The year was 1991. The nation’s movie lovers flocked to see Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear (and after demanding their money back, took in The Silence of the Lambs). In pop music, C&C Music Factory promised to make us sweat, Madonna pledged to justify her love, and Bonnie Raitt gave us all something to talk about. In the IT world, Linus Torvalds (no, not the guy from Peanuts sitting alone in a pumpkin patch) launched the Linux operating system kernel, while Bill Gates and friends released MS-DOS 5.0. And something else happened in 1991 that changed, well, everything: the first web browser was introduced.
This momentous occasion didn’t exactly send ripples through the business community; rather, it was met with a collective shrug. The idea of engaging customers online or handling transactions via the web seemed far-fetched, a figment of the imagination. After all, who could possibly replace the reliability of the Yellow Pages?
Fast forward thirty-plus years and the web has transformed from a novelty into an absolute necessity within the business landscape. Today, a website is no longer an optional accessory; it’s an essential component of a successful business strategy. In fact, an entire industry has sprung up around monitoring website uptime, ensuring that any downtime, even for just a few moments, is addressed swiftly. What was once met with indifference has become an indispensable tool.
As we navigate through the third decade of the millennium, it’s worth reflecting on five key business technologies that, like the web in its early days, were initially overlooked but have now emerged as vital instruments for companies of all sizes and sectors.
1. Cellular Internet Backup Devices
In an era where remote work and uninterrupted connectivity are paramount, cellular internet backup devices have become vital. With the rise of 5G technology, these devices can now provide faster, more reliable internet access, ensuring that businesses maintain productivity even during ISP outages. According to recent studies, businesses lose about $5,600 per minute during downtime, making these devices a smart investment. Instead of staff crawling under their desks waiting for the zombies to take over, they keep working without skipping a beat (or an email).
Before implementing new digital tools or cloud-based systems, it’s a smart move to first check internet availability by address at your business location. This helps ensure that your network infrastructure can support essential services without bottlenecks or unexpected disruptions.
2. Sophisticated, Fast, and Mobile-Friendly Websites
A strong online presence is more critical than ever. As of 2025, over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, highlighting the need for websites that are not only fast but also optimized for mobile viewing. Businesses with well-designed, user-friendly websites see a 50% increase in engagement and conversion rates compared to those with outdated designs.
3. On-Demand Customer Touchpoint Technologies
Customers today expect immediate responses. Recent surveys indicate that 75% of consumers prefer communicating with businesses through channels like live chat, SMS, and social media over traditional email. Companies that leverage these on-demand touchpoints see significantly higher customer satisfaction and retention rates.
4. SaaS Accounting and CRM Platforms
Let’s tip our hats to a couple of SaaS solutions that have totally changed the game for all The shift to cloud-based SaaS solutions has transformed how businesses manage finances and customer relationships. With the global SaaS market expected to reach $600 billion by 2025, organizations utilizing these platforms report increased efficiency and a 20-30% reduction in operational costs. Features like automated invoicing and customer insights from AI-driven CRMs are becoming indispensable.
5. Hosted VoIP Phone Systems
In the old days — back before smartphones roamed the earth and desktop computers actually did occupy an entire desktop — businesses were forced to purchase big, bloated, and very expensive phone systems that lived in a temperature-controlled forbidden closet somewhere in the back of the office. Adding new lines was time-consuming and costly, and ongoing maintenance was an exercise in ongoing frustration.
Hosted VoIP systems continue to dominate the communication landscape. As of 2025, nearly 70% of U.S. businesses have switched to VoIP services. With advancements in technology, these systems now offer features like AI call analytics and seamless integrations with other cloud applications, enhancing productivity and collaboration. The CAGR for VoIP services is projected to exceed 15% through 2028, underscoring its vital role in modern business operations.
The Bottom Line
In different ways, each of the technologies described above help businesses cut costs, improve customer service, increase competitive advantage, generate sales, enhance flexibility, drive innovation and reduce risk. In light of this, the question for businesses that don’t have all of them in their ecosystem isn’t “do we need these?”, but rather “how do we get these as quickly as possible?”