subject: How Technology Influences Business [print this page] As anyone who's been running a business over the last few years will know, the impact of technology on the world of commerce has been undeniably drastic. It would have been near-impossible to predict just a quarter of a century ago how information technology would completely transform the world of commerce. What's more, there seems to be little sign of this particular trend slowing down. The rapid evolution of mobile technology would appear to represent the next frontier for business. Mobile commerce has caught the attention of some of the world's biggest businesses, as well as their smaller competitors.
It's important to recognise that the influence of technology has, on the whole, been overwhelmingly positive. Entrepreneurs are now better able than they've ever been to make their businesses more responsive and efficient, thereby increasing productivity. As a result of the increased efficiency, employees are able to avoid wasting much of their time on relatively unnecessary tasks, instead deploying their abilities in more productive fashions. It is worth noting, of course, that some workers have found their skill sets to be relatively obsolete as a result of technological innovation. However, the increased consumer spending stimulated by the innovations has at least created jobs elsewhere.
Perhaps the most exciting consequence of the recent technological innovation is that it's made it much easier for businesses whether large or small to reach out to consumers all over the world. Even start-up businesses have emerged from nowhere to become major operations with a global reach. Just 20 years or so ago, it would have scarcely been credible to imagine such growth, but that's precisely what has happened. Companies which are now household names in countries all over the world were more or less unheard of 20 years ago. That is surely testament to the transformative impact that the internet and other technological developments have had on the world of commerce.
What's more, the cosy positions held by large businesses have come under increasing threats from start-up businesses in recent years. This has forced them to become more responsive to the needs of their customers, which has in turn compelled smaller businesses to find new ways of innovating and gaining a competitive advantage over their larger competitors. Now that mobile commerce appears to be becoming increasingly important in the world of business, the next step is for large and small businesses alike to establish a mobile presence that comes to match the high expectations consumers have.
