How Small Businesses Can Tap Into Technology: 20 Expert Tips

It’s nearly impossible—and certainly impractical—to try to run a business in any industry without tapping into technology. However, entrepreneurs and small business leaders may worry that accessing the tech tools they need will leave a big hole in a small budget.
Fortunately, recent rapid advances in technology—many centered on artificial intelligence—mean that there have never been more options for businesses when it comes to available (and affordable) tech tools and services. Below, members of Forbes Technology Council share smart strategies and solutions for small businesses seeking to tap into all the benefits of today’s tech.
1. Identify Which Aspects Of Your Business Require A Custom Solution
We have faced this issue, and here is how we solved it. First, identify which aspects of your business absolutely require technology customization. In 80% to 90% of cases, it will only be one or two areas. Use offshore contract organizations to build those customizations for you at an affordable cost. We used off-the-shelf software with built-in customization for everything else. – Dr. Sreeram Mullankandy, Elumina Health Inc.
2. Choose Between ‘Build,’ ‘Buy’ Or ‘Boost’
For small organizations, the most effective strategy is to identify what suits their specific needs and select between “build,” “buy” or “boost.” Choosing the right approach is essential, and collaborating with external consultants who possess the appropriate expertise can lead to the best outcomes. Once the assessment is complete, implement solutions through a combination of vendors and in-house teams. – Arslan Ihsan, ADDO AI
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3. Consider Hiring A Fractional CTO
Small businesses need to have a partner they can trust to have their best interests in mind rather than maximizing the amount spent on software vendors. Hiring a fractional CTO with equity in the business could be a good solution. – Adam Balogh, OpenGradient
4. Find A Suitable MSP
Small businesses should focus on identifying a managed service provider that fits their needs. Doing so will often prove to be far more cost-effective than hiring internal resources, and it will provide access to a much deeper pool of expertise, allowing company leaders to focus on the core business rather than technical issues. – Austin Berglas, BlueVoyant
5. Partner With Proven Small Businesses
Partner with another proven small business whose core business is building and operating products and services for the big data and AI age. Assess its tech stack for modularity (to avoid tech lock-ins amid changes), customer diversity, retention rate and service track record. If the company meets your criteria, its small size will give you the added benefit of speed and agility that matches yours. – Karen Kim, Human Managed
6. Subscribe To SaaS Solutions For Essential Enterprise Services
For small businesses with tight budgets, leveraging cloud-based tools and software as a service solutions is a smart move. These platforms provide scalable, cost-effective access to enterprise-level services like CRMs, project management systems and cybersecurity, all without the need for a full in-house tech team. By subscribing to the right services, businesses can avoid hefty upfront costs and maintenance fees. – Dhivya Nagasubramanian, U.S. Bank
7. Leverage Cloud-Based Solutions
Leveraging cloud-based solutions and SaaS platforms is an effective strategy for small businesses lacking budgets for in-house tech teams. This approach offers cost-effective, scalable and automatically updated tools. All-in-one platforms, project management tools and cloud storage can meet various needs. Additionally, virtual CIO services provide strategic guidance without full-time IT costs. – Anurag Agrawal, Google LLC
8. Outsource Specific Needs
Small businesses can access affordable tech tools by using managed IT services, cloud computing and SaaS platforms. These options offer scalable solutions without the need for large upfront costs or in-house IT staff. Outsourcing specific needs to freelancers or managed service providers also provides cost-effective and flexible support. – Priyadarshni Natarajan, Walmart
9. Integrate AI And Promote Citizen Development
Small businesses can enhance productivity by integrating AI into existing tools and promoting citizen development. Use AI features in products for automation and insights. Encourage employees to create custom apps with low-code platforms, boosting efficiency without needing extensive IT resources. This approach maximizes current investments and empowers staff. – Ramnath Natarajan, Johnson Controls
10. Choose A Standard Base Tech Stack
