Chapter 1: Overview of Business Technology

What We’ll Cover >>>

• What is Business Technology?
• Information Technology
• Business Technology Usage
• Computer Systems
• Productivity Tools
• Advantages of Business Technology
• Challenges of Business Technology
• Business Technology in Education
• Business Technology in the Workplace
• Business Technology-related Work

What is Business Technology?

Technology is integrated in everything we do: television, music, education, work, play, communication, etc. It is in hardware, software, systems, processes, and output.

Business technology, specifically, refers to the technologies and systems that help employees accomplish activities. It is related to use in school and the workplace, and includes computers and their peripherals, software and utility programs, and systems/use of the Internet. It is also the output that we use in our interactions with businesses, like when we shop, have an online visit with our doctor, do our banking online, and even the effects of our time on social media as it can relate to how our workplace/employers can respond to us.  Business technology is about all the uses that make finding and getting a job, getting the work done, and providing results for stakeholders like customers, vendors, shippers, colleagues, and students.

Information Technology

Information Technology is a broader reference to technology in general: the use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure in any context to communicate, transfer data and process information. It refers to technology Like software engineering, programming, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, applications development, hardware production, communications systems, the Internet, and more.

Business technology narrows information technology down (somewhat) to workplace-related activities. It is the management and utilization of information technology focused in reference to accomplishing business-related work.

Business Technology Usage

Business technology computing and processes include:

• Communication tools (smartphones, digital media, social media, generative AI).
• Data management (backup, storage, delivery, search and pulls).
• Enterprise systems (company-wide equipment and information management).
• Information and hardware security.
• Information management (databases, data dashboards).
• Marketing and sales processes (emails, websites, customer data).
• Productivity applications (word processing, accounting, presentations, design, image work, project management, calendaring, emails, online meetings).
• Relationship management (customers, employees, students, patients, vendors).
• Workplace collaboration (conferencing, shared documents, online timesheets, workplace trainings).

Businesses use technology in many ways, including:

• Communication: Employees, management, vendors, and related colleagues can meet, coordinate activities, manage projects, work remotely, and report results through phones, emails, texting, shared documents, generative AI workflows, and tech-assisted online and hybrid meetings.
• Data storage: Data is the backbone of any company’s functions, and can include all employee-related, customer-related, infrastructure and equipment-related, and research/work-product-related data. It has to be sorted, tracked, evaluated, used, revised, shared, and protected at all stages of work.
• Hiring: Businesses can research work-related laws, look for talent, post job listings, and do hiring-related communications.
• Human Resources and Payroll: Specialized software and scheduled payroll applications can communicate with employees about benefits, trainings, and annual evaluations. It can manage salaries and deductions during pay periods, provide annual tax preparation documents, and evaluate staff costs and performance.
• Inventory management: Inventory and orders can be organized, stored, fulfilled, tracked, and shipped through the use of databases, spreadsheets, and dashboards. Applications can include reminders for ordering, alerts for shortages, and supply-chain relationships.
• Networked devices and printers: Computers and equipment work within a network, connecting to each other and through the internet. Networks can be within a single office space, across several workplace floors, between several workplace locations, and regional or worldwide for accessing information and storage. Networked equipment allows employees to share information and processes, like emails, conferences, research and analysis, records, and work products.
• Relationships: Businesses can manage customer relationships through finding leads, profiling, tracking, using complex contact databases, advertising, & offering discounts and inducements.
• Security: Various tools and processes can help with the protection and monitoring of equipment, infrastructure, information, and work products in the workplace to present disruption, disclosure, and destruction. Security measures like surveillance and alert systems can prevent unauthorized usage, incorrect handling, stealing of proprietary work product, breach of confidential employee and customer records, and reveals of financial activities.
• Training: School and workplaces trainings can happen synchronously inside a face-to-face classroom, asynchronously through online learning management tools and digital course materials, and in flex-hybrid forms using elements of both.
• Work activities: Work can be assigned, monitored, and evaluated. Project management can use shared scheduling and flow-charting of goals and activities. Employees can meet online and by phone, can work on documents in real time, can share work output in secure repositories for access, and can evaluate customer activity. Employers can check for employee quality, communication, and integrity practices.

