Modern Money: Five Tech Decisions That Can Save You Money

When it comes to integrating technology into a business model, many owners are unsure. This hesitance can often be the very thing that's driving profits down and stifling growth. Here are five tech decisions you can make today that will save you money.

1. Ditch paper

Stop and think, for a moment, about how much your business uses paper and paper-related products-- pens, staples, tape, glue, envelopes. They all add up over time. Invoices, office work, forms all can be switched to electronic formats. Switching from paper is simply the smarter choice, given the number of benefits it has such as less money spent on paper products, environmentally friendly, and easier digital organizational process.

2. Switch to OS software

OSS, or Open-Source Software, is software that is often free and has code maintained by a community of programmers, rather than by a private company. Because the code is available to everyone, bugs are reported by users and there is more pressure to have usable, secure code in the software. It is often a much more reasonable and ethical alternative than spending thousands on licensed products that require discs and product keys for installation. Some good, free alternatives to Windows and Mac OS X are Debian and Ubuntu, although Linux has plenty of other options.

3. Reevaluate your telecoms choice

Telecommunications are the second most important aspect of running your business. There are many VoIP clients that will connect your calls through the Internet for a fraction of what you pay for your land line. Also, it may be worth working with a telecoms agent. According to CarrierSales.com, “Independent agents earn a small residual commission each month from the carriers, based upon the customers’ monthly billing.”  So they can help you find the best telecoms choices without any extra cost. Shop around, and you just might be surprised.

4. Upgrade for better energy usage

If your company can get away with using laptops or mobile devices, you can avoid having desktop computers that are constantly plugged in and using power. Not only do laptops, tablets, and other devices use much less power than desktops, but they also often come with energy efficient displays and materials.

5. Evaluate your tech expenses and ask questions

Ask yourself these questions: Does every last employee in your office need a brand-new Macbook, or can you make a deal with a company that sells refurbished models? Are your employees truly using all of the software bundle you pay for, or can you manage with less? Would your network benefit from an upgrade? Is your business's Internet provider giving you the best deal, or is there a competitor with faster and cheaper connections?

Overall, wise tech decisions are the best thing you can do for your business. Being more tech-friendly also comes with the benefit of improving your business's image. It simply makes sense, and the results are definitely worth the change.