Business development has been aided and allowed by the developments of technology since the introduction of MS DOS and it continues to this day. There is a vast range of technology available to businesses now and choosing the right piece can be challenging. This article will consider some of the technology available to businesses today and their benefits for a company, large or small.
-
Operating Systems
The operating system is perhaps the most fundamental element of a computer and which computer we buy often depends upon the operating system that we wish to use. There are two real contenders for the operation of office and home computers: OS X Lion and Windows 8 (due for release in 2012). Whilst Apple’s OS X Lion is undoubtedly better for design, Windows is still the world’s best-selling OS and this is for good reason. Windows offers a huge amount to its customers as can be demonstrated by the new Windows 8 download. The program is still under development but it is a revolutionary approach by Microsoft to the OS market. Microsoft is bridging the gap between mobile and stationary computers by creating a single, cross-platform interface for their products.
-
Tablets
Whether or not to purchase tablet computers as a company will really depends on how much travelling your staff members are required to do. Whilst pen and paper are perfectly adequate for meetings, there is a high level of productivity to be gained from having staff who can work on emails and more whilst they commute. There are limitations and advantages to all types of tablet whether they utilise iOS or the new Windows OS. Apple products are limited by an inability to use flash programs which can deny access to a frustrating range of websites. Tablets have been found to both aid and hinder businesses so it is worth piloting the scheme before introducing it across the company.
-
Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing
What once was ‘Marketing’ now incorporates a vast range of potential online as well as in the physical form. The reach of the internet, which now links directly to mobile phones, enable customers and target audiences to be contacted at all times of the day. This has changed the game for businesses wanting to advertise because a flyer under the door is now less convenient for a customer than the internet on their phone is. Utilising social media marketing correctly is a hard task but it can be very effective as is demonstrated by the viral marketing campaigns that many companies now run. The varied nature and specialist requirements of digital marketing mean that it is now often more appropriate to outsource marketing jobs than it is to keep them in-house.
-
Skype Meetings
Skype has enabled companies to hold meetings which reach to all corners of the globe. Meetings can now be held in multiple locations which have reduced the need for staff to be limited to one country. The employment of staff can now be international and the search for expertise has become international as well. Do not limit your business to one location when you can seek employees from all over the world.