Introduction:
Technological convergence, also known as the convergence of technology, is a game-changing concept where unrelated entities come together in a single system to save space, time, and power. This phenomenon has revolutionized the way we use and interact with technology in our daily lives. As business owners, understanding and embracing technological convergence can provide a competitive advantage, improve customer service, and significantly reduce overhead costs.
What is an example of Technological Convergence?
Example of Technological Convergence: A prime example of technological convergence is the mobile phone. Originally designed for making calls, mobile phones now combine multiple technologies such as calling, texting, emailing, internet browsing, photography, and much more into one device. This convergence has led to a seamless user experience and simplified access to various services.
Telecommunications Convergence: Telecommunications convergence, also known as "network convergence," takes multiple communication services, like telephony and data, and integrates them into a single network. This convergence has transformed the telecommunications industry from a world of scarcity to one of seemingly limitless capacity, enabling businesses to communicate more effectively and efficiently.
To quote Wikipedia, “Telecommunications has changed from a world of scarcity to one of seemingly limitless capacity.“
How does Technological Convergence apply to a business?
Quite easily, in business, we all have customers. Customers who are busy and want information, service and results quicker than ever before.
Technology convergence allows us to service our customers, easier than ever before and whilst doing that we can significantly reduce our overheads.
Application of Technological Convergence in Business:
In today's fast-paced business environment, customers demand quick access to information, services, and results. Technological convergence empowers businesses to meet these expectations while streamlining operations and reducing overhead costs. Two essential technology convergence tools that can benefit business owners are Unified Communications and Chatbots.
Unified Communications
Unified Communications: Unified Communications (UC) combines various communication technologies into one application, ensuring seamless communication within the organisation and with customers and suppliers. UC allows businesses, especially small to medium-sized enterprises, to stay competitive by enhancing agility and responsiveness.
Unified Communications allows for a smoother communication path for customers, suppliers and staff. Unified Communications is really revolutionising the way businesses operate, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, it enables them to have an advantage over their larger competitors.
Chatbots
Chatbots are another form of technology convergence where they serve multiple functions such as automated conversation, sharing documents and instant messaging.
Chatbots exemplify technological convergence by serving multiple functions, including automated conversation, document sharing, and instant messaging. By implementing chatbots in their support functions, businesses can save time and offer customers immediate solutions to their queries. If the issue requires human intervention, the chatbot can seamlessly transfer the conversation to a real person via instant messaging.
Internet of Things
A perfect example of technological convergence is the Internet of Things (IoT.) Our dear old friend Wikipedia sums it up quite nicely; the Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to “…the internet working of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items – often referred to as Smart Devices or Connected Devices, which are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.”
The Impact of Internet of Things (IoT): The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a remarkable form of technological convergence, connecting physical devices, buildings, and vehicles through embedded electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity. In the workplace, IoT will become instrumental in optimizing workflows, enhancing productivity, and gathering data for predictive analytics.
Have you seen the references to controlled ‘smart’ homes? Controlling the heating and lighting in your home from a connected device such as your phone, so you don’t have to come home to a cold house or have to turn around at the start of a journey because you think you’ve left a light on. Smart fridges and appliances are becoming commonplace, Samsung has launched a WiFi-enabled model with its own built-in touch screen, so you can order your groceries from your fridge. Yep, that is technological convergence.
It is within the workplace that the IoT is going to make a huge difference in the way we go about our daily lives. Whether a factory, bank, office, you name it, the smart devices that connect to the IoT will become permanent fixtures.
The IoT will connect all aspects of your business, each ‘thing’ will be able to ‘talk’ to something, someone or somewhere else. Running low on ink? Your printer will automatically order more from the supplier. Are Internet speeds running low? Your router will let your provider know. With the IoT, everything you use and everything that is important to you and the way you work can, and more than likely will eventually be connected.
IoT in Business: The IoT is set to revolutionize businesses by connecting all aspects of operations. Devices and systems will communicate with each other, allowing for automated processes such as reordering supplies or notifying service providers of connectivity issues. Utilising IoT data, businesses can make informed decisions, track customer behaviour, identify trends, and respond rapidly to changing market demands.
Frost & Sullivan* has estimated that the IoT will grow to over 80 billion connected devices by the end of 2020.
Conclusion:
Technological convergence is a force to be reckoned with, enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Embracing Unified Communications, Chatbots, and the Internet of Things can enhance customer service, streamline operations, and drive business growth. As Frost & Sullivan estimates, the IoT is set to connect over 80 billion devices by 2020, making it clear that embracing technological convergence is no longer an option but a necessity for businesses aiming to stay ahead in the market.