Staying Ahead of the Pack with Tech: Advanced technology allows businesses to do more with less.

• Author: Anderson, Tom
• Position: TELECOM & TECH

Pew Research Center reported earlier this year that more than three-quarters of US adults (77 percent) own a smartphone, an increase of 35 percent compared to 2011. Approximately 84 percent of American households contain at least one smartphone, according to a fall 2016 Pew survey. For many, smartphones are a significant part of their online experience: 51 percent of adults use their phones for online purchases, and 12 percent of adults report being "smartphone-only" Internet users. At home 80 percent of US households have a desktop computer or laptop, and 68 percent of households have at least one electronic tablet--altogether 90 percent of US households report having at least one smartphone, desktop or laptop computer, tablet, or streaming media device.

Smart products and advanced technology are ubiquitous in the daily lives of the majority of people; in the corporate world, communication-based technology is not "nice to have," it's a requirement.

Business executives have their fair share of choices when it comes to new and cutting-edge technology. Apple operates a popular outlet in the 5th Avenue Mall in Anchorage for phones, tablets, computers, and anything and everything remotely related. National technology outlets such as Best Buy offer diverse inventory, while chains including Office Depot and Office Max serve business needs from stores scattered throughout the state. GCI, Verizon, and AT&T, among other telephony companies, operate offices and retail storefronts statewide, offering full lines of phones and accompanying devices and equipment.

Technology in the Advertising World

Mike Robbins has been in the advertising and communications industry in Alaska for more than thirty years. As the owner/president of Alaska Integrated Media, he oversees the operation of four radio stations and a staff of nineteen in Anchorage. Robbins is also the owner/CEO of The Robbins Agency, a full-service advertising and marketing firm operating in South central Alaska since 1991. His latest venture is T2W, a mobile marketing company.

"Staying current in technology is vital in all three of my businesses," says Robbins. "Between our three companies, and other business investments I'm involved with, we're employing over forty people. Across the spectrum of staff and employees, all of them rely on electronic tablets, computers, and a personal smartphone."

It can get expensive, Robbins says. He acknowledges that staying technologically current is integral to his annual budgeting and ultimate success. Cost, sophistication, and utility are part and parcel to his trade, so staying on the cutting-edge of technology in all three of his industries is a foundation of his business model. To do so, Robbins assigns staff members to monitor news and announcements on evolving equipment, gleaning information from manufacturers, consumer reports, or other reliable sources.

"In the realm of radio broadcasting, remote technology is imperative because we're often at off-site locations but still want in-studio sound quality," he says. "We're using the latest in software and attachments to our smartphones and tablets, primarily Apple manufactured, while our sales staff...