For small and medium-sized business owners every day is a challenge. Faced with a shrinking economy, the threat (or opportunity) of digital disruption and ever-tighter margins, the pressure is always on. Fortunately, new tech tools can lighten certain elements of the daily burden. Key tools can improve efficiencies and create more time for busy executives.
Here are some of the most effective tech tools and platforms on offer for SMEs at the moment…
Big Days
Big Days allows you to easily track events. It has a built-in countdown so you know how much time you have to get that birthday present for your significant other, purchase an outfit for a work function or study for your MBA. It also reminds you to take a break when your schedule gets too frenetic!
Schemes
In the hustle and bustle of running a business, one often forgets to show appreciation or to send a simple birthday message to a colleague or customer. Wonderfully, Schemes not only reminds you of events but also sends out scheduled messages via SMS, Facebook, Twitter or Gmail. You can also set a time and a date to send your team a reminder that a deadline is coming up or that they need to prepare something for the next teambuilding.
Avocado
When running a business, we too often neglect our significant other and his/her needs. To help you avoid this neglect, this tool allows you to have your chat app. With a smart twist, Avocado syncs both of your calendars so that you can see each other’s schedules and find a perfect time for date night! You can also send your location to your partner to let him know where you are – and it notifies you when your partner’s phone is running low on battery. Talk about Corporate Cupid’s saving grace!
Uber
We don’t need to tell you much about this app (or do we?)… Despite some sketchy PR gaffes and lawsuits hanging over the company, it’s becoming an essential app for every business owner and professional. What you may not know is that companies are increasingly using it as a short distance courier and food delivery service. Due to the trackability and security, Uber is incredibly efficient and fail-safe. Now available in 555 cities, it’s also replacing car rentals as the de facto foreign transport option.
F.lux
During the day, our computer screens look good—they’re designed to look like the sun. However, at 9 PM, 10 PM, or 3 AM, you probably shouldn’t be looking at the sun. It’s disruptive for your sleep, and probably not great for stress levels. That’s where F.lux comes in – it makes the screen of your computer, smartphone or tablet adapt to the time of day. Healthy screen = healthy eyes (and healthy life!).
TED
TED is a well-known and well-loved content platform that educates and enlightens people with diverse bits of knowledge gathered from all over the world. The best part is that anyone with an Internet connection can access TED Talks online…and for free! This veritable treasure trove can provide much-needed inspiration and motivation for business leaders mired in their daily struggle. Next time you need a break for your brain try watching a TED talk.
Wunderlist
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us get by with lists. As the day goes by, our task list just increases and sometimes we forget where the list is or keep different versions lying around! Wunderlist seamlessly works with you and helps you to better organise your working days. You can categorize, star and set due dates for certain tasks. Its functionality is so simple that you need not waste time scribbling a million post-its (and losing half of them in the process).
Quora
Have you ever Googled something crazy and not found the answer? Quora is the answer. Unlike other Q&A forums, Quora has attracted a knowledgeable and highly curious audience. When you ask a question on Quora, you are getting real answers from real people. For example, if you want to know what it’s like to work at Google, someone from Google will answer! In a business context, this forum can be priceless.
Emplotime
This is a smart, web-based time clock system in which the time spent and attendance of employees is calculated via a virtual clock. For the tech-phobic, it doesn’t require any installation. This handy platform also provides an administrator portal – whereby the administrator can authorize devices such as PCs, tablets, or mobiles to be used as the company time clock. For stressed-out business leaders, such a tool can lead to enhanced efficiency and employee productivity (without changing much!).
Surprising tech tools that can help your business save money
There is no better time to save money in business than now, with the junk status news in South Africa we are in for a bit of a bumpy ride. With these simple business hacks and tech tools, hopefully, your business can save some cash.
Mobile Payment Systems
Mobile payment systems are the evolution of the card paying system. They are more reliable for businesses to tap into. With tools such as SnapScan, payment has become more flexible for the customer and more affordable for the business.
Cloud-based GroupWare
If you run a small business but want to be more enterprise-focussed, but can’t afford a massive server, cloud-based file sharing is how you should move. You would need to look further than the freeware options out there. Look at purchasing storage with DropBox, Google and One Drive. Microsoft offers several tools that can help expand your business.
Website Builders
Being able to maintain your company website in-house can help cut expensive web design costs. It’s smarter to use Website Builders such as WordPress, Wix, and Shopify. The truth behind this is that you know your business better than anyone else, allowing you to have a direct influence on the search ranking, content and if you are selling things online, control what is shown online.
Crowd Sourcing
You may think you would have to go through a lot of junk to get good ideas from crowdsourcing, but you’d be surprised at how many companies use this to fund their projects. Crowdfunding and sourcing can get your business name out there and help expand different projects in your business. Crowdfunding can be sourced through sites such as Fundable, Kickstarter and South African based, Candystick.
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