The world was transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, life is slowly returning to a ‘new normal’ but it will never be the same as before. Trends in technology have been influenced by the resulting challenges, and the following will focus on the effects on small businesses.

1) 5G Expansion

5G devices are designed to provide gigabit speeds that will decrease delays in online communication, promoting business and growth. There are now an estimated 18 billion IoT (Internet of Things) devices, and about 1.5 billion devices are functioning on cellular connects. 5G will also allow augmented reality and virtual reality to function efficiently as they gain traction among organizations.

2) AI Implementation

AI (Artificial Intelligence) solutions help predict consumer behavior, letting businesses improve their anticipation of surges in demand. AI can also help companies improve the customer experience process through personalization, which can automate manual tasks and maximize the time of users.  

3) Business Process Automation

Automation is perhaps the most desirable technical trend for small businesses. BPA (Business Process Automation) technology increases the efficiency of employees by taking over repetitive and simple tasks while giving them more time to work on innovative and strategic projects. As there are currently labor shortages in many business sectors, the implementation of BPA will only grow.

4) Cloud Continues Climbing

Perhaps the greatest driver of new technology, cloud computing is increasingly becoming more powerful and intelligent. Enterprises are finding their data storage requirements rising rapidly, and this is where the cloud can really help. Ease of scalability is an important benefit for small businesses. Moreover, cloud computing can also better secure their most precious asset – their business data.

5) Cybersecurity Emphasized

Unfortunately, cyberattacks are growing in sophistication and frequency throughout the world. Small businesses are often targeted by cybercriminals because they are perceived as much easier targets than larger corporations. A serious data breach can be quite damaging economically and may eventually close down a business. Fortunately, cybersecurity solutions are also growing in effectiveness.

Part 2 will cover five more of top tech trends of 2023 for small businesses.

Alpha Support

Choosing an expert computer technology-support provider is an important decision for your business. Alpha0 has been a trusted partner of many companies in the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis areas since 1990 and offer:

• 24/7 Managed Services for Business Computing Systems

• Network and Mobile Computing Support

• Disaster Recovery Planning

• Software Development

For affordable client-focused network consulting services and solutions, please call Alpha today at (410) 295-9500.