Why are Computer Applications Important for Business?

Computers and adapting to the digital age have become a must-have for businesses of almost all sizes. Thanks to the rapid expansion of technology and the introduction of computer applications in businesses. Most important business functions such as banking, finance, team communication and management, data storage, and even business automation. In India, over the last 35 years, companies have begun to realise how important computer applications for business are for driving business growth. That is how the importance of online computer application certificate courses has risen over time.

Some people might be under the impression that only those who have graduated in this field and hold major degrees like Bachelors in Computer Application, can have the desired skill sets. However, it is not true and definitely not limited to holding a fancy degree. In the present time, one can find a number of computer application in business with computer applications certificates while surfing the internet like computer applications certificate courses in System Administration, computer applications certificate courses in Oracle DBA, and many more with basic 10+2 eligibility because these skills have now become a necessity. The article has been complied to understand what is computer application in business organisations.

Why are Computer Applications Important for Business?

So, what exactly is it that makes these computers the life support of any business, big or small? Careers360 provides you with a detailed Introduction to computer applications in Business with the following points.

Communication: All the more reasons why there are a number of computer courses available for people, both online computer application course and offline computer application course, to elevate their skills from the comfort of home as it is a must in almost all types of businesses and work today. This states the importance of computer application in communicating with other when one is working from any other location in the world.

All formal communication, whether it’s internal or external, takes place over email, which is done through computers. Some may argue that it can be done through a mobile phone as well but isn’t a phone essentially just a mini computer? Not just emails; today, even meetings and conferences take place on computers. Using communication technology allows businesses to be quicker and more efficient, and this is why we see the importance of computer in business.

Social media is also a big factor in communication - a business that doesn’t communicate with its audience cannot be successful. Almost every brand and every company has a social media account, whether it is on just one platform or all of them. Again, social media requires the use of computers.

Data Management: Manually entering data and managing it, like client accounts and inventory, among other things, is extremely time-consuming. Constantly flipping pages just to realize that what you’re looking for is in some other file - it gets extremely tedious. However, there are several Computer Applications for Business and software for data management where all your stuff stays in the same place and can be found with just a couple of clicks.

Different kinds of data have different kinds of software for them which helps you stay organized. Data management not only includes inventory management and client information but also employee databases, and keeps track of orders and even money. This makes data management a very crucial and important ongoing process for any business. Using software like Tally and Excel, businesses can easily keep track of a variety of different databases without hiring people to manage each database. This in turn helps the company be more efficient and make more profits.

Computers also offer a better work ecosystem which makes it more convenient for different departments to check and keep a tab of data and progress made by other departments which helps the whole company or business stay in constant touch.

Research: Imagine you are doing a Ph.D. in Computer Application. Now, why waste time going through large, possibly outdated books when you can simply find all that you need on the internet, fresh and constantly updating? Research can include a lot of stuff like industry trends, patents, trademarks, potential clients, and competitors via search engines and proprietary databases. Research is crucial as it is the first step a business takes before anything else, from manufacturing to competitive analysis to business expansion. Computer application in business can also help with their research and development programs and help them develop and manufacture better products by analyzing not only their previous versions and their performance in the market but also analyzing competitors and running various simulations which help them save important money, which they can utilize in further development and research.

The computer simulation and operational research also help researchers monitor various aspects all at once which, again, saves valuable time. Companies like Folding are also using crowd sourced computing to develop and propel the research around Covid-19 and various other diseases, forward. This method of saving time, and money and using connectivity and crowd commuting can help businesses expand fast. Another example is Tesla’s AI-powered vehicles where, instead of monthly mechanical visits, the vehicle improves and corrects itself using software updates - this not only helps the company monitor its vehicles but also provides a better user experience to the consumer. Combining computing power with the connectivity of the internet gives businesses and their research and development a very good base to start from, instead of trial and error, which can lead to a lot of wasted money and time.

Finance: In today’s time, most companies forego cash transactions and solely depend on their bank accounts instead. Cheques are also used very little these days as everyone relies on online transactions and money management. Online bank transfers are the norm now, as they are considered safer than cash and cheques. However, this cannot be made possible with a computer as it is online.

Blockchain can also help with faster and cheaper payment options. Computer application in business is especially beneficial for international transactions as the transaction fees are very low. It is also safe and keeps track of all the transactions

Finance also includes keeping track of the company’s budget, expenditures, investments, and returns, as well as the profits or losses the company is making. Again, there are several applications available for each of these activities that can also be linked directly to the company’s bank account to automatically keep track of the in-flow and out-flow.

