Emerging Tech Trends for Small Businesses in 2021
2020 saw a global pandemic and with it many changes that disrupted both the IT and business world. As workforces around the globe moved to remote working, IT teams pivoted and played a significant role in response to the pandemic. While it was and still is a challenging time for everyone – emerging tech trends for small businesses show some exciting prospects on the horizon.
2021 will see an enormous amount of innovation instead of adaptation. We acknowledge that COVID-19 is far from over and remote working is here to stay. In addition, contactless shipping will become a staple in all our lives.
Trends offer new and exciting ways of doing business. How we utilise and capitalise, and the movements within this article will show the strength of some businesses. As we outline the biggest tech trends of 2021, think about how you can use them to your advantage. In what way can this benefit your business and increase profit?
4 Emerging Tech Trends for Small Businesses in 2021
#1 - Contactless shipping & operating from anywhere
First on the list of emerging tech trends for small businesses is contactless shipping and the ability to operate from anywhere. Physical storefronts will likely be supported by an increasing digital strategy within the company. In some instances, the digital arm of the business will easily surpass the physical store.
2021 will see a massive increase in infrastructure to support the rapid movement online. Upgrades in 5G technology, edge computing, and cloud servers closer to clients will all benefit small businesses this year.
While we already saw shipping change drastically last year, it will offer even more contactless options. Watch out for robotic deliveries expected to roll out in 2021. Startups have invested a lot of money into automated shipping options that utilise robotics to save time and money on shipping. There is a need for reliable 5G for safety with these service options because self-driving vehicles need instant and responsive processing for circumstances such as breaking.
Small companies should consider using Microsoft cloud’s Endpoint Manager.
2021 will also see a demand for higher data transfer speeds with no transfer lag thanks to edge computing and the benefits of real-time trend data.
To take advantage of these emerging tech trends for small businesses – you must bring business to the customer. Reach them in their home, where they feel most comfortable.
#2 - Connected remotely
Before the pandemic, few companies offered remote working to their employees. Now, it is a necessity for all businesses. Not only because of the benefits but also because employees expect it. Employees have reported increased happiness working from home, and believe it or not, overall productivity increased.
Some of the support offering needed to sustain this level of work include Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Startups also entered the market, including Eloops, Tandem and Bluescape.
The remote working and migration to full cloud computing saw an increase in cyberattacks – one of the emerging tech trends for small businesses set to stay. In 2021 we will see more businesses establish a “zero-trust” architecture with their cybersecurity. This is a more robust security feature where companies can eliminate the “trust” and ensure vulnerabilities are secured.
2021 will see more businesses invest in their cybersecurity and processes relating to remote working operations. Businesses must recognise that strong collaboration, productivity and security should be at the forefront of a remote working strategy.
#3 - EaaS (Everything as a Service)
As a small business owner, you probably understand the importance of outsourcing when you don’t have the time or skill to complete a task. Doing so allows you to focus on the crucial parts of the business that need your attention, such as growth and strategy.
One of the emerging tech trends for small businesses is outsourcing IT projects to specialised service providers. As your business expands, you outgrow the infrastructure necessary to complete a certain task, and an outsourced service provider saves you the time and hassle of updating. The subscription-service-based model allows companies to be flexible in what they need and don’t need – and change the workload as they see fit.
The subscription model also helps free up room in the budget throughout the year, much like leasing a car.
Whatever your needs as a business – there is likely a service specialising in this area and can help you out. In 2021 this will become standard practice, so business owners can focus on more critical aspects of running the company. If you are looking to outsource parts of your business, then we can help determine the best approach from an IT perspective and suggest reputable companies to partner with.
#4 - Automation is king
We all know that automation saves your business time and money. Anything that can be automated should be.
For smaller businesses, this can be costly and while you may not be able to afford some automation methods – automating your marketing and sales flows is a must.
But what tech automation options are there? Windows Autopilot can automate device configuration when used in combination with Microsoft Endpoint Manager. This means when the device leaves the factory, it is ready to go as soon as you turn it on. No IT team is needed to set it up. A fine example of letting the machines do the work.
In 2021, businesses must focus on choosing the right task to automate. Ask yourself what the most significant time savers are and what will produce the most considerable ROI.
Big things for the future
2020 saw a global pandemic and immense change in the IT and business sectors. 2021 will see businesses innovate even more and aim to provide robust collaboration methods, meet customer requirements, and outsource where needed.
The lessons learned from last year will help drive growth, and the emerging tech trends for small businesses will see some companies skyrocket their revenue.
If you want to learn more about any of the above trends and see how you can utilise them within your business – then reach out to us today. We can discuss your particular needs and provide all the necessary information to make an informed choice that you are happy with.
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