Another year, another wave of technologies that will fundamentally affect business processes and operations. Let’s take a look at some tech trends your small- or medium-sized business (SMB) could benefit from in 2024, and why you shouldn’t take everything you hear about them at face value.
Generative AI
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard are widely available and affordable, but the real exciting stuff is coming from the API space. Apps and organizations can easily secure access to third-party AI models and tools to tweak them for their own use, opening up endless possibilities for improving efficiency and innovation. And again, it’s not just the power of these new tools that’s promising, but their availability and cost effectiveness for SMBs.
So AI is indeed booming, but so was the internet in the late ’90s right before the dot-com bust. Now obviously, the internet thing did take off in the end, but a lot of people lost money by throwing capital at anything with “.com” on the end of it. The moral of the story is this: “AI-powered” is no guarantee of quality, effectiveness, or profitability. New AI tools can be game changers, but they must be vetted and configured by IT experts to ensure efficacy.
Green tech
Using less energy and committing to sustainable practices is a good idea for the planet and everyone on it. But in 2024, it will also be a good idea from a profitability standpoint. The importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) continues to grow as the public’s concerns about climate change finally reach critical levels. This means that consumers are increasingly basing their purchasing decisions on the sustainability and CSR practices of the companies they buy from.
The good news is that the market has stepped up, and there are now green tech innovations that businesses of any size can leverage. Everything from AI-enhanced energy monitoring tools to paperless solutions to lean and green data centers are available to SMBs and large enterprises alike. These solutions not only reduce carbon footprints and improve cost effectiveness, but also demonstrate commitment to the environment and sustainability for the benefit of climate-conscious consumers.
However, keep in mind that there are companies and products out there that claim to be “green” just for the good PR. Special care should be taken with any blockchain solution claiming to be green, as the inordinate energy consumption by these technologies have earned them the ire of activists and consumers alike.
Custom platforms
Thanks to developments around low- or no-code environments and automation, it will become easier than ever for SMBs in 2024 to create their own custom apps and platforms. These can be used either externally for interacting with customers or internally to manage development and other processes. Instead of tweaking and wrangling third-party software to fit the business, companies can build tools from the ground up with their needs in mind.
These tools can be revolutionary, but they aren’t ready out of the box. Don’t go in hoping to wave a magic wand and get the perfect customized app, and don’t believe any salespeople who say you can. To get the most out of these tailored platform solutions, plan thoroughly beforehand, and bring in stakeholders from across the organization as well as outside experts. This greater perspective will ensure that it’s done right the first time and , and that it's an ideal fit for the company's needs.
Capitalizing on the newest technologies isn’t always so clear for SMBs, which is why it’s vital to have an expert by their side. Kortek Solutions can provide expert insights and advice to help you identify which tech trends and strategies are most appropriate for your business goals. Contact us now to learn more about our proven IT consulting services.
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