Technological advancements continue to evolve and significantly affect every aspect of our lives, but it is particularly interesting how they changed the way we do business. Many years ago, the idea of remote work is just science fiction. Who would have thought that there will come a time when information would be accessible in real-time with just a click of our fingertips?=
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Fourth Industrial Revolution centers on the creation of all internet-based technology. This industrial revolution focused on the combination of mechanics and data through internet-driven systems that have a “mind” of its own without the need for human intervention.
While the Fourth Industrial Revolution or “cyber-physical systems” heavily relied on the technologies and infrastructures of the Third Industrial Revolution, the former paved the way wherein technology has become more embedded with society and even the human body.
Included in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the creation of new forms of machine intelligence, genetic engineering, and reliance on blockchains. The complexities of these technologies and their seemingly uncharted nature make them threatening yet at the same time fascinating.
Let us take a look at how technology has changed the way we do business.
#1 Communication
The amount of time you spend traveling to attend a meeting or conference is a time wasted. You could have been more productive during those minutes or hours. But thanks to technology, it revolutionized how we conduct business meetings and communicate with our team members.
Furthermore, because of technology, telecommuting has become possible. Working from home is no longer just a fantasy. With various digital solutions available, employees can be sitting at the comfort of their own homes while delivering top-notch results for the company.
#2 Streamlined Payment Process
A steady cash flow is essential for a business of any size. Businesses need to get paid by their customers as fast and easily as possible. With the advancements in banking technology, customers can easily make payments through mobile apps, internet banking, debit cards, and digital payments wallets.
In the same way, business owners can get their payments for goods and services on time. Businesses can purchase supplies and materials digitally, pay their creditors online, and close business deals over a teleconference. This significantly improves the efficiency of any company.
#3 Business Documents
It is hard to imagine running a business without using Microsoft Office and Google docs. Almost every business in various industries and even government offices, online and offline, are reliant on these software tools. Preparing documents has become easier than ever with all the templates available in their libraries.
Cloud storage is also a game-changer when it comes to improving productivity, increasing collaboration, reducing costs, and sharing of documents. Today, no matter where you are located, you can easily access business documents when you have to work.
#4 Marketing Techniques
Technology paved the way to more powerful techniques of promoting business through the internet. This is what we call digital marketing. Through social media marketing, search engine optimization, and email marketing, businesses have a wider reach using data analysis, keyword targeting, and data analysis.
In today’s world where everyone is reliant on the internet for information, having a loud digital presence is a must. Businesses across various industries can take advantage of competitive SEO packages to better promote their services or products online. Consumers today typically look you up online before doing business with you.
#5 Hiring and Talent Management
The traditional business model requires you to rent a big office and hire as many employees as necessary for each department. Fortunately, with technological advancements, you can cut down overhead costs by outsourcing non-core business tasks. These include accounting, digital marketing, and even cleaning.
Today, there are countless freelancing platforms, team tracking tools, and collaboration tools that make working with people across the globe possible. Small businesses benefit a lot from this as they can focus more on innovating their products or services instead of wasting time on unnecessary matters.
#6 Better Customer Service
With almost everything now done in an instant, customers expect the same thing for your business. This means omnichannel communication lines, faster delivery, and higher quality products or services. And thanks to technology, businesses have more ways to offer better customer service.
Amazon has become a benchmark when it comes to logistics. Their one or two-day delivery service has urged thousands of businesses to follow this model. Live chats, 24-hour email, and VoIP service has made it possible for customers from different parts of the world to conduct business with you.
We are just two decades into a new century. A lot of technological advancements have happened in just a couple of years. Imagine what other possibilities might become a reality in the few years to come and how it will continue to revolutionize the world of business.