Future tech isn’t always so far into the future
I read an interesting article recently about the future of the smartphone, or more accurately, what comes next when the smartphone is eventually superseded. It really blew me away. It doesn’t feel like the first smartphones rolled into the market all that that long ago and since then it’s become an indispensable tool in both our personal and business lives. I experienced this first hand when one of our smartphones died recently; so much of your life from banking to daily appointments is run completely off that small screen.
It really made me think about how fast technology can change; just when you think you’ve got it nailed down, something else comes along and changes the entire game.
We’ve always had the goal of staying ahead in the technology journey, both in our business and in working with our clients. It’s that forward thinking view that I think might just help you ride the peaks and troughs of technology better than others.
Starting the journey is important
Dealing with technology is really a journey. I think the important part of that is actually starting and like many things in life that’s often the hardest part. With all the competing business priorities it can be hard to find time for thinking about your future business. The problem with that approach is, just like the smartphone, the future can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
My advice is start thinking about technology as a part of your business planning, the same way you might approach sales, marketing, or other operational tasks. If you make it a part of your strategic approach, then it’s easier to start thinking about how technology can help you achieve your business goals.
Tackle one problem at a time
In business, there’s a multitude of competing priorities; there’s always something that demands your attention.
It’s easy to look at a technology project and be scared off by the amount of time it’s going to take to roll out. Just remember, you don’t need to tackle everything at once. Rather than focus on rolling out a massive change straight away, tackle a smaller component first. Test and tweak your approach and then roll it out further as you transition your business through the changes.
We’ve seen it done with basic workflow for example; simple improvements on the way you index and capture key data when scanning documents will save you time and make it much easier to find them again. You might also start off with a specific process, like accounts payable. Once you’ve streamlined that, you can then apply the same process improvements to other functional areas.
You never know what’s over the horizon
The way we work is going to change dramatically in the next few years. Whether it’s the nature of work changing as technology makes some roles redundant, or the connectivity between technologies making it faster and easier to share information than ever before; the reality is that its happening and gathering pace. We may not always be comfortable with all this change but the key will be how you adapt: You’re better off being in the front seat driving the bus rather than being run over by it. Embrace technology now and watch your business benefit in the future.