The business realm is among the hardest-hit industries by COVID-19’s effects, with more than 100,000 US businesses already closed down, many for good. But, such a grim cautionary tale should not deter entrepreneurs from taking some risks, given how critical products and services are to maintain a sense of normalcy in today’s pandemic situation.
One bright spot that business owners should look to is technology. Today, tech is practically everywhere and is making historic and rapid progress in commerce look like child’s play. For entrepreneurs who wish to make their businesses future-proof and pandemic-resilient, here are six tech tools that they should invest in soon:
A business app
There are plenty of mobile apps right now that entrepreneurs can download and use to make their processes smoother and more productive. For example, there’s an app that lets business owners create personalized legal documents with just a few clicks, which is perfect for making eviction notices, debt collection papers, and other business-related documents.
Other excellent business apps to consider include accounting, communication, social media scheduling, and mobile payment apps. There are plenty of free business apps while others have minimal fees for a limited-time subscription and full features.
Internet-capable devices
Today’s entrepreneurs should have the tools to do business practically anywhere in the world. Fortunately, technology has a lot of devices with internet connectivity that can help business owners manage their day-to-day functions even when out of the office.
Some of the internet-ready gadgets that you should have are tablets and smartphones, and of course the old and trustworthy desktop computers. When buying, make sure that the mobile devices you’ll choose are 4G or 5G capable so you can enjoy fast connectivity and compatibility with today’s (and the near future’s) communications and internet infrastructures.
Google Analytics
For business owners who want to make sound decisions that are based on hard data, Google Analytics is perfect for them. This revolutionary tech tool allows entrepreneurs to see how customers, both current and potential, are interacting with their business website through the data they leave when they visit websites.
With the data available to business owners through this web tool, they can make informed decisions on how best to offer their services or manufacture their products. The best thing about Google Analytics is that it’s free, so business owners with limited funds could use this powerful tool to propel their business towards success.
Cloud storage
These days, it’s critical for businesses to store their important files in a place where they can access them from everywhere. Fortunately, technology has the perfect solution: cloud storage.
This groundbreaking technology gives entrepreneurs the freedom to access their data from any internet-capable device. When used properly, it could lead to excellent productivity given that you, your employees, business partners, and even customers can access or collaborate remotely using the data stored in the cloud. For business owners who wish to survive the pandemic and thrive beyond it, it’s an indispensable tool to have.
VPN
These days, accessing the internet in open networks poses a lot of security risks, including hacking and ransomware. If you use the internet to conduct your business with clients, employees, and partners, you’re most likely doing it through an unprotected network, which means your data is out in the open. The easy workaround to such a vulnerability is to use a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN will allow you to use the internet but without the usual risks of cyber-snooping and data theft. Keep in mind that it’s not only your business’ data that could be compromised if you don’t use a VPN, but also those of your clients, employees, suppliers, and everyone else you’re conducting business with.
Project management tool
While most project management tools (PMTs) are apps, they deserve their own spot in this list for their various features that could make a struggling business survive and the ones who are already successful, even more.
A project management tool can either be a software program or a mobile app and business owners can use one to stay organized and on top of everything that’s happening in their ventures. Many PMTs are free to use, while the ones with excellent features have minimal fees. Either which one of them you choose, you’re sure to benefit from the functionalities that a PMT offers.
Doing business, particularly in light of the COVID-19 crisis, is about getting all the advantages one can have to succeed. With these tech tools at a business owner’s disposal, that success is just right around the corner.