Technology seems to evolve at an ever-accelerating pace each year. While it can be challenging to keep up, the good news is that each evolution offers more value to businesses in boosted productivity and, more often than not, lower IT costs.
2019 has just begun and it brings with it a whole new slew of business technology trends, and if you’re not aware of them, you might be left behind your more tech savvy competition.
Using the right technologies is the 2nd biggest challenge to small business growth. (Capterra).
Small and medium-sized businesses both put the ability to use the right technologies high on the list of challenges for growing their companies, right after the number one challenge, hiring the right people.
At Unity IT, we help businesses in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, and Visalia make smart technology choices through our IT consulting services. We guide our clients to value-added options that can minimize manual tasks while improving their workflows.
What are the hot new technology trends in business that you need to be aware of? Our team has done some research to bring you the IT that’s going to help you get ahead of your competition.
What Technology Is Going to Help Me Most in 2019?
Many of the newer technology trends are accelerations of ones that companies “dipped their toes into” over the last year or so and now are becoming mainstream after proving themselves.
Others are still evolving, but many companies are jumping onboard as early adopters to gain a significant advantage over the late comers.
Here are the key tech trends that our Unity IT techs sees as the most transformative for companies this year.
Software Integrations & Automations
Many companies are still working with software and applications that don’t speak to each other. They may gather information in one application and have to re-enter it into another. Getting software integrated and communicating with each other is becoming a rule rather than an exception this year.
There will be more tools whose specific function is to connect hundreds of applications and get them to not only transfer data, but to also initiate tasks based upon preset rules and IFTT (If this, then that) statements.
Virtualization of Desktop Computers
What’s the next step after cloud-based software solutions? Putting your whole computer in the cloud! Virtualization is the process of partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual servers that can all run with their own operating system and set of applications.
By using a virtual computer environment, you free up resources, space, and can lower costs associated with needing to manage and upgrade computers. With virtualization, any number of devices can be used to login to your computer environment, which has all your programs, software, and personal settings in the cloud.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
While using AI at your office might sound like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, it’s actually already happening in homes and coming to work next. Think of the automated assistants, like Google Home or Amazon Echo. Upgrade them to handle business tasks, and you get an idea of the type of AI you’ll be seeing in more offices this year.
According to CMO, the biggest impacts that digital executives see coming in office AI include:
Virtual personal assistants
Automated data analysis
Automated communications (emails/chatbots)
Automated research reports
Automated operational efficiency analysts
Predictive analytics
Multi-Layered, Beefed Up Data Security
With each new major data breach that appears in the news comes the increased call for stronger data security and combined, multi-layered solutions that address multiple weaknesses. The EU’s GDPR data privacy regulation also has many US companies that sell online internationally working to meet those new stringent guidelines.
Solutions such as next-generation firewalls coupled with email/spam protection, and employee training will be encouraged as a total solution rather than just one piece of software.
Business Intelligence Dashboards
What used to be considered “big data” is now becoming just “data” as the ability to crunch those multiple digits and give a meaningful insight is brought to all sized companies through Business Intelligence (BI) Dashboards.
These BI applications put insights that only enterprise companies could afford into the hands of small businesses. Now everyone can benefit greatly by the meaningful access to business analytics metrics, key performance indicators, and other sales and company data that can be virtualized into an easy to manage dashboard report.
What Tech Trends Would You Like to Explore This Year?
Have you been wanting to take advantage of automations to reduce manual tasks and free up your team for more meaningful work? How about opening up the options for telecommuting by virtualizing your workspace?
No matter which tech trends you’re interested in, Unity IT can help you explore them, evaluate their value for your particular business, and master them to boost your bottom line.
Get a jump start on your competition and sign up for a free consultation today.
