As a small or medium-sized Business owner, you’ll no doubt have invested in a computer, broadband connection, CCTV camera, and landline for your business, but that might be as far as it goes.

But as the world becomes increasingly competitive, you cannot afford to sit back and watch other businesses innovate in their field – and get left behind in the process.

Below, we’ve put together five essential pieces of technology you should invest in this year.

Smart Payment Devices

The days of chip and pin are over. Nowadays, consumers want to be able to pay using their smartphones, watches and debit cards through contactless technology, and the good news is that it’s never been easier to accept such payments.

With technology like the PayPal Here card reader, you can accept payments in no time at all, and help customers pay in the way that they prefer.

Last year, debit card transactions overtook cash for the first time in the UK, so there has never been a better time to get started and invest in a smart payment device.

Supercharged Wireless Router

Whether you’re a brick and mortar store or you work exclusively online, the internet has never been more important for businesses, so invest in the best wireless router to increase wifi signals in your premises and enjoy better coverage year-round.

Research shows that offering your customers free WiFi can lead to increased loyalty, engagement and encourage sales over time. It makes sense to invest in a strong connection for various reasons.

Better Video Equipment

Video is now one of the most important digital marketing techniques for small and medium-sized businesses, so stop wasting time and invest in some kit in 2019.

You don’t need to hire an expensive videographer to work on content for your website and social media platforms – you can give your team the tools they need to create quality content on a budget. A decent video camera and editing package can deliver real returns on investment.

Increased Digital Security

Online security has never been more important, and consumers now vote with their feet when data breaches are made public. With GDPR, keeping customer data safe is even more vital, as you could be fined thousands if you were to mishandle sensitive information.

Pay for a security expert to review and audit your current set-up, ensure your website is encrypted, and give everyone a briefing on data handling. It might be expensive and time-consuming, but nowhere near as expensive as the fallout of a data breach or company-wide hack.

Automation

We’re not saying that you should replace all of your employees with robots, but machines can help to complete repetitive or mundane tasks and make your workforce more productive.

It is impossible not to embrace the challenges and changes that are taking place across virtually every industry – skilled workers have never been more important, but low-skilled tasks and roles should be automated to save money and increase efficiency – and if you don’t invest in the latest infrastructure, your competitors will no doubt get ahead of you.

Wrapping Up

Implement these new Technologies within your organisation correctly, and you could create a more innovative, competitive, and profitable business in no time at all. There’s little point in ignoring new technologies – embrace them, and your business will be on to a winner.

The post 5 Technologies Your Small Business Should Invest In This Year appeared first on Muffin Marketing.