Every company can benefit from technology. Even a small company with a few employees can use technology to check customer and track sales. Work projects and business profits all connect to globalization enabled by technology. Everyone can connect with those in foreign countries with the click of a mouse. Decades ago, it would have taken months or years to find an inroad with a foreign partner or associate. Today, you can build a business with someone in another country in a matter of weeks -- or even days.
Technology helps organize the work environment. Everything from payroll to inventory is managed more efficiently with well-designed software in place. Documents, such as letters or government proposals for contract work, are easier to write and edit on the computer. Phone systems include technology for three-way or four-way calling, for example, to save time. Conference calls also save plane fare and hotel costs if group calls are productive.
Technology can frustrate clients who need to reach you. For example, individuals calling a help desk for answers to a question might not reach a live person. Pressing numbers to communicate your needs, such as “1 for yes” or “2 for no,” depersonalizes the relationship between customers and the companies they patronize. Having a live operator as an early option keeps callers much happier. Otherwise, they may take their business elsewhere.
It’s likely that technology can help workers dodge true responsibilities. Every business owner knows voice mail and email can work against a company’s bottom line. An employee who wants to slack off for an hour or two in a private office might let voice mail take calls and ignore important emails. During this downtime, business calls that might have resulted in sales or important relationships are diffused or gone for