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2022 is almost over! But first, it would be helpful to review the past twelve months: what you did well, what you could have done better, and what you would like to achieve next year.
As you consider your business objectives for the year ahead, we strongly recommend you consider technology. Ideally, you should put the whole technology plan together! After all, every business today is a technology company. We all use digital tools, applications, and devices. They are the cornerstone of productivity and growth.
Do not just use technology on the fly. Create a proactive strategy. Here are some things to consider.
Link Technology to Profitability
Technology will never drive meaningful business outcomes solely for the sake of technology. Whenever you adopt a new solution or purchase new hardware, it should link back to a business need or goal.
Beyond that, think about the overall costs of using technology in your business. For example, consider software lifecycles, emerging technologies, and application usage in your annual budget.
Making smart use of technology does not just ease planning. It also makes you more profitable. Research shows businesses that use technology strategically are likely to earn twice as much revenue as businesses that do not.
Review Business Continuity Needs
For a lot of companies, COVID-19 really tested business continuity efforts. Most businesses did not have the infrastructure to support lockdowns and the move to remote work.
Preparing for the worst is essential to business survival. Companies that prepare for the unknown are much more likely to better overcome disruption than those that do not.
So, as you look to 2023, take the time to review your business continuity plans and disaster recovery objectives. Make sure to consider high-risk disruptions like ransomware attacks, cloud misconfigurations, natural disasters, and unplanned downtime – which could strike at any time.
Take Stock of Your Cloud Applications
The cloud is an endless resource that organizations can use for all sorts of things. But the endless aspect of the cloud can also be a problem. Too often, organizations suffer from ‘bill shock’ when they receive their cloud application invoice, only to realize they are paying significantly more than they expected.
In the same way you might do a spring clean, the end of the year is the perfect time to audit your cloud applications to ensure you are being as efficient as possible.
Some of the things to look for include:
- Paying for Software as a Service (SaaS) applications you no longer use
- Using multiple overlapping apps when you could use one
- Employees using unsolicited applications
- Applications failing to integrate with each other, leading to cumbersome manual processes for employees
Think About How Emerging Technology Can Benefit You
Technology never stands still. Whether it is the rollout of the Metaverse or the introduction of 5G, there is always something new on the horizon that businesses can take advantage of to leapfrog competitors, enhance efficiency, and delight customers.
Of course, the tools you adopt will depend on factors like your resources, digital literacy, and budget. Regardless, it is well worth being aware of the latest emerging technologies.
Here are some of the trends we think will be big in 2023:
- 5G becomes mainstream
- AI and robotics begin to be used more and more by SMBs
- Edge computing continues to escalate
- More small to medium-sized businesses create their own mobile apps to communicate with customers in novel ways
Bring Culture to Remote Work
If your business has embraced remote or hybrid work, you may be concerned about how to create a sense of workplace culture from a distance. With the right digital tools, you can ensure you craft a great employee experience – even if your people are not in the office.
Tools like Microsoft Teams, Viva, and Slack are great ways to build a virtual community and enhance workplace culture. You could also consider putting events in place such as virtual coffee meetings or other events for face-to-face time with employees outside of traditional work.
Remember The Importance of Cybersecurity
Innovation without an awareness of data privacy and security is a breach waiting to happen. We all know breaches are on the rise. So, as part of your technology planning for 2023, make sure you include provisions for improving your cybersecurity maturity.
Do not worry if you do not have an internal IT team. Twin State has invested in advanced security tools for our customers so we can keep the bad guys out. Antivirus, patching, and web and spam filtering all work together to give you layers of protection.
Get Help Preparing Your Business for 2023!
Ready to leap into 2023 and have the best year yet? Let us focus on empowering your business with managed IT solutions and IT network support. Would you like to learn more about how we can help you? Contact us today.
