Is Your Small Business Using Modern Tech Features To Their Full Potential?

Virtually all businesses operating in 2023 use modern technology in some shape or form. If you want to stay ahead of your competition, though, learning to unlock the full potential of those systems will be vital.

Modern tech may be used to transform almost every aspect of your business operations. However, success doesn’t arrive by chance. You must know how and where to implement the latest facilities to help your business thrive. Use the following checklist for guidance and you should see truly incredible results.

Use Modern Tech To Build Awareness & Trust

Research shows that growing brand awareness is seen as the main objective by more marketing execs than any other goal. Digital marketing is the key to gaining visibility with your intended audience. It simultaneously builds a trustworthy brand image. 

However, it’s imperative that you prioritize the right tools and tactics to tap into the full potential of online campaigns. The history of SEO shows that ranking on Google has been the key to success for more than two decades. And it continues to be the most important aspect of any effective marketing strategy.

Search engines generate more online traffic than any other strand of digital marketing. Furthermore, almost half of all searches now carry a local intent. This means that a strong SEO campaign will lead more customers to your brick-and-mortar stores too. Better still, most people instantly associate a strong ranking with trustworthiness.

Further awareness and trust can be established through a range of tools like social media campaigns and verified reviews. Using the right tools to obtain verified testimonials will soon increase consumer trust in your company. Not least because almost 100% of modern customers will read several reviews before committing to a purchase.

Use Modern Tech To Build A Stronger Workforce

A strong workforce is the greatest asset at any company’s disposal. Modern tech features can be implemented to help you assemble and manage your team with greater efficiency. The benefits include financial savings, increased productivity, and more.

Firstly, you can post job vacancies on various digital platforms. Meanwhile, pre-employment screening tools help you find good candidates. It makes the process feel more streamlined. Digital tools may also be used throughout the onboarding process to help new employees settle into their new positions.

In-house teams may be further supported by outsourced services, freelancers, and remote workers. Both outsourcing and hybrid working have enjoyed significant growth in recent years. It allows you to expand the company without relocating to larger work premises. Likewise, it enables you to dedicate more time to managing your on-site teams.

As well as assembling the team, modern tech can support ongoing development. Online staff training and virtual team-building activities are two common examples. You can also use a range of tools to monitor staff wellness. It can be very useful as they may feel more comfortable providing honest feedback with this method.

Use Modern Tech To Promote Employee Productivity

Building a strong team is one thing, but unlocking their full potential is another. Happy employees are 13% more productive. Modern tech can support them by enabling hybrid work, flexible schedules, and a chance to work autonomously.

Supporting your employees with the best tech for the job will translate to increased productivity too. They are experts in their fields so asking them for their advice on what’s required is advised. Using the best tools will boost their engagement levels while also making them feel valued. In turn, they will produce better results for your business.

Modern systems can also be used to facilitate smooth communication. Team messaging apps, emails, and digital devices allow for smooth collaboration. It also enables you to provide mentorship and create an outlet for employees to contact you if needed. Likewise, it can extend to connections to your HR department.

To unlock the true potential of your team, you may also look to promote innovation. This can be done with a dedicated employee innovation program. It can specify a time for working on ideas while also using clear protocols to help turn ideas into formulated implementations. Giving employees greater responsibility will lead to increased productivity. 

Use Modern Tech To Automate Production 

In many cases, tech innovations are introduced because they can complete tasks far quicker than a human. Automation is used in many business settings and is set to show a CAGR of over 10.5% from 2023 to 2030. It should be at the forefront of your tech revolution.

Automation can be used for accounting, payroll, stock management, ad publication, email marketing, and so much more. Crucially, machines can be used for manufacturing to boost production speeds and accuracy. Meanwhile, some factories are now fully automated and do not need human workers. This in itself should highlight the power of modern tech.

Even if you don’t need to take automation to those levels, it is clear that it will be required. Rather than simply replacing humans, tech tools are used to support them. In turn, this will improve the company’s overall productivity and output. The result is a better business model that is sure to impress clients and achieve greater profitability. 

Workflow automation can also extend to A.I. and machine learning. Moreover, data analytics and visualization can remove the guesswork. This ensures that certain actions take place following defined triggers. This will go a long way to keeping your business on its intended path, which is the whole purpose of using tech in the first place.

Use Modern Tech To Support Sales & Order Fulfillment 

Many different elements contribute to the success of your business. Nonetheless, all other aspects will be rendered redundant if you do not generate enough sales. As such, providing a customer-centric approach to sales and order fulfillment is pivotal.

Advanced POS terminals should be used in both physical and digital landscapes. To promote quick and convenient transactions, use one-click payments and accept repayment plans. For eCommerce efforts, allowing global customers to pay in their local currency can make their life easier. It removes an obstacle and makes them feel valued.

