If you had asked me 10 years ago what an” app” was, I would have told you it was something you fill out to get a job or credit card. Little did I know that in 2008, Apple would make this word mainstream all while giving us the ability to do most technical processes from a mobile device. It was a subtle change at first that made an eventual big shift in technical culture, and it’s definitely not the last shift we will see.

Change is coming…2017 will bring new technical innovations and cultural shifts we will need to embrace as a small business (SMB) to stay both relevant and competitive. In this article, we list three tech trends we think will be impactful as we move into the new year. We will take each of these topics and break them down further in future articles.

Cloud based solutions will become the new norm

Cloud based solutions elevate collaboration amongst co-workers allowing them to create, share, and store documents. We will look at Microsoft Office 365, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and other solutions that may be a good choice to take your SMB to the cloud.

Easy to use payment options are on the rise

Consumers are wanting faster and easier ways to pay for products and services. A study from CreditCard.com, shows that 11% of consumers in the U.S. prefer to use their smartphones to make in-store purchases. In response, more and more SMB’s are accepting Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and PayPal. We will discuss these trends and how to implement them in your office.

Bringing your work home is becoming a standard practice

Many companies are providing flexible schedules, allowing employees to remote in from home using cloud-based applications and other types of remote login software. We will weigh the pros and cons of these solutions and discuss how they can affect productivity, employee morale, and your bottom line.

Change can be a challenging, but with a little preparation and insight into the needs of your office and clients, you can make sound decisions that can have a lasting impact on all facets of your business. Look for more information on these trends in future articles from the T7 team, and feel free to contact us if we can answer any questions you may have.