Around a decade ago, cloud computing and smartphones were new to the business world.
Today most of us, especially us business owners who rely on these technologies to keep our businesses functioning, can't see ourselves living without them.
Despite the fact that there are numerous small business tech trends that can help transform the small business landscape, most people aren't fully utilising these digital tools.
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Video communication technologies

​As a small business owner, we sometimes feel the need to compete against enterprise-level competitors and we rely on our personalized service models. 

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However, decentralized operations and limited in-person interactions forced us small ones to adapt to stay relevant.
This started the demand for technological advancements because it helped improve engagement for both customers and employees. 
In 2020, (obviously) virtual meetings became popular to ensure face-to-face contact, as well as hosting webinars in order to network and generate more leads.
There are other apps, such as Loom, that allow employees to record and share video messages of themselves, their screen, or both. Employees find this type of communication to be much more convenient than long emails or unnecessary meetings while adding a personal touch.
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Increased cybersecurity

​Because more and more businesses move their operations and data online and to the cloud, cybersecurity has become increasingly important. 
While around 60% of small business owners don’t think they’ll be the target of a cyber attack, 61% of them have fallen victim at least once to a cybersecurity breach.
Once your personal information and that of your clients are exposed, cyber attacks put your business in danger of financial losses and brand damage. 

Around a decade ago, cloud computing and smartphones were new to the business world.
Today most of us, especially us business owners who rely on these technologies to keep
our businesses functioning, can't see ourselves living without them.
Despite the fact that there are numerous small business tech trends that can help transform the small business landscape, most people aren't fully utilising these digital tools.
​A lot of small business owners are hesitant to adopt new technology for a variety of reasons, i.e. perceived cost barriers, a lack of understanding, or the belief that digital tools such as social media or live chat are irrelevant to their industry.

These assumptions are not really true. There has been a rise of various technologies that cause many changes in small enterprises as well as consumer expectations. For many businesses, adopting new technology is the only way to keep up with the fast-paced environment of today.
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​Here are some small business technologies to keep an eye on:

• Automation
• Video communication technologies
• Increased cybersecurity
• Comprehensive HR technology
• Software Integration and cloud adoption
• Remote onboarding tools
• Live chat and conversational marketing
• Social media and influencer marketing

Automation
"The use of machines and computers that can operate without needing
human control: office/factory automation
Automation and robotics have decreased the need for a large, highly
skilled work force."
(Cambridge Dictionary)

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For example, if you ever book an appointment and receive a confirmation email or text message, this is an automated response.
Automation can support small businesses save time and money by automating tedious manual tasks, i.e. inputting data into a system.
Quite a lot of small businesses cite insufficient time as a major challenge. By incorporating automation into their system, businesses can save time on manual processes so they can focus their efforts on doing work that drives profit.

Other examples include automating online pricing to balance profitability as well as inventory management systems to ensure the proper quantity of goods is on hand.
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