As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you may not be at the forefront of developing technology, but tech still plays a vital role in your business’s growth and efficiency. Given how much things have changed in the past year, small business technology trends will only grow in importance throughout the rest of 2022 and into 2023.
Over two years after the first lockdowns were introduced, companies worldwide are still struggling to establish a new normal. Tech can play a crucial role in rebalancing, reconstructing, and reinvigorating small and midsize businesses. Here are 10 small business tech trends for 2022 and beyond.
As more solutions integrate smart technologies, small business owners will continue incorporating them into new and existing processes in 2022. This could mean a wide range of implementation scenarios, from voice assistants to personalized customer experiences. Meredith Schmidt, executive vice president and general manager of small business and essentials at Salesforce, said that although artificial intelligence may sound like something only large enterprises use, it will become more widely adopted by small businesses.
The adoption of 5G technology began in 2019, but the pandemic significantly delayed its rollout domestically and internationally. Still, the benefits of adopting the fifth generation of cellular capability include significantly faster data transmission speeds than 4G networks can provide. Effectively eliminating latency will be a significant step forward in the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), as 5G networks are more capable of supporting the influx of interconnected smart devices than 4G or Wi-Fi. As IoT ramps up, more IoT career opportunities will open up for IT pros.
Remote work is here to stay, with hybrid working an increasingly popular option. Rhiannon Staples, chief marketing officer of Hibob, said a lot of the focus on HR tech stems from the shift to remote work. “The shift to remote work has changed businesses in terms of productivity, engagement, culture, two-way communication, and employee development, and has highlighted the need for effective technology to help navigate these challenges,” Staples explained. Foremost among these tools is employee monitoring software. The best employee monitoring software can be used to gain granular oversight of remote workers and their productivity. When choosing employee monitoring software, look for features like mobile device coverage and the ability to spot ineffective working practices.
Onboarding is integral to hiring new employees as you get them up to speed with their responsibilities and the company culture. Without the ability to connect in person, either because of the pandemic or their location, companies are turning to software for onboarding. “Technology that ensures every step of the onboarding experience is planned and orchestrated professionally will help companies make sure their new team members feel welcome,” said Staples, citing a study that found a bad onboarding experience pushes nearly two-thirds of workers to seek a new job.
In response to lockdowns and related disruptions, major businesses have been accelerating their rollout of mobile and social media shopping to create a contactless shopping experience. According to Staples, this high-tech approach to keeping people safe has spread to more than just curbside pickup, which has become a natural extension of existing tech such as mobile payments and terminals. “Many retailers are overhauling their in-store experiences to make them more reflective of our current – and probably future – reality,” said Staples. She cited Walmart’s overhauling of its stores into airport-like experiences that prioritize convenience and contactless transactions.
We can also see the pandemic’s fallout in the growing unification of formerly distinct software interfaces. For example, consider the integration of Microsoft Teams into Windows 11. (Read our Microsoft Teams review for more information on this collaboration tool.) Today, a company might use Slack to connect teams, Outlook to send important documents, Salesforce to manage customers, Basecamp to plan projects, and Google Drive to store company information. “Connecting software to work with other software is hard,” said Roy Mann, CEO and co-founder of Monday.com. “There is going to be a breakthrough with integration platforms that will allow any software to connect well with any other software.”
The shift to new working practices has spawned new forms of fraud, with malware evolving in response to greater virtual communication and the rising domestic use of workplace hardware. Jim Lippie, former general manager of cloud computing for software company Kaseya, said SMBs should start viewing security through the lens of enterprise businesses. “SMBs, like their large enterprise counterparts, will lock down on a comprehensive backup-and-disaster-recovery solution to keep protected, and also form new standardized blocking and tackling game plans to keep the business even more safe.”
“With continued shortages of workers within select domains, automation investments will continue to increase,” Traub said. “Examples for small business include online pricing automation to balance profitability and revenue growth, as well as inventory management systems to ensure the perfect amount of inventory is on hand.” Looking forward, Traub said he believes there will be a “new wave of companies” looking to create these automated solutions.
Social media influencers and personalized marketing are becoming viable avenues for connecting with customers and showcasing products. Gone are the days of driving sales through traditional print advertising. Social media marketing can help you connect with your customers and develop a niche within your industry. Working with genuine influencers (as opposed to influencer marketing fraud scams) means understanding your business’s needs and doing your research on who’s influential within the industry.
Small businesses are continuing to adopt social media advertising in 2022. While influencers are often considered social media advertisers, social media advertising also encompasses areas like pay-per-click marketing. This trend is paying off. According to Rosenberg, three-quarters of U.S. consumers have purchased a product they saw in a brand’s social media post. If you’re not already active on social, it’s time to start showcasing your brand.
