With almost 30 million small businesses making up the majority of the US business scene (roughly 99% of it, actually), it’s no wonder every single one of them can and should do their absolute best to gain a competitive edge. In the modern era, that translates to utilizing your time more efficiently with the right project management platforms, automating marketing reporting every month, or implementing AI into your business operations to cut costs. It boils down to identifying the issues and finding the most effective way to resolve them.
It seems that tech-driven solutions are the most cost-effective and simplest ways to help your small business rise to the surface, and even more importantly, stay there for the long haul. The following are some of the tried and tested tech options you can utilize in your own attempt to improve your chances of success!
Time-tracking for better productivity
Most small business owners wear a myriad of hats until they consider their brand a stable entity. That often means taking up the role of an HR manager, social media guru, a marketing expert, and an account executive all at once. However, even if you’re experienced and qualified enough to fit into all of these roles, keep in mind that multitasking is a productivity-killer.
Utilize time-tracking tools that will give you a better insight into how you allocate your time throughout the day, and what changes you can make to become more productive over time.
CRM for stronger customer relationships
No matter how ingenious your brand may be, if you’re not in it for the sake of your customers, they’ll know and they’ll leave. Nurturing those relationships from day one with the right CRM software can help you build a loyal customer base, and ultimately expand and manage your business more efficiently. Most of them are designed to be used by entire teams, so that you can delegate tasks according to priority and still oversee the results on your own terms.
With all of your communication on record, you can use it to cross-sell and up-sell, increase your revenue in time, and improve how you and your newest team members communicate with any demanding customers.
Wi-Fi for seamless communication
Small businesses of all industries need to be online in order to connect with their audience, and stay active with their own branding efforts through content dissemination, regular client communication, and other initiatives. Such essential perks are ensured by the world’s most renowned providers that will supply you with a secure connection, limitless Wi-Fi access to all your employees, and a fast internet service for glitch-free communication, internal and external.
Additionally, internet access is vital so that you and your teams can conduct research on a regular basis that will help you stay on top of the latest business trends as well as your customer needs. You can also conduct online surveys, collect data, and stay in touch with your customers on a regular basis.
Chatbots for an improved experience
While your business is still in the growing stages, it’s vital to be there for your customers in order to establish trust, especially in the realm of ecommerce. Utilizing platforms such as Shopify can help brands make the most of their many features to ensure a superb experience for their users. That is why every professional Shopify agency includes the latest tech innovations such as chatbots to optimize user experience and ensure customer satisfaction at all times. Since you cannot possibly be present online at all times and personally reply to every customer query, you can utilize the latest AI advances in using chatbots to improve your customer satisfaction.
Studies have shown that over 80% of customers require assistance when they’re shopping, and the best way to provide help would be through chatbots. Designed to ask questions to understand why each customer is confused and easy to implement, chatbots are an excellent solution for small businesses in every industry.
Learn and share with cloud solutions
Modern businesses, however small, thrive with the help of diversification. What that means is that most contemporary brands work with remote clients, freelancers, and employees who can work from home as well. In order to enable such flexibility in collaboration, using cloud solutions such as Google Drive can help you work and exchange information seamlessly no matter where you are.
These solutions double as collaboration platforms where you can share access to certain documents, make changes and communicate on the spot, and share it with all relevant individuals on any particular project. Scaling your business with cloud is far simpler and more cost-effective than any other option, so more small businesses are using it to grow without breaking the bank.
Keep track of your budget
While we’re on the subject, your budget is a highly sensitive topic, especially when you are still not certain that your business will manage to flourish. In order to streamline your bookkeeping processes, ensure accuracy, and security, you can rely on accounting softwares to make it easier for you to focus on other relevant tasks.
That way, you’ll automate the process of payrolls, invoicing, and tax obligations, among other financially sensitive tasks, while you’ll always have the ability to oversee and make adjustments to the system. Then again, you can also use cash flow management software to stay on top of your daily financial capabilities.
Analyze your customers’ online behavior
In addition to internal tools that help improve your communication and operations in the company, every small business needs to be aware of the changing trends, customer preferences, and behavioral patterns of their users. This information is vital in determining the best marketing tactics moving forward, and assessing the most successful campaigns as well as communication methods you’ve already implemented. In a nutshell, you’ll know what your customers want, and what you should leave out in the future.
There are numerous analytics tools such as Google Analytics, with many handy capabilities to deliver insights into your customers’ behavior online. Use it to keep track of your mobile performance, conversion rates, keyword analysis and the like, and you’ll help your small business grow.
As competitive as the modern market may be, it’s up to you to maximize the listed tech means in order to succeed. Make sure you’re ready to learn and implement new tech solutions in addition to existing ones, and you will provide your business with everything it needs to remain truly competitive.
About the Author
Victor T. Miller, a Sydney-based business and marketing specialist who has expanded businesses over 5 years. I am a person who loves to inform people about the latest news in the marketing industry also as sharing tips and advice based on my professional experience and knowledge.
