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2020’s COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses of all sizes to adapt in dramatic ways. When government-imposed lockdown orders forced workers out of their office and into their homes, even companies that weren’t accustomed to doing so learned to use technology to their advantage. The need to invest wisely when it comes to IT solutions has never been more apparent. This difficult year has shown us how technological solutions are essential tools when it comes to driving performance and productivity of any organization. With that in mind, here are the top tech considerations businesses need to consider as we move into the new year:

Embrace the Cloud

If your company hasn’t already done so, then it's time to move to cloud-based services, It’s highly likely that many employees will continue working from home even when the pandemic is over. As such the use of on-site office software and hardware is pretty much redundant now.  Cloud-based solutions are excellent for security, efficient and offer greater flexibility for the remote workforce.

Technological Tools Increase Efficiency

In our ever-expanding digitized business environment, technology has become a driving force. Thanks to the growing range of technological tools at our disposal businesses are now able to streamline many businesses processes. From communication to monitoring workflow and managing business spend software has increased efficiency across the board.

Collaboration Is the Key to Productivity

The growth of the virtual workforce has also meant that tools that allow for greater collaboration have become essential for organisations that may not be operating in the same physical space. Collaborative services such as Microsoft Teams and Huddle make it easier for employees to work together by creating a virtual workspace that allows team members to communicate and share documents in real-time. Investing in this type of technology and training staff on how to use it effectively has the potential to do wonders for productivity.

The Challenges of Cybersecurity

One major downsides to our reliance on technology is that the need to secure sensitive information is now incredibly critical. It is important that organisations have the infrastructure in place to handle data breachers. Hackers are highly innovative and more sophisticated than ever before, so cybersecurity needs to work hard to keep up the pace. An attack on a company’s data has the potential to do immense damage to the organisation’s operations and reputation. Cybersecurity should be a priority for your business, no matter what its size. Preventing security breaches by implementing the correct safeguards as well as educating staff about the necessary protocols is an essential long-term investment for modern organizations.

It can be difficult to keep up with technological advances as things tend to evolve at breakneck speed these days. However, businesses that want not just to survive but thrive in this highly competitive economic landscape need to keep an eye out on emerging trends. Technology has broadened the scope of all types of businesses thanks to the tools and services now available to us. However, technology does not come without its issues; savvy business owners now need to have insight into the dangers posed by cybercrime too. Ultimately, the key to staying relevant is being an early adopter of such technologies, as those that get on board first are likely to experience the greatest growth.