4 Technology Trends that Your Business Should Not Ignore

In a world where technology is constantly evolving and reshaping the way we conduct business, it may be difficult to keep up with the changing times. To bridge that gap, the Huffington Post recently released a list of four key technology trends that aren't going away anytime soon. So let's dig in and see how these new ideas can benefit your small business.

1) The Cloud. This trend is becoming increasingly popular with businesses. The cloud enables you to store your information offsite. You have access to all the data from virtually anywhere in the world. The cloud may be a good alternative to hiring an IT team to handle your computer systems. With the cloud, you should also consider security. Many cloud services have security measures built in, so you can be sure your documents will remain safe.

2) Mobile Devices. More than one-fifth of worldwide payment transactions now occur on a mobile device, according to the Adyen Global Mobile Payments Index. If you don't have a mobile website, or yours isn't optimized to fit a smaller screen, you should consider making a change. You want your mobile website to be just as flexible and versatile as if someone were using a laptop or desktop to view it.

3) E-commerce. We’re nearing an era where every successful brand will make shopping from your smartphone as convenient (if not more) as going to an actual store. E-commerce retailers are constantly adding new features and applications to make the buying process easier and more streamlined for the user. Consider offering a loyalty program or having your website recognize previous shoppers. 

4) 3-D Printers. This is one of the newest trend on the list and they are becoming increasingly affordable. These printers will enable you to create more personalized products for your customers.

Are you using (or will you use) any of the above technologies?

New Feedback Feature on Square

Last week, Square introduced Square Feedback, a new feature that asks the customer to review their experience with the business. It simply asks "How was your experience?" The feedback is sent directly to the business owner. 

This new service is available for $10 per month and they are also offering a free 30-day trial. We should also mention that business owners can leave comments on the reviews, whether they are good or bad.  

Square credit and debit card readers made a splash into the small business scene in 2010 and have rapidly gained popularity. Square is a neat mobile payment device that small business owners can plug into their smartphones or tablets. The app portion sends the customer a email receipt of their purchase. Square takes a small percentage of the transaction as a fee.

We've talked a lot about customer reviews and how important they are to businesses. They have become part of everyday life for consumers. Through online reviews, it seems that consumers aren't afraid to tell you how they really feel. In our experience, it seems that people really do want to say nice things when their interaction with a business has been positive.

Image courtesy of Square

BBB Warning: Smart Phone Apps May Share Your Information

Smart phone apps can make life easier, putting dozens of useful tools in the palm of your hand. But BBB is warning consumers to make sure the apps they download don’t take more information than they need to do the job.

In a recent settlement by the Federal Trade Commission, the agency found that a flashlight app’s privacy policy had been deceiving users into sharing their geographic location and device information with advertising networks and other third parties. “Brightest Flashlight Free," developed by Goldenshores Technologies, LLC, is one of the most popular apps on Android mobile devices and has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

However, according to the FTC, the company's privacy policy told consumers that any information collected by the app would be used by the company, and listed some categories of information that it might collect, including geographic location. The privacy policy failed, however, to mention that this private information would be released to third parties. The complaint also involved the company collecting information as soon as users opened the app, even before accepting or refusing the terms of the privacy policy.

Goldenshores Technologies has agreed to settle the FTC charges. The settlement goes on to prohibit the company from misrepresenting how users' information is collected and shared and how much control users have over the way the information is shared. It also requires defendants to obtain consumers’ affirmative express consent before collecting, using and sharing information.

It’s not always easy to tell if an app is going to collect your information or how it will use it. BBB is urging

smart phone users to:

• Research companies and apps before downloading, including industry publications and user reviews;

• Read the full privacy policy (and, on Android phones, the “Permissions” screen);

• Opt out of location sharing when prompted;

• Periodically check all privacy settings on your smart phone and keep them set as high as you can without altering the functions of your apps (some apps, like maps and compasses, need geo-location information in order to work properly);

• Update your apps when a new version comes out (your phone should alert you); often app updates fix “bugs” from earlier versions;

• Delete apps you no longer use from your phone.

For information on apps for children, check out BBB’s Children’s Advertising Review Unit.

For more tips you can trust, visit bbb.org.

FTC Privacy Rules - What You Need to Know

Small businesses need to know what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is recommending in their report on consumer privacy about how customer personal information should be handled online and offline. 

Here are five points small businesses need to know about the FTC recommendations as U.S. data-privacy regulations evolve:

The report doesn't actually establish any rules. It does make recommendations to Congress for developing new consumer-privacy rules and offer best practices for businesses.

Some small businesses don’t need to worry. If you only collect “non-sensitive” consumer data and don’t share it with third parties, your business is exempt from the FTC guidelines. However, if you are collecting Social Security numbers and financial, health, children’s, and geo-location information, then take notice. Furthermore, if you collect any data from more than 5,000 customers each year, or if you share with third parties, following FTC best practices is recommended.

Common sense goes a long way. If you are practicing transparency and simplicity, you are doing well. Be upfront with customers about what information you collect and why. Keep privacy policies simple and easy to understand. Give customers a chance to opt out when applicable.

“Do Not Track” is coming. Web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox already have privacy tools that allow consumers the feature to limit data that is collected about them. The Digital Advertising Alliance has a tool for members, too.

Pay particular attention to mobile data. The FTC report says, “The unique features of the mobile phone which is highly personal, almost always on, and travels with the consumer have facilitated unprecedented levels of data collection.” As a result, expect more guidelines or regulatory requirements.

Be aware of what information is collected, what happens to it, and how the privacy policy is stated whether you are the business or consumer.