Information technology (IT) has become an integral part of every business plan. From international corporations maintaining extensive mainframe systems and databases to small companies with a single computer, IT plays a pivotal role. [bctt tweet=”IT should not be treated as the intangible thing that facilitates your business but as an integral part of your business.” via=”no”]
Your Modern Organization
Imagine your business. Now imagine your business without IT. If you’re like most people, you can’t. It’s become such an enormous part of everyday life that you likely cannot imagine the business world without it. IT is the glue that holds modern infrastructure together, allowing small business to become large, and large companies to become nearly omnipresent (think Apple).
Communication
For nearly all businesses, email is the principal means of communication between employees, suppliers, and customers. In fact, more than 81% of American say they use their smartphone primarily to check emails. Over the years, communications tools have evolved, allowing for live chat systems, online meeting tools, and video-conferencing. Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephones and smart-phone integrations offer even more high-tech ways to communicate.
Data Management
The days of bulky hard drives, large filing rooms, rows of filing cabinets and traditional mailings are fast approaching obsolescence. Today, most companies store digital documents on servers and cloud storage servers. These documents are instantly accessible to everyone in the company, regardless of their location.There are easy to secure and encrypt, protecting sensitive data from attack or breach.
Inventory
Inventory management is the part of supply chain management that ensures that you’ll always have the right products in the right quantity, at the right time. When done effectively, businesses reduce the costs of carrying excess inventory while maximizing sales. Good inventory management tools track your inventory in real time, connecting the inventory management program to the point-of-sale (POS) system. This ensures that each time an item is sold, 1 of the same item is removed from the inventory count, creating an accurate inventory count. This will help you avoid products being out of stock, or having an excess.
Client Management
Companies use IT to improve and manage customer relationships and interactions. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems capture every transaction and conversation a company has with a customer. If a customer calls your support team with an issue, your employee will be able to see the entire history of that customer, including purchases, shipping information, and all previous interactions. This way, you can use historical data to ensure positive outcome for you and your customer.
An Emphasis on Efficiency
Streamlined workflow, shared storage and collaborative workspaces can allow employees to process at a higher level of work in a shorter period of time. IT systems can be used to automate routine tasks, streamline data analysis and store data in a manner that is safe yet accessible.
Your Growing Business
Implementing IT resources allows your company to maintain a competitive advantage over your rivals. Companies can use information technology to create new products, differentiate their products from the rest of the market or enhance their customer services. In today’s modern age, you simply cannot grow your business without IT.
Contact Us to learn more about how IT can streamline your business and boost your bottom line.
