The world has come very far thanks to technological advancement and knowledge development. All aspects of life have improved significantly including the way we day business. A few decades ago, it took almost a month to reach another person abroad by writing letters; and correspondence was very slow. Today, you can reach all clients, suppliers, and potential customers through email or social media with just a click of a mouse. Companies can also outsource certain aspects of their business to virtual assistants and receive real-time deliveries through technology.
The digital transformation is not limited to a few sectors, but all, from construction to the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry has seen significant changes in drilling wells and the lifting of fluid. Today, they can efficiently lift fluid from wellbores using electric submersible pumps or surface pumping techniques, which are also cost-effective. In the health sector, healthcare providers can easily diagnose diseases and prescribe medicines with ease using technology.
This means utilizing technology can help in efficient business management and development. Here are some effective ways to get the best out of technology when running a business.
Reach more customers
One of the main goals of every business, small or large, is to reach more clients, achieve sales targets, and expand. You can achieve this through digital marketing. Previously, businesses relied on traditional media including Tv and newspaper adverts to reach their target audience. This has, however, changed with the inception of social media and other digital platforms.
Efficient utilization of social media platforms helps businesses to reach thousands of customers and potential ones. It starts with creating a business page on any of the popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn among others. Build an attractive business profile that reflects the goals, objectives, location, and activities of the business. Afterward, you can run paid adverts and campaigns to reach targeted audiences globally. It is best to hire a professional social media manager to coordinate your activities on the platforms.
Another way is to set up online stores on eCommerce sites like Amazon, Aliexpress, eBay, Shopify, etc., where you can sell your products and services. Emailing marketing is also an effective way to reach your audience.
Data storage
Data is critical in the development of every business. Through data analysis, businesses can improve customer relations and develop tailored measures to address challenges. As a business owner or large company, you will deal with varied volumes of data; being business files, and customer records, among others. With data being the new gold mine, you can’t afford to lose or have anyone temper with them. So, you will need a secure environment to store them for future retrieval.
Technology has made this simple with cloud storage. Cloud storage hosts provide businesses and individuals the environment to store data and files on the internet which can be assessed anywhere provided there is an internet connection. You can choose from any of the cloud storage providers, iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. Most of these providers have free and paid services depending on your storage needs.
Improve communication
How well are your workers communicating at the workplace? Do they need to move from one office to the other so send a message across? What about communicating with customers, suppliers, and partners? Creating better communication channels (internal and external) is another important ingredient for business success and growth.
Aside from employing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to improve office-to-office and other internal and external communication over the internet, businesses can also rely on various software and apps. For example, field workers can use Telegram or WhatsApp group messages to share ideas, videos, and photos, and communicate vital information. For conferences, companies can utilize video conferencing apps like Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Companies can also organize virtual meetings among workers using technology to save logistics, time, and money.
The same methods can be used in reaching out to business partners, suppliers, and clients. The choice of communication channel should suit the company’s size and purpose.
Customer service and relations management
Customers are the backbone of every business. Without them, you are out. You should therefore prioritize their needs, meet demands, and ensure customer satisfaction, to maintain their loyalty. To achieve this, you need better customer service and relations management.
With an efficient customer relation management (CRM) tool businesses can analyze customers’ data and activities, and mount strategies aimed at improving customer service and retention. A successful CRM help:
- Businesses to have insight about customers’ activities through previous and current purchases.
- Sales reps and customer support teams to provide better service.
- Send emails and marketing campaigns relevant to the customer
You can utilize any efficient CRM tool including Mailchimp, Salesforce Sales Cloud, HubSpot, Zoho, and Freshsales, for improved customer relations.
Conclusion
Modern ways of doing business don’t permit the snail pace manual processes used previously, because customers always want more and improved services. Businesses should therefore find tailored tech solutions to address the shortfalls within their operations. Tech is evolving daily, and your business should match the pace for the needed development and success.