We use technologies everyday: mobile phone, laptop, smart watches, etc. Even we can see technologies everywhere when we walk on the street, especially in a shopping mall. There are digital billboards, free WiFi, and digital customer services that are the example of using technologies. When we purchase in a shop, in a more narrower way to see technologies, staff use a purchase system, scan the bar codes, customers pay with credit cards and do a short customer satisfaction survey on an iPad.

This week we learnt there are many types of technologies that can use in business, such as Internet of things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Businesses use technologies in their business operations can bring tangible and intangible benefits. The obvious tangible benefit is that it can make more profits, while the intangible benefit is increase customer demand and their satisfaction. Businesses use technologies to reduce cost and improve their efficiency and effectiveness on their production.

For example, it is popular to use service robots in some industries or business, such as hotel industry. It is quite common in hotel industry in Asia. Most hotels put one robot in the lobby and customers can ask questions. Some customers are quite enjoy for the novelty of the robot delivering snacks and drinks to them.

However, technologies can also bring us some disadvantages. The main issue is technologies would take human’s job. Computers and technologies would replace humans. This makes job insecure. Also, there might have privacy concerns, especially there are digital cameras in public places such as shopping centres. Some people don’t want their face or their movement being posted onto internet.

Therefore, when a company decided to use technologies in their business, managers have to decide which types of technology they want to use in order to have an cost effective and which is best for them to achieve their business objectives.

Related websites:

Kumar, V. (2017, February 20). Top 12 Examples, How Technology Has Changed Our Lives. Retrieved from http://www.klientsolutech.com/examples-of-how-technology-has-changed-our-lives/

Millward, D. (2018, October 19). The rise of the robot butler – fad or the future of hotel room service? Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels/articles/hotel-robot-room-service/

Ramey, K. (2013, February 25). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.useoftechnology.com/technology-workplace-2/

Vitez, O. (2017, September 26). Emerging Technology in Business. Retrieved from https://bizfluent.com/about-6647421-emerging-technology-business.html

Why is Technology Important in Business? |. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.oksbdc.org/why-is-technology-important-in-business/