Computer Systems

Computer systems allow business functions through equipment that supports software use, data storage, work production, information retrieval, activities coordination, and a virtual ‘desk’ for work activities. Examples include:

• Communication and collaboration tools for employee and vendor coordination.
• Computing hardware and peripheral devices.
• Computer programs for creating and managing work product.
• Networking equipment for sharing information and processes.
• Software and applications for doing business functions in every department, like accounting, human resources, inventory, research/development, etc.

Productivity Tools

Computing productivity tools support employees so they can accomplish work tasks that provide products and services to customers. Productivity programs let employees manage documentation’ schedule work activities; store and organize information; report and deliver output, connect with vendors, customers, and each other; and manage work obligations between them and the employer. Tools can include software applications in:

• Communications (like phones, emails, meeting supports).
• Databases (for warehousing, organizing, querying, and reporting big data).
• Graphics and layout (like image editors and layout programs).
• Presentations (like slideshows, videos, audio recordings, scenario animations).
• Research interfaces (like Internet browsers and reference managers).
• Spreadsheets (for accounting, calculations, charts and graphs).
• Storage and retrieval (like preserving and organizing work product information and intelligence).
• Word processing (for communications and reports).

Advantages of Technology

Technology speeds up our ability to manage vast amounts of information and processes needed for getting work done. While the workplace has not gone paperless (despite goals before the turn of the 21st century), our ability to acquire and use our information is much more streamlined and accessible than when paper flow and files was the norm. Likely today’s generation isn’t even aware of what we call ‘analog’ systems of work tools and paperwork-based information handling.

Technology provides many advantages:

• Ability to immediately evaluate and modify activities and processes .
• Access to multiple forms of media and platforms for accomplishing work.
• Automated activities that take many routine activities out of employee hands, like direct deposit of pay.
• Continuous improvement and less waste in manufacturing techniques.
• Convenience of working with small, light, speedy, and powerful computing tools.
• Coordinated scheduling and work handling across offices and regions.
• Improved and synchronous communication methods even at great distances.
• Layers of security that can protect employee and customer information, research and development, financial access, and system faults.
• Multiple threads of marketing, sales, and customer connection activities.
• Prompt services like financials, order fulfillment, customer care, and employee needs.
• Aggregating and searching information and trends used for law enforcement and military organizations.
• Quick synchronizing and transferring of information.
• Real-time access to information for research, sales, customer retention, etc.
• Use of tools that allow for mobile and at-home workplaces.

Challenges of Business Technology

Business technology is not without challenges and risks. These can include:

• Constant required systems for updating and fixing of technology problems.
• Costs in keeping up on tools and applications.
• Fractured communications skills related to less one-on-one connection.
• Increased dependency on technology and networking access.
• Loss of boundaries of the ‘workplace’ as work activities use constant emails, anytime online meetings, and mobile/at-home work locations.
• Loss of power or networking which can stop business work.
• Merging and replacement of job activities that risk job availability.
• Ongoing need for training, upskilling, and job searching
• Ongoing security risks in relation to confidentiality, data, fraud, and cybercrime.
• Loss of a sense of privacy when data is captured and sold as part of business.
• Technology-related exhaustion and health issues.

Business Technology in Education

Education is a key area in which business technology is prevalent. The entirety of managing schools – the students, faculty, staff, equipment, learning materials, relationships with parents, and legal requirements – is reliant on business technology tools and processes.

