Happy 2023
Here are five things in technology that happened in the past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 – Microsoft Excel finally makes formulas smarter and easier.
Microsoft Excel recently unveiled several updates that should make using formulas more efficient and convenient. The updates are aimed at web users and include formula suggestions based on contextual data, formula by example similar to autocomplete, a tool that can identify broken links in cloud workbooks, and the ability to include images in cells. (Source: technical radar)
Why this is important for your business:
When was the last time you paid for Excel training for your staff? With all the changes Microsoft has made – and some to come – I think it’s worth spending a thousand or two and hiring an Excel specialist to spend a few hours with your users spend – both general and power – to not only get them started to speed up the latest features, but to answer any questions you may have.
2 – These are the best PC hardware and software of 2022 and 2023.
Editors of the tech website PC World recently shared their picks for the best PC hardware and software for this year and next. Top picks are the Dell XPS 13 for its thin build, the Intel Core i9-13900K for the best high-end CPU, the Adata Legend 960 for the best SSD, Norton 360 Deluxe as the best antivirus software, the Asus ProART PA348CG as the best monitor and ExpressVPN as the best VPN. You can read all the choices here. (Source: computer world)
Why this is important for your business:
Thanks @BradChacos for this fantastic list. We’re buying new laptops and hubs this year, so it couldn’t have come at a better time.
3 – The key retail technology trends of 2022 tell a story of change.
Retail technology has undergone significant developments in the past year. The trends that will change retail in 2022 include unattended retail with cashless technology, payment choice, AR/VR fitting technology like Amazon Fashion, mobile-assisted shopping, resale product authentication, all-in-one super apps and more. (Source: Pymnes)
Why this is important for your business:
Another great list for anyone in retail. For smaller stores, I’d look for unmanaged shopping and payment choices. The rest of the items will also affect smaller businesses, but will likely take longer to take effect.
4 – These are the best home technologies of 2022 and 2023.
PC World staff shared their picks for the best work-from-home technology from last year and what to look out for in 2023. Top picks include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 as the best work-from-home laptop, the Logitech C920e as the best business webcam for working from home, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 as the best Chromebook for working from home and the iDrive Online Cloud Backup as the best online backup service. You read about all the choices here. (Source: computer world)
Why this is important for your business:
Another helpful “best of” from PC World for all of us who have remote workers, including some of the items from their best hardware and software list above. The more we invest in such good technology, the more productive they will be.
5 – Here’s what to expect from AI in 2023.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen both good and bad in the past year, from art-generating models that stimulate creativity to deep fakes that allow bad actors to spread lies. According to tech site Tech Crunch, we can expect more problems in 2023 from the use of art-generating apps, regulations for AI and uncertainty when it comes to investing in AI companies. (Source: Tech Crunch)
Why this is important for your business:
Regulation and decentralization will continue to push AI platforms forward. I will keep an eye on anything that affects small businesses. For the time being, the industry (and technology) continues to develop at a rapid pace.
