In the digital age, the way we manage our businesses has evolved. Where once we would have been overloaded with paperwork, filing cabinets, offices and meetings, we can now oversee entire companies straight from our smart phone. However, navigating all the technological opportunities that are available to us, right at our fingertips, can be a bit overwhelming – especially for those of us who haven’t grown up around technology. So, here are five apps that could help get you started in making your business convenient, accessible and an overall success!
Organise
Staying organised is an essential element to successfully managing a business; being able to keep track of communications, appointments and documents easily and efficiently can massively benefit you! With the range of applications offered by Goggle Apps you can simply and effectively make sure you are constantly up to date and organised. Amongst the many, Google Apps includes Gmail, GoogleCalendar and Google Drive. These apps allows you to control all aspects of your business through an interconnected cloud-based system, meaning you can have constant access no matter where you are. With Gmail, you and your team can create custom email addresses, specific to your company, and can easily manage your emails with the easy-to-use interface. The App also filters spam and give you the options for instant message, video chat and even phone calls so you can stay connected at all times. Alongside this, with Google Calendar you can view and overlay your team’s calendars, allowing you to easily plan and organise meetings, and create and share new appointments with them straight from the App. Similarly, Google drive allows you to upload, share, view and organise documents in cloud-based storage from wherever you are, making sharing minutes, plans and reports as easy as 1,2,3!
Stay Connected
No matter how organised you think you have been, you can find yourself in a pickle eventually:forgetting to upload those important documents onto the cloud or to email yourself the notes you had quickly jotted down on your home computer. Fortunately, there’s an App that has your back! LogMeIn allows you to remotely access all of your devices from your phone. You can access any computer, both Mac and PC, and control and edit files as if you were sitting right in front of the screen. It also allows you to run your computer’s applications straight from your phone. This must-have app can be a life saver when our ever-hectic lifestyles get in the way of our supposedly seamless organisation and management!
Manage Finances
Unarguably one of the most important elements of a successful business is financial management; without a good accountant keeping track of your money there is endless potential for disaster. However, where before good accounting would have required substantial training and a knack for numbers, now we can stay informed and up to date from our phones. The FreeAgent accounting app gives you the power to control your finances from your fingertips! It allows you to easily manage client lists and see where money is owed as well as keeping a full account of all transactions. Alongside this, you can even save time by taking photos of your receipts to keep track of your expenses and create and send invoices with the push of a button. Although the app is currently only available on iOS, Android users can use the mobile-friendly version on your smart phone browser until the Android app is released.
Network
Once your business if up and running, one of the most important elements of success is in the networking. By getting your name out there, and showing people who you are and what you can do, you can massively increase your client base and income. Similarly, by collaborating with professionals with similar or complimentary skills you can increase your potential growth substantially. The LinkedIn App is the perfect tool for this. It works almost as a social network for professionals and allows you to easily find and recruit team members or partnerships, promote yourself and find business opportunities. The App will update you with relevant notifications for your line of work and also has a number of add-ons including the Recruiter App and Sales Navigator to help you manage your team and accounts.
Protect Your Investments
Finally, being able to manage your business from your smart phone has many undeniable advantages. However, when working in this way, it’s always essential to consider your online security. Nothing would be worse than having all your time, money and hard work lost because you didn’t take the time to protect yourself. The threat of hackers and identity fraud is a very real risk in our digital age and it’s always important to air on the side of caution. Fortunately, there is a way to overcome this! By using a good VPN (Virtual Private Network) you can secure your information and ensure the efforts you put in to creating a successful company will not go to waste.
So, although the technology-based transition of the business world can seem overwhelming, it can actually be massively beneficial. The compact, flexible, application based way of working can support anyone, from small business to large organisations, and help to keep you focused, organised, connected and on the road to success.