For instance, schools use one or more learning management and enhancement tools, like course management systems, learning providers, library information systems, and all the usual workplace processes that manage employees, resources and finances. Schools have to manage enrollment and retention, curriculum and class sizes, employee management, assignments evaluations, and reporting for student transcripts and transfers. This includes the need for:

• Assignment and grading platforms.
• Communication tools.
• Communications (students, instructors, parents, education vendors).
• Computers and technology equipment.
• Funding and financial management applications.
• Learning information repositories (videos, audio, books, cloud-based, resource links, demos and tutorials, OER, learning modules, coordinated ‘visits’ and field trips through digital means).
• Networking.
• Teaching and student engagement aids (online texts, engagement tools, presentation equipment).
• Virtual classroom needs.

Business Technology in the Workplace

Business technology affects most aspects of the workplace. Behind-the-scenes and upfront needs are in hardware, software-enhanced access to information, and tools that allow businesses and members of the workforce to do work to provide products and services.

Even low-tech workplaces are affected in several ways, including retail stores, food service, trades work like automotive or construction, and government functions like the US National Park Service or Washington State Ferry system. Business technology impacts looking for jobs, applying for them, interview preparation, hiring practices, on-the-job training, employee management, information controls, payroll and accounting, legal and regulatory needs, and tracking/delivering work product. The same goes for whether the workplace is in urban or rural settings, in big population centers or smaller municipalities. In public, private, nonprofit, or small business sectors, various functions are performed and/or impacted by business technology tools. One way or another, some aspect of the workplace is affected by:

• Business processes
• Customer interfacing
• Operational activities
• Product management

Business Technology-related Work

Is business technology itself a job? Yes and no. One of your best resources (in the United States) for looking at current needs, expectations, salaries, and prevalence of business technology-related work is in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.

In many jobs, much of one’s workload is impacted by and actually uses business technology tools and means. For instance, in automotive work, computing tools are needed for diagnostics of current vehicle models and parts. In the Department of Motor vehicles, data on licenses, vehicles, and driver records require business technology tools. Driving companies like those that manage trucking, limos, taxis, mass transit, and Uber-like services need customer-facing contact information and tracking of ratings, safety, completed jobs, etc. Law enforcement needs business technology to manage vehicular-related accidents and crime investigation. The insurance industry provides recompense for repairing and replacing vehicles; vehicle sales have to manage pricing, maintenance and ownership information, and regulation practices. Healthcare has to manage patient-facing care needs for vehicle-related accidents and malfunctions.

There are also a lot of business technology-related jobs, which fall into various areas dealing with hardware, software, processes, data, and research & development. Many require or recommend some kind(s) of certification. Positions can include (not an exhaustive list):

• Business Technology management
• Data Analysts
• Digital and Technology Coordinators
• IT Specialties
• Networking systems
• Robotics and AI
• Software Developers
• UX and UI design

Business technology at a more general level – office and administrative support – has now a number of expected and integrated tasks and is not necessarily listed as a business technology “job.” However, training and experience in business productivity programs for document processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, web editing, communications coordinating, and other administrative assistant-level work is also part of business technology.

Business Technology as an Education Major

Various colleges offer training, certificate, and degree programs in business technology-related work. An umbrella one would be called a variant of something like Business Applications Technology and might range in training in basic computing and digital systems, productivity and business software, data management and analysis, programming, and so on.

More specific business technology-related programs can focus on specific aspects of computing and digital technology with a business aim. There are many. Search engine results show these can include certificates and degrees titled like:

• Business Intelligence and Analytics
• Business and Information Systems
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Networking and Systems
• Computer Programming
• Cyber Security
• Health Information Management
• Information Technology and Support
• IT Management
• Technical Systems Management

ACTION: Quick Task

Assuming you are currently in school, list 5 (five) business technology computing processes that you consider directly affect you as a student. If you are instead self-studying and have a workplace, answer for that.

ACTION: Quick Task

In your own life, what aspect of business technology from the list below do you think affects you personally the most, and why? There is no right or wrong answer.

• Communications technology
• Computing hardware
• Computing software
• Customer-related data (financial, or health, or job-related)
• Information access and security

ACTION: Quick Task

Think of for very favorite eatery/restaurant. What are 5 (five) aspects of business technology that you think they must need to work with so they can best serve you?