A successful business of any size is going to rely on technology to help it grow and thrive. Communication, productivity and growth are all dependent to some extent on the technology used within any business.

There are many different ways that technology can be utilized within a business, big or small, and depending on how you run yours, you’ll be able to determine what is going to help you out the most. Here are some of the most useful and universal pieces of tech that your business is likely to need.

Computers

It is entirely possible to run a business from a smartphone or a tablet. However, it is not recommended: it can be much more difficult to do and having a laptop computer as the core of your business means that you can more easily dedicate time and space to what you are doing. If you are running everything from a mobile device, you might be tempted to take your business into your free time, and this is time that should be spent relaxing or being with family. Not only will you lose the work life balance in this scenario, but you will run the risk of looking unprofessional, too.

Your computer network should be the heart and the brains of your business. Use the cloud (another piece of technology) so that everything is backed up and safe and use the laptop or laptops to carry out day-to-day work.

Virtual Phone Lines

If you want to run a successful business, it needs to look professional. The more professional and competent you come across, the more likely it is that customers will want to buy from you rather than from your competition. One way to do this is to have a dedicated phone line for your business. You don’t have to have a physical line installed and you can have the number diverted to your cell phone if you wish. Using a virtual phone line will give you the professional look you want and you can easily find PBX system for your needs.

When customers are looking for ways to contact you, if they see a landline listed this will instil more confidence that you are a professional, serious business. This means you should make more sales or engage with more people than if you only list your cell phone number.

CRM

A CRM — or customer relationship manager — is a useful tool for any business no matter how big or small. It is a great way to keep all your communication and documents in one place, ensuring excellent customer service. If someone calls you, you can input all the data into your CRM. If they call back, you can quickly open their information and know exactly what they need. They will be impressed that you remember them and that you have their information to hand.

This is also useful if you have several different people who might answer the phone or need to reply to emails. If they all are able to log into your CRM, they will be able to find the correct information and your customers will be happy.