Ask any mid-level manager about the pros and cons of business technology, and you’ll get interesting responses. Some will rattle off more cons, while others tend to view high-tech solutions as saviors in many ways. And these solutions go beyond why a new website improves your business, these can be complex options with significant learning curves. The truth is somewhere in the middle because even the most advanced, beloved business-tech have their good and not so good aspects. One of the biggest pluses, at least in the eyes of managers and owners, is that prices for technological solutions come down year after year. The phenomenon is due in part to the need to compete against the latest and greatest breakthroughs. No one wants to be caught using yesterday’s tech.
However, department managers are often surprised at the complexity of long-term service contracts and the challenge of training everyone on the newest software products. Maybe that’s why the best sellers in this niche are the ones that don’t come with the need for special training or long learning curves. Overall, today’s office and commercial technology help owners keep track of assets in a more precise way and never have to wonder where a particular item is located. Here are the most common pros and cons associated with current technological business solutions.
Pro: Newer Solutions Are Competitively Priced
Prices on sophisticated software packages and programs continue to drop. But, the other side of that good news is that many of the best-sellers come with long-term service contracts and the need for users to take extensive training in order to use them.
Pro: Better Communication
In earlier times, communicating with a person belonging to a different part of the world was difficult. Think about it! Think back to the time when people had to communicate using pigeons or letters, something that took days or weeks! However today the world has come closer and one can easily connect with a person sitting in another corner of the world, all thanks to technology.
Pro: Assets are Easy to Track and Control
Fleet managers are the big winners when it comes to leveraging the power of fresh tech devices, products, programs, and systems. That’s because supervisors and transport company owners can use features like reefer monitoring to embed cost-effective controls throughout the entire fleet. Additionally, fleet tech offers simple but comprehensive asset monitoring capability as well as accurate legal compliance for all shipped assets. It’s worth noting that maintaining precise temperatures within trucks is crucial to assuring product quality and meeting multiple laws regarding food spoilage.
Pro: Top Selling Systems and Packages are User-Friendly
Some of the most sophisticated, high-tech software programs, inventory tracking systems, and fleet management solutions are exceptionally user-friendly. Programming engineers and designers long ago realized that the simpler it is to implement and operate a technical solution, the easier it is to sell. Many corporate buyers base their decisions almost solely on how quickly they can train their own employees to use a given program or software package. Price and seller reputation are always considerations as well, but simplicity is typically the major selling point for teams who market, design and sell technology to businesses.
Pro: Streamline Activities and Automation
Technology has helped businesses streamline their processes. This enables businesses to move quicker, resulting in lower costs. An example of a streamlined process is using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, which helps a sales team see clearly when and what topics they spoke about to a prospect. It automates future correspondence and notes when a prospect becomes a client. Once the prospect is a client, notifications are sent to fulfillment centers and the client is able to track fulfillment until delivery. This saves everyone time, energy, and frustration trying to find an order that may be stuck in a mail hub.
Con: Service Contracts Can Be Pricey
If your firm plans to purchase a new technology solution, be sure to read the tiny print. Costly service agreements are often included in low-priced packages. The length and cost of these agreements can be negotiated on occasion, but they always increase the overall cost of the package. When it comes to the most popular products in IT, prolonged training is yet another hidden cost.
Con: Distractions Affect Productivity
It’s easy to get sidetracked by the abundance of technology. It is imperative that business executives establish procedures to prevent their employees from taking advantage of the technology they use at their jobs. Personal texts, games, and social networking can distract many employees who are allowed to bring their own devices to work. With internet access on corporate computers, employees may engage in the same time-wasting behaviors. Even if an employee’s study is valid, it is possible that he or she will become sidetracked and end up wasting an hour of valuable time.
Con: Losses or Nefarious Activity
Even if a firm does not have any technology, hackers are more likely to target it if it does. It is common for small company owners to use out-of-date software that has not been updated or patched to protect against hackers. Malware, ransomware, and viruses may takeover internet activities, keep data hostage, and even divert sales transactions to an account in another country when this happens.
Con: Extreme Dependability
Even though we may not be aware of it, we are more reliant on technology for nearly every aspect of our lives. Taking a cab is a frequent example of this. A third example is utilizing GPS to find your way to any destination. When it comes to directions, many people these days simply rely on Google Maps. That’s not a smart road to go in a number of ways!
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