Communication is the lifeblood of any business. It’s how you share information, collaborate, and ultimately make important decisions. So, innovations in communication are important for businesses.
But communication isn’t just about ensuring employees are in sync with one another — it’s also about making sure that small business owners have every tool at their disposal to streamline their workflows, save time and money, and ensure that they’re operating efficiently.
That’s why it’s so exciting to see how new technologies are coming along to support entrepreneurs. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at six innovations in communication that are streamlining workflows for small businesses.
1) Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a method of transmitting voice data using internet protocols. This can help you streamline your communication processes because it allows you to make and receive calls over the internet without having to use landline phones.
That’s why this innovation in communication is an excellent way for small businesses to save money on phone bills and boost efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple devices and applications.
In addition, it can also be used as a backup system in case of power outages or other emergencies that disrupt traditional landlines. If you’re looking for a reliable VoIP service, consider booking a call with Simple 1300 Numbers.
2) Video And Web Conferencing
With the rise of telecommuting, video and web conferencing tools have become a must-have for any small business. Some companies use video conferencing systems to bring their entire team together in one location, while others use it to communicate with clients who are far away.
Video conferencing can help you save on travel costs by allowing you to conduct meetings with people across the country or around the world in real time.
Here are some of the best video conferencing apps for small businesses:
- Google Hangouts: Allows you to make free video calls to your Gmail address book contacts.
- Skype: Offers a wide range of features, including group calls, screen sharing, and more. But you will need to pay for premium services if you want to call a mobile or landline from Skype.
- Zoom: A cloud-based video conferencing platform that lets users share their screens during meetings with multiple participants.
3) Cloud-Based Apps
There’s no doubt that the cloud is the future. Cloud-based apps allow you to access your information anywhere and at any time. Through the use of apps like Google Docs and Dropbox, you can create documents and send them straight from your phone so that everyone on your team has access to them.
These apps make it possible for employees to work remotely while still being able to communicate effectively and share data with their colleagues back at the office. And the best part? You get live editing, which means multiple people can edit and work on the same document or file at the same time.
In addition, since everything is stored online, users don’t need to worry about losing anything if their computers crash or get lost in transit.
4) Online Collaboration Tools
Workplace collaboration tools are changing the way we work. The new wave of collaboration tools allows small businesses to collaborate more efficiently, with fewer friction and barriers.
Collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Blink are replacing email and instant messaging as the primary communication tool in the workplace, especially for startups and remote teams.
This is because these innovations om communication offers an intuitive interface that’s easy to use and learn. They also provide better search capabilities, so you can easily find information when you need it.
These tools are available as web apps and desktop apps, so you can choose the one that suits your needs best. Some of them even come at a low cost or are free!
5) Project Management Systems
Project management systems are a great way to keep track of your company’s projects and streamline communication with employees and clients.
These systems are designed to help you manage your team’s workflow so that every person involved in the project knows what they’re supposed to be doing and when.
Project management systems allow you to assign tasks and deadlines, as well as keep track of progress. They also give you an overview of all your projects at once so that you know what’s going on with all the different things happening in your business at any given moment.
The best part? These tools are usually free or relatively inexpensive — most affordable project management tools cost less than $10 per month.
Here are some great project management tools that you can start out with.
6) Online Faxing
Online faxing is a great time-saving tool for small businesses that don’t have a dedicated fax machine or need to send large amounts of documents, such as invoices, contracts, or receipts, regularly.
Online faxing services also allow you to track all sent and received documents with an online dashboard so you can keep track of your business communications at all times!
Let’s Wrap It Up!
With so many tools available for small businesses, it isn’t surprising how streamlined communication has become to accommodate even the most hectic schedules.
Whether you are presenting data to a client or scheduling a conference call across continents, these innovations and apps will help keep you and your team accountable and productive at all times.
For more helpful content on data and communication, check out our blog post for tips on How to Leverage First-Party Data for Marketing.
