It’s probably not news to tech-savvy business owners that outdated technology can cost a loss of revenue and drive away customers in droves. In fact, according to Microsoft, over 90 percent of consumers said they would consider taking their business elsewhere rather than work with a company that uses outdated technology. However, what customers consider outdated, including antiquated online shopping carts, just scratches the surface of a company’s technology problem.
Your business also needs to look at the reliability of your entire technology strategy. Chances are if your technology hasn’t been refreshed in a few years, is slow, or is prey to frequent hacking, then your employees are struggling to compete and costing your bottom line. Here are some areas to consider on whether or not your technology is reliable enough.
Are You Hyperconnected?
The foundation for reliable tech is staying hyperconnected to customers, team members and vendors alike. Without quality devices that deliver seamless reliability, your company won’t make it in the marketplace.
You may have already invested in the best smartphones and collaboration apps like Slack to keep teams connected while they’re on the go, but your employees also need the right laptops. Equip your team with the latest 4G LTE laptops featuring long-lasting battery life and always-on connectivity that can endure throughout the workday. This will ensure they stay connected when visiting a client, traveling to the office, or working remote.
Do You Work in an Employee-driven Environment?
Once your core tech, like devices and collaboration apps are in place, take a look at how your technology improves the employee experience and reduces overhead. For example, ISS World uses sensors and data-driven workflows to figure out what their workspace needs on a daily basis from desk seating to available conference rooms. IoT sensors collect data points to figure out who those people are meeting with, what kind of conference rooms they will need and how to ensure employees have the available meeting space they need.
This type of data-driven learning technology dramatically reduces the need for shuffling around calendars and meetings and eliminates needless meeting space. Ultimately companies can focus on what they’re working on and who they’re meeting with instead of what rooms are open for a meeting.
Are You Proactive About DoS Attacks?
Now that we’ve taken a look at how IoT can improve your workplace and learn the habits and needs of your employees, it’s time to think about how to protect yourself at the same time. Despite its ability to learn and adapt to consumer habits, IoT can also open the door to malicious activity like DDoS attacks. And we’re not just talking about small-scale hacking. TechRepublic reported that in Q3 2017, DDoS attacks increased 91 percent thanks to IoT.
With the help of Internet-connected devices, cybercriminals can easily access vulnerable, outdated portals and aggressively scale up their attacks. The end result is a surge in malicious traffic that can take companies completely offline. However, the real issue isn’t so much using IoT, but ensuring that your devices are up to date with the latest patches and software updates and access to sensitive data is restricted to a need-to-know basis by specific employees.
Leverage Cloud-based Platforms
Migrating to cloud-based technology was once a cutting-edge business practice, but today’s trends are all about using platforms. Leveraging IoT and smart technology requires managing applications, running analytics and securing your data.
Cloud-based platforms not only reduce the cost of maintaining applications but can help solidify your IoT strategy to streamline your technology needs and improve your bottom line.
At the end of the day, your company’s tech may only be as reliable as your IT department. Hiring a knowledgeable Chief Technology Officer or outsourcing your technology needs to a security vendor that can update, maintain and monitor your technology and IoT strategy can help your company stay competitive and protect your bottom line.