Regardless of the industry that a business is in, the primary goal of any entrepreneur is always growth. Today, however, the biggest challenge is to figure out a feasible and cost-efficient way to further develop this.
One mainstream approach that businesses have been adapting is the integration of technology into their day to day operations. This has not only shown a significant improvement in scalability, but also reduced operational costs, improved production outputs, and streamlined processes.
While there are notable advantages to the use of technology, countless companies still wonder how tech can be truly beneficial in growing a business.
An Easy Entry Intro to Tech Integration
Most business owners are undeniably reluctant to implement any technological advancement into their company. There’s something about technology that’s incredibly intimidating to someone who’s not in the field. Take it from someone who used to think the same, technology is a crucial addition to any business, especially in this day and age.
In fact, over 80% of entrepreneurs who have switched to tech integrations will attest to the benefits it has provided them. This leads to the question: How does one use technology to build the reach of their brand?
Make it Mobile
Millennials are the leading users of mobile devices. Thus, it’s only logical to do as they do, and that means making your business mobile-friendly. What does this entail?
Let’s say that you spent time, effort, and money on building a gorgeous website. Is the site designed for both desktop and mobile use? Does it appear just as beautiful on a phone as it does on a computer?
If your answer is no, then it’s high time you consider turning the site into a mobile-friendly one. Doing so will boost user experience and your SERP rankings. Additionally, you can implement the following small changes to benefit from the age of e-commerce:
- Keep font sizes in check
- Use only high-resolution images
- Have a theme that is responsive
- Include viewport meta tags
- Update the speed of the site
- Use seamless and streamlined page navigation
Social Media is Your Friend
Since its inception in 2004, Facebook has become one of the leading social media sites on the internet. Much has happened since its launch and it’s now evident that social media has both changed the way that companies are developing and how they’re implementing growth strategies for their businesses.
Don’t be fooled, Facebook isn’t the only social media giant out there for you to use. Other sites like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok are just as effective in growing the reach of your business.
After all, social media sites are gold mines that marketers can use to their advantage. All you need to do is to ensure that your business is tapping into the right target audience, whilst maintaining engagement with your current one. The first step to building a compelling presence on social media is to boost your brand’s visibility online. Make sure that your customers are aware that your business is live on social media.
Next, you need to use these platforms to your advantage by leveraging them for marketing promotions and campaigns. Through social media, your company can:
- Connect with customers
- Engage with influencers
- Promote the products and services you offer
- Convert visitors into new customers
- Provide better customer support
- Share actionable content
Cloud Computing is Something you Must Leverage
A while back, most businesses would have utilized applications and programs that had to be downloaded to their computer in order to complete tasks. This modality is now outdated and quite inefficient.
The introduction of cloud technology has taken things several notches higher for businesses. If you’re looking to establish a stronger strategy for the growth of your business, your top choice should be cloud technology. How does cloud computing technology work, you might ask?
It’s simple. Let’s say you go on your phone and check your bank balance online, or you share documents through Dropbox or Google Drive—these are both perfect examples of cloud computing. Cloud computing allows you to manage your daily business operations anytime, anywhere, and using any device you wish. More importantly, the cloud eliminates the need to have servers on your premise, and your cloud provider is in charge of keeping it updated and managed, leaving you free to focus your attention on your growing business.
When Bigger is Better
With everything and everyone going digital, there’s an endless amount of data sources that you can mine to grow and streamline the business. Companies are getting no less than terabytes of data from mobile and web media sources, operational tools, customer support channels, and transactional systems.
One prime example of data usage is Facebook’s recommendation system, which is based on user algorithms. This strategy gives users an experience that is personalized. Data analytics are now crucial to businesses that are looking to grow with the technological times. It gives brands a chance to better understand their consumer base, improve their performance, and provide unbeatable customer service.
Productivity Tools for the Win
It’s not enough for a business to be simply effective. A good balance that involves maximizing efficiency through the use of productivity tools can help strengthen business strategies. The ability to get more than one task completed in less time is good for business.
The progress and performance of a company can be determined based on its productivity levels. Improved business productivity is a continuing strategic enterprise that subsidizes the overall growth of a company. The millennial workforce of today demands access to productivity tools that highlight the newest technologies.
Popular examples of productivity tools are Stay Focused, Google Drive, Slack, Prodycteev, Wunderlist, and MiniNote.
Go With a POS System
We get it, your old and reliable cash register has been through all of the good days and the bad days with you. After all, calculating transactions manually would have been difficult if not for your register.
Nevertheless, what the traditional register can do is no longer enough to keep up with the performance and efficiency that POS solutions can provide. Not only are they easy to use, but POS systems are also loaded with features like staff and inventory management, customer data collection, and task automation, to name a few examples.
POS systems are not only affordable register solutions for businesses, but they’re also easy to use and can streamline processes that would otherwise be taxing to do on a regular cash register.
Accounting Softwares to Keep Your Books in Check
It’s pretty standard for a company to have an in-house bookkeeper or accountant on their payroll. Having accounting software to help you best understand your business’s financial fundamentals won’t hurt either. More importantly, having accounting software can help you determine the efficacy of your business growth strategies through your performance levels.
Assess your financial state at any given time just by checking the software’s reporting feature. Analyze precise data that you can use in order to make informed business decisions. Moreover, instantly get your taxes in order without having to wait for your accountant to go through your books. Streamline your finances with just a few simple clicks.
Non-Tech Entrepreneurs Making Waves in Tech
Sometimes injecting technology into your business doesn’t end in the use of tools and applications. Sometimes, it means moving from a non-tech based industry to suddenly making it big in one. Here are a few famous names who ended up making waves in the tech industry.
Brian Chesky
The biggest home-sharing site, Airbnb, owes its success to founder Brian Chesky. Once an industrial designer at an LA firm, he is now a billionaire and boss of his own company.
Evan Sharp
Co-founder of one of the largest image sharing sites online, Evan Sharp was no techie. In fact, his roots are in architecture and he even has a BA in History from the University of Chicago.
Perri Gorman Chases
Thanks to the help of her techie friends, Perri Gorman managed to get her email unsubscription service up and running. She’s now one of the brains behind Unroll.me. It was through her efforts to communicate with engineers and developers that the app was put into fruition.
Stephanie Tilenius
This Harvard grad and Brandeis alumni holds a degree in Economics and International Finance, so how did she end up as CEO for Vida Health Inc? Her struggle to provide a better health infrastructure for her father’s chronic conditions led her to develop this platform.
The Takeaway – Technology Business Growth Strategies
It’s no secret that technology is a powerful tool, even more so when used by businesses to deploy their strategies. The absolute reality, however, is that the digitization process is no walk in the park. It does require time. It requires learning processes and finding ways to incorporate technologies into your daily business operations. Moreover, as an entrepreneur, you should treat the process as a deliberate resource rather than an added operational cost.
Don’t shy away from outsourcing third party providers for tech-based solutions you can no longer implement on your own. Leave the experts to the job. At the end of the day, the cost of outsourcing will outweigh the means. You can reach out to (company name here) for a free consultation. Technology alone is not enough to grow the reach of your brand. Listening to what your consumers have to say and finding solutions for their needs is just as important. Take the time to test out technologies that will best work for your business and for the customers. As you expand, continue to innovate. Trends and tools in the tech industry are continuously evolving—and therefore so must you.
