As a result of the global pandemic and rapid advancements in technology, consumers are now more connected than ever—and businesses have had to pivot to meet their changing expectations. Case in point: The IDC forecasts worldwide digital transformation investments to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026. For small and micro businesses with limited budgets, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Here are some top tips to help you bridge the digital gap between you and your customers to stay ahead of the competition:
Know Your Customers
Understanding your customers is key—ask them over lunch or in a short survey what technologies they’re using and what they’d like to see from their partners. Base any transformation on your customers’ digital adoption and align your goals with your customers’ needs. This will help you to focus your efforts and provide value.
Have a Clear Vision
Take time to establish a clear vision for your digital transformation (or refresh) with set goals and objectives. Depending on your size, try to come up with these as a team to support company wide buy-in. Make sure these goals and objectives are aligned with your overall strategy.
Empower Your Team
As with any change, it’s always important to remember to provide ample training and support to team members. Be sure your team has the capabilities to use new digital tools by giving them access to training and resources to help them feel confident and empowered.
Embrace New Advances
As technology continues to advance, embrace these developments and changes as tools that can help your business improve. For example, many cutting-edge technologies can be embedded within business processes for greater efficiency, especially when it comes to automated tasks. Leverage tools to streamline processes and ultimately work smarter for your customers.