Negosentro | 5 Technologies That Are Improving Business Efficiency | Over the past decade or so, an array of new technologies have emerged that are paving the way for businesses to become more efficient. These innovations are often as confusing as they are promising, with rapid advancement leaving owners and managers confused about what to adopt. Here’s a list of five technologies that are currently making the biggest impact in the business world.
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Business Process Automation (BPA) Tools
Automation has been the big story in business-related technology over the past few years. The most prominent example of this has been the advent of sophisticated analytical algorithms for research purposes and customer relationship management (CRM) software to help sales teams reach more prospects. Often, this involves the use of fully robotic systems like chatbots. Robotic process automation (RPA) is a subset of BPA and consists of digital robotic tools which utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to create autonomous aids. Look for IT advancements such as DevOps Orchestration to boost the effectiveness of these systems in the coming years.
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Cloud-Based Applications
Many of the most important business applications take advantage of cloud computing. The advantage of the cloud is that distributed data storage and the sharing of computing resources give applications a broader functionality than they would otherwise have. Being able to provide those resources on-demand also cuts labor costs and mistakes arising from human error. Cloud migration is the term given to the process of moving some or all of a company’s data operations from physical data centers to the cloud. This can be as tough as any infrastructure upgrade, and with the proliferation of cloud storage providers, extra care must be taken by business owners to ensure that they’re getting their money’s worth in terms of security. Even so, the cloud is helping to build the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) and craft the future of automation.
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Broadband Connectivity
The effectiveness of the IoT relies upon high data capacity and fast download speeds. The recent 5G rollout promises smoother connections, but the technology is new, and this evolution is going to take time. Another use for high-speed connection is in keeping remote workers in touch. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programs like Skype have been critical to dispersed workforces, and those workers will probably be the first to benefit noticeably from increased bandwidth. As the freedom of working from home is coming into greater demand, so will better quality connections.
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Additive Manufacturing Systems
Supply chain issues are all over the news these days. A big issue in modern logistics is complexity. Commerce is fully globalized now, and when one link in the chain of goods and services goes away, the whole system can choke. Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, offers a powerful solution to this. These devices can print objects to order using resin and metal powder feedstock combined with sophisticated CAD/CAM modeling systems. This means that customers will soon be able to order products that will be produced at the store while they wait. Right now the technology is in its infancy, but as of 2014, additive manufacturing was making tools in space for the International Space Station, so the on-demand fabrication revolution appears to be right around the corner.
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Sustainable Technologies
A generation ago, few would have put the words “sustainability” and “efficiency” in a sentence together. Now, photovoltaic cells have become competitive with oil and coal in the global energy market, and the sheer versatility of green energy has made them an attractive option for businesses and consumers alike. Real sustainability is poised to go beyond energy to focus on a more holistic approach. Ideas like biophilic design and biomimicry use the incorporation of nature and mimicry of natural processes, respectively, to create the most efficient systems possible. Look for the use of these processes to become a part of how we live and do business in the near future.
Conclusion
Technology has the power to make the world a better place, but only if people know how to leverage it. Keeping up-to-date on the latest innovations is how business leaders can make the most of what technology has to offer.
