Entrepreneurs are extraordinary professionals that wear a lot of hats to keep their business flourishing. But given their many roles, they may not always have time to dig into the latest trends and technology to see how it might benefit their business.
In honor of National Small Business Week, we want to lighten the load and share insights into five trending technologies that can help uplift entrepreneurs and their businesses by enhancing the quality of their work, streamlining processes, and helping to protect sensitive information.
Read below for more on these technologies and why they are essential to any small business environment:
1. Inkjet: It offers quality and speed
Inkjet technology is playing an increasingly larger role in printers designed for small-to-medium sized businesses – and it’s making a big impact. Inkjet prints by driving droplets of ink onto paper versus a laser printer that uses toner. Inkjet printing is especially beneficial for color printing and for printing on various types of mediums – and today’s technology allows printing at high speeds, so you don’t have to sacrifice time for high-quality.
Even in the digital era, quality print is important to customers. According to the 2019 Canon Print For Action survey, over three-quarters (76%) of Americans agree that quality and graphics of printed materials are the most important in capturing their attention, and inkjet technology delivers on this need.
On another important note, inkjet printers – including Canon’s WG7200 Series Multifunction Printers – are intentionally designed to be cost-efficient with little to no maintenance requirements, which is beneficial for small business owners that may not have a huge budget for hardware and service needs. These printers also include additional technology that help with maintenance, which I’ll detail next.
2. Self-Service Technology: It thinks one step ahead
Time and resources can be limited for entrepreneurs, so minimizing time spent on hardware and software servicing can be incredibly advantageous. Especially, in today’s “on-demand” market, businesses cannot afford to skip a beat. That’s where machines with self-service features or minimal maintenance requirements can make a big difference.
For example, Canon’s WG7200 Series’ ink cartridges and maintenance cartridge are easy to access using the front panel, simplifying maintenance tasks. Seeking out technologies that offer such features can keep companies focused and help drive efficiency.
3. Multi-Factor Authentication: It ups data protection
These days, data security is top of mind for any business, large or small. Thankfully, the latest software and hardware – such as multifunction printers (MFPs) – incorporate digital security features to help protect the high volume of sensitive information that is shared on and processed through office devices.
Features like user authentication and user tracking are critical to keep business information secure, especially in the current workflow process that often spans multiple connected devices (i.e., transferring information from cell phone to a laptop to a printer). While these products might require a larger up-front investment, the protection and peace of mind offered through the latest security technology is worth the cost.
4. Cloud: It can save space and money
Moving core business applications into the cloud offers many advantages. These tools boast workflow organization with security controls that companies demand, especially in today’s digital environment. The cloud helps organizations tackle network and on premise storage issues, which otherwise can eat up time and money.
It’s smart to seek out vendors that use these systems as well to ensure that key safeguards are in place in relation to physical access, remote access, and the manner in which content is protected in transit and at rest. Additionally, small businesses are able to take full advantage of the investments made by third-party cloud providers such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft as opposed to having to build out strategies and systems on their own.
5. Content Management and Collaboration Solutions: They bring everything together
As previously mentioned, security features and the cloud are critical tools in small business environments. Content management and collaboration solutions bring all of these technologies together – boasting workflow organization with security features that companies demand, especially in today’s digital environment.
Content management platform Box and cloud email management service MxHero are two examples of solutions that not only help simplify workflow process, but also address data protection.
Entrepreneurs are tight on time and resources, so investing and implementing the right technologies is essential for growth. Seeking out new technologies like those mentioned in this article will help alleviate time and costs that will allow you to focus on what matters most.
