Positive and Negative Effects of Technological Devices (Essay Sample)

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Positive and Negative Effects of Technological Devices and Software on Businesses
The business world today is composed of many technological devices. Today there are microprocessor based devices and software systems that are capable of performing various tasks such as bookkeeping, equipment and quality control and monitoring of operations among other functions. Many businesses are scaling up due to advancement in technology. However, these positive impacts come with their negative sides, as we illustrated in the essay. This essay discusses the positive and negative effects of technological devices and software as the primary means of business communication.
The use of technological devices and software reduce the costs of running a business while increasing the speed of accessing information. Today, mobile phones are used in business to relay information from one end to another. (Hill 112)This technology replaces the use of postage mails that take a lot of time to reach their destination. The cost of sending postage mails overseas is high compared to the cost of making an international call. Application of fiber optics in transmitting information in business has made it possible to transmit and relay large batches of information. Transmission can occur from a business headquarters to its branches, ultimately contributing to the effective management of a business, and thus the success of the business.
Software systems are accurate, efficient and improve productivity. Systems capable of performing financial accounting are in operation. These software systems are very quick, in that one needs only input the necessary data, and the software produces the desired results. Such software systems have made bookkeeping very easy given that in the past people did the calculations manually. The software systems are efficient in that they are have automated operations. Software systems for facilities management and process control improve efficiency in the production and service delivery, through careful quality monitoring of preset benchmarks while reducing wastages. With the virtual office concept, video conferencing facilities and the internet have enabled staff to work from various locations thereby eliminating the need for travel, ultimately improving productivity. (Attaran 584)
The major disadvantage of these systems stems from the substantial capital expenditure involved in their purchase and installation. The businesses incur additional costs that include; system maintenance costs, cost of electricity and the cost of internet facilities. The additional costs result in the shrinking of business profits. These systems are also prone to security threats from hacking, viruses and data loss due to equipment malfunctioning. Therefore, the business is forced to invest in antiviruses, firewalls and antispyware. Embracing these technologies cause staff to undergo retraining that may be tedious especially for the aging workforce, time-consuming and expensive. (Attaran 556) These systems also eliminat...