dreams and we assemble it quickly from our existing component library.

Automated builds ensure consistency of code with maintenance, upgrades and support included for a fixed fee. 

From our expert mobile UX designers to the technical team who can integrate the app into your network, we provide a dedicated team to support you all the way.

Case studies

We are continuously looking for ways to improve things using technology. As such, we’ve built many apps that we’re proud of, and if you are interested, here is a link to a few of our recent achievements we’d like to share with you.

Have a question for the team? Design beautiful apps with us – call us on (+44) 207 183 3690 or send us an email info@reptile.app

 

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash