Small business owners embracing technology

Small business marketing has taken a turn toward technology lately, with more companies embracing new devices and software trends to increase revenue and save money.

According to USA Today, small businesses are beginning to use technology more to help their company operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. More companies are beginning to provide customers the opportunity to swipe their credit cards through smartphones.

A company called Isis, which is behind the mobile payment technology, has recently become more popular among small business owners. The new mobile payment system is expected to provide a marketing boost and the freedom from using expensive point-of-sale terminals and magnetic-stripe card readers.

Ebrahim Keshavarz, vice president of small-business management at AT&T, stated that small businesses are seeing a huge increase in companies being tested for new payment methods.

Small businesses, such as vendors that are on the move constantly, are finding the most use out of smartphone payments. According to a recent poll conducted by the National Retail Federation, about 50 percent of retailers stated that they will use a mobile device as a cash register within a year to 18 months, which is a significant increase compared to the 6 percent of businesses who use them now.

"The easier you can make it for people to spend money, the more likely they'll spend," said Michael Martinez of Ben White Florist, which has began using the mobile payment technology, USA Today reported. "Customers don't want to do business with companies that look outdated. And it makes us seem like we're on top of things,"

Martinez added that customers with smartphones that are technologically savvy enough to use the tools will initially be a small group, but the numbers will increase over time.

According to SmallBizTrends.com, Starbucks is also now offering an application on smartphones that provides consumers with an easier way to pay for their coffee, which could soon be adopted by small businesses looking to dive into technology to stay more competitive in growing markets.