Standardize your base technology stack by subscribing to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace to centralize tools in the cloud and ensure secure communication, collaboration and storage with audit capabilities. Additionally, adopt cloud-based SaaS solutions for processes like CRM, accounting and marketing. These solutions require no infrastructure, offer flexibility with quick subscribe and cancel options, and minimize upfront costs. – Prashant Kondle, Ivis Technologies
11. Leverage Contract Tech Pros
Leveraging contract technical professionals who can provide thought leadership and execution can help a small business accomplish its desired outcomes. This strategy is cost-effective, and the small business will benefit from working with experienced consultants who will bring new ideas and help teach existing staff members. Further, this strategy doesn’t require any long-term financial commitments. – Michael Butts, Burtch Works
12. Explore ‘As A Service’ Options
Leverage solutions such as software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS). These services are cost-effective, customizable, flexible and scalable. These service providers often offer built-in support, training and regular updates, ensuring small businesses have access to the latest tools and security practices without needing in-house expertise. – Venkata Thummala, Stanford University
13. Tap Into Global Talent
Small businesses can access top-tier tech talent through medium-sized tech partners in low-cost markets like Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These markets are largely untapped and have amazing talent pools that are ripe for leveraging by small businesses in the U.S. and EU. Hire a sensible and pragmatic internal IT director who has experience working with these markets to get the most value for your money. – Asim Bawany, Codup
14. Take Advantage Of Emerging AI Tools
There has never been a better time to be a small business. Today, large corporations have bulky IT infrastructure and teams to manage their tech stacks. However, radical changes in AI, large language models and agentic automation make it possible for a single person to do the work normally handled by thousands of people. My prediction is that we will see a one-person unicorn within the decade—the smallest business. – Spencer Penn, LightSource
15. Understand The Importance Of Process Flows
Process flow is very important for any successful business. It is expensive to hire people to set up a process flow, particularly for smaller companies. To overcome this hurdle, small businesses can make use of workflow tracking tools, which provide standard templates that can be customized to meet unique needs. This strategy can be an effective way to set up process flows, thereby streamlining work. – Srinivasa Reddy Mukkala, Episdata Inc.
16. Use Low-Code And No-Code Platforms
Small businesses can maximize their tech capabilities by leveraging no-code and low-code platforms and affordable SaaS tools for tasks like CRM, analytics and automation. Pairing these platforms with assistance from freelance tech consultants on platforms like Upwork allows businesses to access specialized expertise for critical projects without long-term commitments, ensuring flexibility and cost efficiency. – Himanshu Sinha, Marriott International Inc.
17. Leverage GenAI-Powered SaaS
Small businesses should leverage existing generative AI-powered SaaS platforms, combined with targeted AI consulting expertise. Success requires a precise strategy with clear “build versus buy” decisions, measurable metrics and well-defined implementation phases. Start small, prove value and scale gradually—trying to build everything at once is a recipe for failure. – Yair Adato, Bria
18. Invest In Incremental Tech Upgrades
Ongoing incremental investment in technology can be a good strategy for supporting long-term goals. In the short term, part of this investment can be focused on leveraging, as needed, the on-demand services available on cloud platforms. – Pradyumna Shukla, Capital One
19. Work With A Fractional Technology Partner
Smaller businesses can work with a fractional technology partner who, ultimately, feels like part of the team. This strategy provides expert support, scalable solutions and strategic insights without the cost of hiring in-house tech staff. Focus on providers who tailor their services to your business needs, ensuring a more seamless integration. – Kenneth Holley, Silent Quadrant
20. Take Full Advantage Of Open-Source Tools
Use open-source tools overseen by a dedicated service partner. Pay a monthly subscription for continuous updates, security patches and expert guidance. This approach grants small businesses enterprise-grade tech, flexible scaling and custom integrations without the need to hire an internal IT team, ensuring cost-effective, tailored growth. – Mohammed Razem, Vardot
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