5 Tech Solutions That Will Revolutionise SME Operations This 2024

Here’s a textbook scenario: Patricia started off baking cupcakes at home. Her home-based business took off quickly, and in 2024, opens a bakery offering all kinds of delicious goodies. She soon realised that baking and managing the store all by herself was not the ideal solution. What else could she tap on to improve efficiency and make better decisions for her business? 

Yes, modern problems require modern solutions. Digitalising is the answer. The pursuit of staying ahead with the latest innovations can seem endless. Yet, it’s about more than merely keeping up with trends. It’s also about adaptability, recognising the need to enhance business operations, and fostering creativity. 

Digitisation incurs costs, but the benefits can significantly outweigh the initial investment. Integrating modern gadgets to digitalise and streamline operations is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to scale and compete with other businesses. So, what types of tech solutions are available for business owners? Let’s explore five tech solutions to help SMEs enhance efficiency, security, and customer experience.

1. Automation Tools

The drive towards digital transformation has become a critical strategic priority for businesses aiming to excel in a competitive market. With digital transformation spending expected to reach nearly $3.9 trillion by 2027, automation tools like the Qashier POS terminals have become indispensable. These tools, capable of executing complex operations at the click of a button, make work easier and significantly reduce the likelihood of mistakes. Additionally, they are crucial for handling tedious, repetitive tasks efficiently and with minimal errors.

Tools like the Qashier POS terminals ensure that SMEs can manage their day-to-day operations more effectively through automation capabilities designed to enhance business operations. Everything from inventory management and sales transactions to integrating customer relationship management and financial reporting is automated. This focus on automation facilitates a smoother operational flow, allowing businesses to deliver superior customer service while optimising their internal processes.

2. Smart Devices

Smart devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) are revolutionising businesses’ operations, significantly boosting efficiency and enhancing decision-making capabilities. By enabling interconnected devices such as smart thermostats, security cameras, and IoT sensors to exchange real-time data, businesses can benefit from improved collaboration among teams and streamlined operational processes. 

For example, smart thermostats can optimise energy use in offices or stores, while IoT sensors can monitor inventory levels or equipment health, sending alerts to prevent stockouts or maintenance issues. Security cameras integrated with AI can enhance premises security through facial recognition and unusual activity alerts. 

This seamless data exchange optimises day-to-day operations and enables the gathering of actionable insights, facilitating informed decision-making. Furthermore, integrating smart technology is crucial for developing responsive and agile strategies, allowing businesses to adapt to market changes and customer needs quickly. 

3. Cloud-based Solutions

Cloud-based solutions represent a significant shift from traditional IT setups that rely heavily on local servers and personal devices, providing businesses with a scalable and flexible alternative that eliminates the need for extensive IT infrastructure. 

Unlike traditional systems, cloud-based platforms, such as QashierHQ, store data on remote servers, allowing for seamless access and management of business operations from anywhere with an internet connection. This key differentiation simplifies the technological demands on businesses and opens up new avenues for operational efficiency and collaboration.

The adoption of cloud-based POS systems, projected to reach $954 million by 2028, underscores the critical role of these cloud-enabled tech solutions for business owners. The advantages of moving to the cloud are manifold: 

• cost savings are realised through reduced need for physical hardware and maintenance, 
• enhanced collaboration is facilitated by real-time data sharing and accessibility across multiple locations,
• and the flexibility to access business functions from anywhere ensures that decision-makers can respond to changes and opportunities with agility. 

Specifically, systems like Qashier’s cloud-based POS offer real-time sales data, inventory management, and transaction processing capabilities on any internet-connected device. Such solutions are invaluable for businesses to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

4. Tools for Mobility / Remote Work

Statistics show that remote work is increasingly popular with employees, mainly due to its flexibility. This shift has prompted businesses to invest in digital tools that facilitate long-distance collaboration and management. 

It’s not just employees but also entrepreneurs who desire to manage their businesses from virtually anywhere. Cloud-based solutions, particularly POS systems like the Qashier app, offer the capability to conduct business operations through any internet-connected device, including tracking sales, inventory management, and customer interactions. Such tech solutions for business owners enhance operational efficiency, allowing seamless business management anytime, anywhere.

The adoption of these technologies is a response to the broader trend towards remote work, which has seen a significant rise in recent years. Tools that support remote collaboration, such as project management platforms (Asana, Trello), communication software (Slack, Zoom), and cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox), have become integral to maintaining productivity and connectivity among dispersed teams. Integrating these tools, alongside innovations like the Qashier app, underscores the shift towards a digital-first approach in business operations. These developments ensure businesses can remain agile and responsive, leveraging the advantages of remote work to stay competitive in a dynamic and ever-evolving global market. 