Creating a smooth transaction also gives consumers less time to back out of a purchase. However, it’s equally vital to consider order fulfillment. Consumers now expect to receive their products ASAP. Where possible, you should look to embrace same-day or next-day deliveries. It could make all the difference in influencing the consumer’s mindset.

Automated stock management tools can ensure that products are ready to be shipped fast. You’ll also gain real-time stock updates. Fleet management software can ensure that your delivery drivers take the most effective routes. This will ensure that all clients receive their goods in the fastest possible time. Perfect.

Use Modern Tech To Deliver Customer Care

Most business owners get caught up in the process of trying to win new customers. However, it is shown that 20% of your audience can deliver up to 80% of your revenue. So, keeping your loyal customers happy should be a priority at all times. Tech helps.

Most consumers will forgive errors if you put them right. Many now prefer self-service customer care. Adding FAQs, chatbots, and troubleshooting guides can have a very positive impact. Better still, it allows you to offer client support through tech features without the need to distract employees from their roles.

The use of live chat and VoIP systems can be useful too. This allows you to deliver quick responses to any client issues. Collecting data from previous interactions allows you to provide consistency at all times. A truly personalized experience of the brand will ultimately bring long-term loyalty. Likewise, it can influence the habits of your leads.

As well as delivering customer care, you can use modern tech to reward clients. Loyalty schemes, exclusive content, membership discounts, and eGreetings are some options. It aids your marketing and client support efforts. The result is a stronger bond between your business and its clients. Perfect. 

Use Modern Tech To Show Social Responsibility

Business landscapes have undergone an immense change in recent years. Not least because customer expectations have evolved. People are now more socially responsible than ever before. And they subsequently want brands to show equal responsibility.

Perhaps the most obvious way is to embrace greener tech. Up to 92% of consumers say they trust brands more when they are socially and environmentally responsible. Using solar roof panels, organic materials, and efficient appliances will all help you protect the planet. It’ll impress employees and consumers alike. It’ll also remove any guilt you may feel.

Other socially responsible ideas include supporting local or global communities. Modern tech can be used to find out about them and establish a clear strategy. It also enables you to promote the initiative in a more effective way, which builds brand awareness. Similarly, it can help develop a community of loyal clients.

Some socially responsible endeavors also allow you to showcase your ability to stay ahead of the crowd. When you look at the history of EVs, it’s clear that the sector is still growing. This is particularly true in business environments. A conscious effort to support greener vehicles, as well as items like eco-friendly packaging, will serve you well. 

Use Modern Tech To Save Money

As a business owner, you naturally tend to focus on generating increased revenue. However, a lack of funding is cited as one of the chief reasons for failure. So, any opportunity to reduce your costs should be grabbed with both hands. Modern tech is the catalyst.

The ability to reduce staffing costs and expand without taking on larger workspaces or more equipment has been mentioned. In truth, though, modern tech can be used to help you reduce your overheads in many other areas. For starters, price comparisons can help you find cheaper web hosting, utilities, packaging supplies, and more. Make this a starting point.

As well as shopping around, many of the automated tech features will save you money. Aside from reducing production costs, they can be supported by data to spot when maintenance is needed. By keeping machinery in great health, you’ll avoid costly repairs further down the line. Similarly, it’ll save you from costly downtime.

Furthermore, you can save money on some of the key services mentioned above. For example, using VoIP to manage internal and external calls will save you a fortune on your telecoms. Likewise, many of the green technologies that you implement will pay for themselves in the long run thanks to reduced energy bills.

Use Modern Tech To Protect Yourself

Building a profitable business requires a lot of hard work. So, once you achieve this stage, you should do everything in your power to protect it. Not least because the venture will come under threat from multiple directions if you leave it in a vulnerable position.

By now, you should be fully aware that cyberattacks are rife. In fact, breaches alone cost businesses $4.35 million in 2022. The figure for 2023 is likely to be even higher. While you must train your employees to rule out human errors, cybersecurity tools remain vital. They can protect your website, data systems, and company reputation.

In addition to protecting yourself in a digital environment, you must consider real-world instructions. Surveillance cameras with remote monitoring capabilities are a great option. Other advanced security tech items may include alarm systems and access entry points. Biometric features like fingerprint scanning will help stop unauthorized entry.

Finally, you must consider your intellectual property. You can copyright your innovations online. Meanwhile, non-disclosure agreements can be stored online too. While these steps are designed to prevent problems, they also allow you to respond fast if someone infringes on your firm. This can help you restrict the financial and reputational damage.

The Final Word

Using modern tech features can improve virtually every area of your business. Not least because it keeps the operations running smoothly and can mitigate many of the common obstacles you could face. 

When supported by a conscious effort to track data and your progress, you will see the full potential of business tech for years to come. The future of your company has never looked better.