When starting a business, technology often plays a key role in helping you save time and manage your company more efficiently.
Here are a few tips and essential tools for entrepreneurs who are launching their business.
Laptop Computer
A laptop is essential for working from anywhere and responding to customers in real time.
If you’re still hesitating between the comfort of a desktop computer with multiple monitors and the flexibility of a laptop, keep in mind that a docking station can provide the best of both worlds. Simply connect your laptop and instantly gain access to your usual setup: keyboard, mouse, monitors, and other peripherals.
Prices range from a few dozen euros for relatively efficient equipment to several hundred euros for more advanced features.
Does Artificial Intelligence Influence Hardware Choices?
Artificial intelligence has become part of the daily routine of many businesses. Fortunately, most current AI applications run in the cloud and do not require an especially powerful computer.
However, choosing a recent computer with sufficient RAM is recommended to maintain good performance over several years and benefit from future AI-powered assistants such as Microsoft Copilot and similar tools.
Investing in a slightly more powerful machine from the start can often help avoid replacing it prematurely.
Hardware is only part of the equation. The right tools and the right methods often help avoid many mistakes from the beginning.
Let’s discuss your situation and find a practical solution together.
Printer
Despite the growing digitization of documents, a printer remains useful in many professional activities. Contracts, work reports, quotations, and administrative documents still frequently need to be printed or scanned.
To reduce the environmental impact and ongoing cost of ink cartridges, tank-based printers have become an excellent alternative. Their purchase price is often higher, but they quickly become much more economical in daily use.
For mobile professionals who occasionally need to print documents on the go, portable USB-powered printers are also available. They can be particularly useful when updating a quotation directly in front of a client and obtaining a signature immediately.
Smartphone
Smartphones have become true mobile workstations. Email, video conferencing, electronic signatures, multi-factor authentication, artificial intelligence, and document management can now all be handled directly from a phone.
Your choice should therefore depend on your activity:
- A high-quality camera for publishing listings or project photos
- Long battery life for working all day on-site
- Fast document scanning for sharing paperwork without delay
- Reliable connectivity for remote work and communication
The question often arises whether you should carry a second phone to separate personal and professional life. However, beyond the inconvenience of carrying two devices, it also creates additional challenges: which phone should connect to your vehicle’s hands-free system, which one should be charged first, and so on.
So what is the best solution? In many cases, a single smartphone is all you need.
Virtual Phone Number Service
We recommend using a virtual phone number service to obtain a professional phone number while keeping your existing smartphone.
Services such as OnOff
allow you to obtain a second phone number for just a few euros per month. You can often choose from multiple available numbers, sometimes even selecting meaningful digits such as your birth year.
An additional advantage is number portability. You can keep this number for as long as you wish and even transfer it to another telecom provider if necessary.
Using a dedicated mobile application, you can manage two phone numbers from the same device, eliminating problems related to Bluetooth connections or vehicle hands-free systems.
What Happens to My WhatsApp?
With a second number on the same phone, switching easily between WhatsApp accounts can seem difficult.
Fortunately, the solution is simple: install Whatsapp Business.
This dedicated application can be linked to your professional phone number while your personal number continues to use the standard WhatsApp app.
WhatsApp Business also allows you to display:
- Your business information
- Opening hours
- Contact details
- Products or services
making it easier for future customers to interact with your company.
Summary
IT equipment represents only part of the equation. A reliable laptop, a suitable smartphone, and a few carefully selected services can help you start your business efficiently.
Combined with management software, backup solutions, and modern collaboration tools, they form the digital foundations of your business.
The goal is not to own the most expensive equipment available, but to invest in reliable, scalable tools that match your actual needs.
Laptop, smartphone, backups, Microsoft 365, security… tell me about your business and let’s identify what is actually worth investing in.
