To include technology in your business plan, you’ll need to provide an overview of the types of technology you use, how you use it, and how it benefits your business. You should also include a section on your company’s IT infrastructure, including any hardware, software, and services you use. Finally, you’ll need to discuss your company’s plans for future technology needs.
What Do You Use Technology For?
The first step is to identify what technology you use and how you use it. Do you use technology to develop and market your products? Do you use it to manage your finances or operations? Do you use it to communicate with customers or partners? Be as specific as possible when describing how you use technology.
For example, if you use customer relationship management (CRM) software, describe how you use it to track customer data, manage sales and marketing campaigns, and generate reports. If you use an e-commerce platform, describe how customers can purchase products and services online, how you process payments, and how you manage shipping and returns.
Some examples of the software we think are useful to a business-
- Gmail/Google Workspace: to manage your company policies, data and emails.
- Squarespace: to develop and design your company website.
- Adobe Creative Suite: to create marketing materials such as flyers or posters.
- QuickBooks: to manage your company’s finances -Salesforce: to track customer data and manage sales and marketing campaigns.
- SumUp: To collect payments and manage inventory.
- NordVPN: Secure Network for you and your staff. Prevent unwanted data from leaking on open networks
How Does Technology Benefit Your Business?
Once you’ve described how you use technology, the next step is to discuss how it benefits your business. Do you use technology to improve efficiency or productivity? Do you use it to save time or money? Do you use it to better manage your customer relationships?
Be sure to include specific examples of how technology has helped your business achieve its goals.
Some benefits of using technology might be:
- Improved communication with customers and partners
- Increased sales and revenue
- Reduced operational costs
- Improved customer satisfaction and retention rates
Is the Technology You Use Specialised or “Off the Shelf”?
The next question to consider is whether the technology you use is specialised or “off the shelf.” Specialised technology is designed specifically for your business, while off-the-shelf technology is generic and can be used by any business.
If you use specialised technology, describe how it’s customized for your business. For example, if you have a custom-built CRM system, explain how it integrates with your other software systems and how it’s been tailored to meet your specific needs. If you use off-the-shelf software, such as QuickBooks, simply state that it’s a widely-used accounting program.
What Is Your Company’s IT Hardware?
Next, you’ll need to provide an overview of your company’s IT hardware. This includes all the physical devices your business uses, such as computers, printers, and servers. Be sure to include how many of each type of device you have and where they’re located.
For example, you might have five desktop computers in your office and two laptops that employees can use when they’re working remotely. Or you might have 10 printers spread out across your office so that employees can print documents from anywhere.
Some examples of the hardware you may purchase
- Desktop Computers
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Smartphones
- Printers
- Servers
TL;DR:
To include technology in your business plan, you’ll need to provide an overview of the types of technology you use, how you use it, and how it benefits your business. You should also include a section on your company’s IT infrastructure, including any hardware, software, and services you use. Finally, you’ll need to discuss your company’s plans for future technology needs.