5. Cybersecurity

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, SMEs need tools that protect sensitive data and guard against cyber threats, ensuring that business and customer information remains secure. The QashierPay Soundbox significantly mitigates the risk of fraudulent activities by employing dynamic QR codes with the PayNow network, which changes with each transaction, making it much harder for fraudsters to intercept. Additionally, Soundbox’s ability to audibly confirm transactions gives merchants the peace of mind that each payment is securely processed, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business.

Moreover, the QashierPay Soundbox supports various e-wallets, including popular options like GrabPay and DBS Paylah, catering to the growing consumer preference for contactless digital payment methods. The system further enhances operational security through real-time transaction monitoring via QashierHQ, offering a comprehensive, secure, and user-friendly payment solution. Instead of worrying about digital threats, businesses can use tools like Qashier Soundbox that prioritise high-level cybersecurity while delivering operational efficiency.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Top Tech Gadgets per Industry

What does technology adoption appear like across various industries? Let’s explore the top tech gadgets for business owners in each sector. 

Food and Beverage

The pace of day-to-day operations is relentless in the food and beverage (F&B) business. Imagine a popular café during the breakfast rush, where every second counts, and the seamless flow of orders is crucial to customer satisfaction and kitchen efficiency. A suite of tech gadgets and systems becomes indispensable to navigate this high-pressure setting. 

The journey begins with a Point of Sale (POS) system, which takes customers’ orders efficiently and processes payments swiftly. Following payment, a multi-function printer generates both the receipt for the customer and an order slip for the kitchen, ensuring clarity and speed. These orders are then digitally sent to the Kitchen Display System (KDS), where chefs can prioritise and manage orders in real time. Finally, once an order is ready, a paging buzzer system notifies customers to collect their meals, enhancing the guest experience by reducing wait times and confusion. 

This technology-driven workflow streamlines operations from when an order is placed to when it is delivered to the customer, exemplifying how the right tech tools can transform the efficiency of an F&B business.

Beauty Services

In the tranquil setting of a beauty salon, daily operations revolve around providing personalised services to clients, from hair styling to spa treatments. Unlike the fast-paced environment of F&B establishments, beauty salons prioritise a seamless, relaxing experience for their customers, necessitating a different set of tech gadgets and software solutions. The operational flow begins with the customer booking a service facilitated by a Point of Sale (POS) system integrated with room management software. This ensures that appointments are efficiently scheduled and spaces are optimally utilised. Payment is processed through the same POS system upon service completion, providing a smooth transaction experience.

Following payment, businesses can manage staff assignments with tools like QashierHQ’s staff management feature. It allocates professionals to clients based on staff expertise and availability so each customer receives the best care.  Feedback is important so businesses can improve their services. Integrating a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, also part of QashierHQ, will help the salon continuously improve its services and customer satisfaction. 

Lastly, it’s important to reward the staff for the services rendered and products sold. An easy-to-use digital interface such as QashierHQ allows employers to distribute commissions, streamline payroll processes, and incentivise staff performance. Technology integration elevates the customer experience, fostering loyalty and repeat business.

Retail Stores

In the retail industry, daily operations encompass various tasks, from inventory management to customer service and sales processing. Regardless of size, retailers strive to manage a voluminous array of products while ensuring a seamless shopping experience. This is where technology steps in, playing an indispensable role in streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency. Companies can use a barcode scanner with a POS system starting from the payment process. Such a setup facilitates quick and accurate product identification and pricing. It also expedites the checkout process and significantly reduces the margin for error, ensuring customers a swift and satisfactory transaction.

With consumers loving the convenience of online shopping, businesses must also maintain an online storefront. E-commerce integration allows for real-time inventory tracking, ensuring product availability is consistent across digital and physical storefronts. This seamless integration provides customers with a unified shopping experience, enabling them to shop online with confidence in the inventory’s accuracy or choose in-store pickup at their convenience. By leveraging such technological advancements, retail stores can optimise inventory management, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately streamline their daily operations, making every customer interaction smooth and hassle-free.

Final Thoughts

With our examples above, it’s clear to see how staying informed about the latest tech can make a significant difference. Adopting these technological solutions in 2024 can help SMEs enhance their operations, improve customer experiences, and maintain a competitive edge amongst bigger players. 

So, if you’re an entrepreneur like Patricia, it’s time to look into how to help yourself do business better—the first step: finding a supportive partner like Qashier.

More about Qashier

Qashier offers multiple digital solutions, including QR code table ordering, table management (F&B), employee management, customer relationship management (loyalty programs), inventory management, data analytics, and cashless payments, in an all-in-one device.

Qashier promises a seamless setup within 10 minutes, without the need for technical expertise. It boasts a user-friendly interface that is simple for anyone to learn and use. If you require assistance, you’ll find 7 days-a-week responsive technical support from your local team.

Try the Qashier app for free on your own Android device! With just one terminal, you’ll be able to accept an array of payment types, from major credit cards, e-wallets and EFTPOS. Speak to us to see how Qashier Smart POS can meet your business needs. Schedule a meeting with us here, or reach out via email [email protected].