All of the above-mentioned details used to be noted in files and diaries, which is an extremely strenuous task, especially if it’s a big business. Since the money is coming in and out constantly, it may be a challenge to manually make a note of everything, and there also may be a chance for a transaction to be missed. However, after changing a few settings, a computer can automatically register these transactions and keep a record of everything without any errors.

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Stakeholders: Stakeholders are all the people who contribute to the success or failure of a business. They can include consumers, business partners, investors, employees, and even competitors. It’s always essential to listen to the stakeholders’ feedback or concerns and address them immediately. This kind of speedy service can only be achieved with technology. If the business is an e-commerce platform, for example, and a customer has a question he/she needs answered before purchasing a product, someone must always be available to effectively answer that question. This will also ensure a faster purchase, resulting in faster income.

If a competitor has released a product or a campaign that is boosting their sales, one would want to immediately review it and come up with something similar or better to keep their current customers from switching brands or investors from pulling out their investments. This is possible if a computer is handy nearby. The longer you will take to react, the more money your competitor will make.

Computers allow both the business and its employees to be flexible in how they work. Earlier, the employees had to be physically present at the office to be productive. However, with technology, even if they are homesick, they can just do their job from home. This has also allowed businesses to outsource a lot of work from other companies and individuals, like an advertising or PR firm, or even freelance workers.

Manufacturing: Manufacturing is a very important aspect of running a business, especially if it is a product-centric one. This is how companies create what they will sell, and without the product, there is no business. Manufacturing changed forever when, in 1913, Henry Ford introduced the world to Assembly Lines. Assembly lines made the whole process of manufacturing goods faster, cheaper, and more streamlined. Gradually, other industries also adopted the assembly line approach and, now, after a century it has changed drastically. Robots controlled by computers make the process even more faster and efficient. These computer-controlled robots are present at every step of the manufacturing process, doing all sorts of tasks - from basic lifting to intricate detailed work, and even packaging.

This flexibility and ease of use, combined with the fact that the businesses running these assembly lines could run them for a much longer duration, results in more products in less time. But time and money is not the only important improvement. These robots also reduce human error, which impacts the quality of the product. Computers don’t get tired and are more accurate, resulting in a more uniform manufacturing process. A better quality product that a company can not only manufacture in less time but also more efficiently, is all thanks to the computers and their use in the manufacturing process. This is the importance of computer in businesses worldwide.

Small Businesses: Computers have also enabled small businesses, which cannot hire a lot of people, to do a variety of tasks. This is where technology shines. Since it is so cost-effective and has a variety of features, it helps small businesses focus on delivering the goods or services without worrying about spending a lot of money on tasks that would otherwise cost a lot. Thanks to social media and free graphic designing software, a great marketing campaign is only just one good idea away - barely any money is required.

Specialised programs and software allow small business owners to do a particular task on their own, rather than hiring another person. For example, there is a lot of free and easy-to-use website designing software with ready-to-edit templates that can make a great website - this eradicates the need for a separate website designer.

User Experience: Computers have not only improved businesses with their efficiency, variety, and value but have also helped consumers. A very integral part of running a business is connecting with the customer, and computers have made it easy for customers to connect with businesses, and vice versa. With the internet, our world has become a much smaller place, It is easy and convenient to do international business, look and read about a company, visit their website, page, or online store, and do business with them without stepping outside. A renowned Indian company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is providing certified computer applications for business free of cost. This gives the customers a much better experience and a wide variety of choices, but it also helps the business connect with more customers, helping them expand their business and not being limited by factors like geographical location, thus, a win-win situation for both.

Consumers also get a better insight and can form a much better connection and relationship with the business. It also helps businesses to connect with other businesses for symbiotic growth. Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are perfect examples of this.

The most crucial point is that computers have become an integral part of every step of a business, and have streamlined the process, and even improved it from research and development to manufacturing, to packaging and delivery, and even after sales and communication with consumers. Computers have improved all these steps and made the whole process a lot more efficient.

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Conclusion

Computers have also opened a lot of avenues and new business opportunities for a lot of people and businesses. Not only hardware sales, but also software development has been pushed and improved, and businesses have gained a lot of profit thanks to this new emerging market. Companies like Microsoft and Amazon exist, thanks to the existence of computers. Not just that, computers have made it easier for people to gather the skills they need for handling computers in workplaces and getting the best out of them. You don’t have to necessarily spend years doing BCA Computer Application or MCA (Master of Computer Application) but simply go for online computer certification courses and computer application courses which will efficiently hone your computer skills, thanks to computers. We hope that after reading this article, the candidates have understood the importance of computer application in business.