How to choose the right technology solutions for your business

Digital solutions for businesses

To confidently prepare for the future, it’s vital to know how to prioritise your tech decisions. There’s no right or wrong choice to make when it comes to prioritising new tech, no one-size-fits-all solution.

Your business might use a combination of digital solutions. Some common solutions include:

• Devices: phones, laptops, tablets, point-of-sale payment devices, wearables, etc.
• Connectivity: nbn, Wi-Fi, mobile (including mobile broadband), etc.
• Software and apps: customer management; inventory, collaboration and workflow solutions; cloud storage; websites; antivirus apps; etc.
• Services: consultancy, support and outsourced services.

Here’s help to empower you to make the right tech decisions for your business.

Prioritising technology that solves business problems

To decide on the right tech solution for you, start by considering the pain points in your day-to-day. Focus on the device or software that helps solve daily, and potentially costly, inconveniences. For example –

• If you’re spending your day emailing clients about appointments, you could consider using a scheduling tool.
• If you’re losing track of emails and tasks, you could use productivity and collaboration tools.
• If you’re working remotely and struggling to stay in touch, you could benefit from video conferencing software.
• If you’re a retailer only selling in bricks and mortar, you might benefit from a web store.
• If your customers aren’t finding you online, you could consider a digital marketing strategy.
• If you’re noticing end-of-day reconciliation errors, you might decide to look at a more reliable payment gateway.
• If you want to keep customers engaged on your website, you could think about offering engaging blog and video content.
• If you don’t know where to begin, you could reach out to an expert consultant.

Each time you plan to make a new investment in business tech, start by prioritising the problems you need solved.

A business that’s done it: Big Shed Brewing

Big Shed Brewing co-founders, Jason Harris and Craig Basford, approach their business technology strategy with a people-first approach. Having worked in IT before starting the brewery, Jason and Craig knew how important it was to create a shortlist of software that was necessary for their day-to-day tasks – things like accounting, resource planning and point of sale.

Choosing the right tech is also about putting people first.

- Craig Basford, Big Shed Brewing co-founder

A key question they ask themselves is: how can we make things easier for people, whether it’s a brewer on the floor, one of our front-of-house crew or a customer making an online purchase? It’s about finding the right tool to make that job as smooth as it can be.”

A business that’s done it: Pleasant State

Pleasant State co-founders Ami Bateman and Sian Murray sell their home care products primarily via their eCommerce store, so digital tools play a major part in their business model. To help navigate their tech decision-making, Ami says she prioritises system upgrades or implementations based on pain points.

I’m often happy for our team to engage in a short trial to see if the software resolves our issues or drives better outcomes.

- Ami Bateman, Pleasant State co-founder.

Changing tech can be tricky, but Ami suggests experimenting with trial periods. Pleasant State approaches tech as an ever-evolving space. If they’re not locked into one thing, they can explore the different tools available to meet their changing needs.

Questions to support your decision-making

To help you make the right decisions for your business, consider the key questions below.

1. What can’t your business run without? Could a digital solution help support you more effectively?
2. How do you communicate with your team, suppliers and customers? Consider tech opportunities that streamline this process.
3. What do your customers expect when they interact with your business? Consider where you can improve the customer experience.
4. Where are you falling short compared to your competitors? How can tech help you match or improve upon their offering?
5. Where and how do you and your teamwork? (Such as on tablets, on smartphones, in the field or remotely.) Do your current systems support that reality?
6. Where are you spending the most time performing manual tasks? Is any of your current tech slowing you down?

And as your business changes you can revisit these questions to help assess if the business technology you’re using needs to evolve.

Disclaimer: Quotes from third parties in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Telstra or its staff.