(Late to the party or need a refresher? Check out parts one and two.)

If you’re confident that a tech investment will drive real results, and you’ve identified ways to keep your business secure as you grow, then it’s time to take steps to bring your security and innovation plans together. 

Start small and strategically 

Once you’ve landed on a solution and determined that it makes financial and operational sense, it’s time to test the technology in question. Start with small projects or quick wins that are fast and easy to implement and simple to measure.  

To minimize risk and inspire internal champions, consider building on what you already do well, rather than completely changing things. Try a new scheduling tool with one team or department to see how it’s received and what it simplifies. Or roll out a digital payment option at one location to evaluate its impact on customer experience (and see how employees respond to it). You could also consider tackling a specific pain point that will solve a frequent customer problem or help teams get more work done faster. 

Measure performance and reassess 

Set clear goals and metrics for your pilot project and collect feedback along the way to understand what’s working and what isn’t. You can use that information to refine your implementation strategy moving forward. 

If your first project delivers positive results, use that as your cue to gradually expand the technology to other departments or locations. To make sure success continues, keep track of outcomes and refine processes accordingly.  

With a smart rollout, the early adopters who experience the benefits of the new technology firsthand will become advocates for broader adoption across the business. In other words, they can help get other team members excited about the change by sharing their experiences, offering help, and giving them tips to get started. This helps cultivate positivity and smooths the path to progress. 

Keep tracking and optimizing 

As you roll out the new solution across the business, be sure to refer to the goals you set at the beginning of the journey and continue monitoring metrics that offer insight into performance. Ask questions like: 

  • Is the technology leading to improvements in the right areas (fewer errors, better customer engagement, etc.)? 
  • Is the technology saving time and reducing costs compared to how things were previously handled? 
  • Is the technology easy to use, or do employees need additional training? 
  • How has customer feedback changed since the technology was implemented? 
  • Are the initial goals being met? What barriers are in the way? 

This will help you measure progress, pinpoint what’s working (and what’s not), and make informed decisions about whether to continue scaling the technology or roll it back. Yep, I said it—if a technology is just not working for your business, don’t be afraid to scrap it, take it as a lesson learned, and try something new. It’ll likely be less expensive in the long run than continuously finding workarounds and bolt-on solutions to make the new tool “work.” 

The truth is that innovation plans can, do, and should change. So you’ll need to review and adjust your tech strategy regularly as your business, the economy, your customers, and emerging solutions change. This means: 

  • Assessing your current hardware, software, and digital tools to identify outdated systems and inefficiencies  
  • Talking to staff about how current systems are working for them 
  • Identifying any operational bottlenecks that have emerged as your business has grown or processes have changed 
  • Ensuring that your technology is still supporting your business objectives as they change 
  • Watching for areas where current technology is falling short of expectations 

This can help you stay ahead of new risks and capitalize on new opportunities, all while safeguarding your business. 

Innovation that moves your business forward 

The key to successful innovation for a small business isn’t chasing the latest trends to keep up. It’s about making smart, strategic choices that address customer needs and move your organization forward while ensuring secure operations.  

By prioritizing security as you focusing on technology investments that show a real return, your small businesses can grow in a way that strengthens customer loyalty, improves efficiency, and creates new opportunities. 

So, as you build your technology plan, don’t sacrifice security for growth or vice versa. Choosing purpose-built solutions and considering IT infrastructure from the start can help you protect your business, your people, and your customers while you deploy new technology. 

Remember, the best innovations aren’t about dramatic change or reinventing the wheel. They build on what you do well, helping you stand out in a crowded market while creating new paths for growth—without putting your business or customer data at risk. 

Learn how a comprehensive connectivity solution can help keep your business running smoothly.