When it comes to managing, growing, and developing your business for both short and long term success cutting costs across your company is the key to boosting your bottom line. Technology can offer a number of viable and affordable solutions to streamline your business outgoings and in turn transform organizations of all shapes and sizes into well-oiled machines. For example, nowadays, everything is about data so if your business isn’t collecting some type of data from clients and competitors, you’re missing out of some great insight that will allow you to grow your business. Companies like just understanding data are experts at managing data in a way that will allow you to change your strategies and let your business grow so be sure to check them out. But, other than the way your handle data, what other technologies can you use to improve your business?

Unlock the Benefits of VoIP

VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol services offers a steady stream of benefits, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises that want to keep running costs low. Switching to VoIP can cut telecommunications costs (a great expense for office-based businesses) and improve productivity in one swoop but is it the right step for your company?

Voice Over IP services offers a highly flexible and cost-effective alternative compared to traditional telephone infrastructures giving your employees the opportunity to connect with customers and clients on an array of devices from mobiles and landlines to laptops, desktop computers, and tablets. This flexibility ensures ultimate productivity, which can be easily achieved thanks to the integration of a VoIP adapter.

In addition to this, video conferencing is also part of the VoIP service, great for SMEs and large, multi-national corporations. Video conferencing gives all the privileges of meeting with customers and clients face to face without the expense and upheaval of employees leaving the office and traveling to customers directly. Skype is a popular VoIP service and offers free video conferencing and billable optional extras to suit all budgets and requirements.

Take to the Clouds

Cloud computing has dominated business technology headlines in recent years with more and more companies looking to cut costs and store data safely and securely. Thanks to a network of remote servers, the Cloud enables you to access files and applications over the Internet giving you a cost-efficient solution to managing, processing and storing data.

Unlike traditional data storage either in physical files or on hard drives, the Cloud offers limitless storage and a maintenance-free alternative that will not only save you time in regards to IT management and security updates but also lower your utility bills as less money is spent on costly electricity.

For a low, flat-rate monthly fee, Cloud services can be implemented into your company allowing your data to grow as your business expands. The Cloud provides excellent advantages for small and start-up companies in particular who have less to spend on technology and wish to boost productivity and profitability in the long run. However, the Cloud is also widely used in larger corporations as well. These larger businesses will look to Microsoft Azure for their cloud computing services as they’re much more effective for businesses looking to manage applications through Microsoft data centers. When incorporating Azure into your office, it might be worth having someone employed who has completed the Microsoft Certifications Exam based around Azure. If someone has passed that test, it means that they have knowledge of managing subscriptions and storage, ensuring the business remains secure and efficient. The az-103 exam questions are known to be difficult, so someone with that certification would be beneficial for a business using cloud computing.

Invest in Specialist Devices

Whilst the use of laptops instead of desktop computers is well documented for its green credentials and cost-effectiveness, investing in specialist devices such as eco appliances or rugged technology can provide a welcome break for businesses looking to cut costs and improve productivity. Office-based eco appliances will have a dramatic impact on your company’s utility bills, whilst the use of rugged devices can broaden the horizons of field-based organizations that are looking for accurate data collection on the go.

Whilst rugged devices are not cheap, the tougher technology that these specially adapted laptops, handhelds, and tablets use can reduce repair and replacement costs for various industrial and commercial organisations. Rugged devices are designed to take on any environment and provide improved operations for services that aren’t confined to the traditional office setting.

Consider Telecommuting

Whilst having your workforce based remotely isn’t ideal for a number of businesses, many more can profit from telecommuting. As well as cutting management and office rental costs, telecommuting can offer a more productive approach for many organizations. Technological advances in VoIP and virtual team management services ensure your business can still communicate efficiently on a daily basis and collaborate effectively to present a unified front to customers and clients.

This post was written by Brittany Thorley from Steatite Rugged Systems. She works with a number of organisations to offer cost effective technology solutions to streamline operations and boost business success.