Last Updated on Feb 25, 2020 by James W
If a business has been operating for many years, it can be difficult for them to change their ways. They might be comfortable with the processes they have in place, and the company is still generating a profit. Plus, any upgrade may put the business offline for longer than the owner is comfortable with.
However, technology is continuing to evolve at a fast pace. As equipment and software improves, so does the overall productivity for outlets that adapt to the current digital age. Yet while they advance and grow, businesses stuck in their ways will be left further and further behind.
To ensure this does not happen to you, here are four tips to bring your company into the digital age:
Automate your finances
If you stick with the traditional method of accounting, this could have a detrimental impact on your business. Not only is it time-consuming and a waste of precious resources, but it’s also open to harboring mistakes – the type that could come back to haunt you.
With specialist accounting software such as Xero, all of those negatives are quickly eliminated. Tasks can be automated, finances can be easily tracked, and you can manage bills with ease. With the Xero payments function, you can also accept receive payments directly from customers.
Mobile friendly
Mobile is an increasingly prevalent word in the digital sphere. This is for many reasons. Firstly, smartphones have overtaken desktops as the most popular way of getting online. As a result, your business website must be optimized and responsive for mobile devices.
With that said, this shouldn’t be the end of your mobile-centric work. For instance, you could create an app that is even more centralized around your company.
Communication is king
In this day and age, people expect instant responses. Whether it’s a text or social media post, the fact everyone is connected with their smartphone has made the world a more efficient – and impatient – one in terms of communication.
Due to this expectation, your customers will want prompt replies to their inquiries. This can be helped with automated emails and live chat. They will also seek the opportunity to talk on different platforms. For instance, businesses in recent years have utilized social media as a help and support channel.
Measure results
The ability to accurately measure the statistics of your business is one of the best reasons to go digital. After all, there are various ways in which you can track results. Take marketing as an example. If you were to use a traditional advertising method such as a billboard, it’s next to impossible to be able to track its performance precisely. With an online ad, however, you can analyze statistics such as how many impressions it made and the click-through rate.
Of course, that is only the start of what can be measured. You can track employee performance, shipping efficiency, projected profits, and so on. In the digital space, everything is measurable.
