Technological developments are now coming at a much faster pace compared to a decade ago. Devices today are equipped with better hardware and faster processing speeds that make early computers look like relics of the past. One revolutionary device is the smartphone, which performs tasks that used to be done by multiple devices.
Today, tech companies always need to look forward into the future in order to produce the next big thing. Tech, after all, is used to make our lives much easier – and in a fast-paced consumer-driven economy, those who can keep up are those who stay at the top. The same can be said for small to large businesses that rely on tech in their everyday tasks – a business should be aware that new technologies are available (and attainable) to help them perform their tasks much efficiently than before.
Signs that your business needs a digital transformation
1. Your IT service is only necessary if you have a problem
If your business has an in-house IT department or point person, you only call them when you need to have something fixed. This means that they are only waiting for issues to come up, and you stand there just waiting for a solution. The right approach would be to have prevention first, instead of only waiting for a cure.
Technology is the center of any well-run business, and tasks such as communicating with costumers, planning meetings, communicating with employees, and maintain databases are all vital parts that keep it running. Instead of a reactive approach to the state of your IT, a proactive approach can help you analyze threats before they even arrive.
Information Technology is there to make your job easier.
IT can help you understand the workflows and processes that happen in your business and streamline them for maximum efficiency. Take note of the processes that can be automated easily, as this can turn out to save you a lot of time. For your IT department to focus on processes instead of dousing fires when they come up, consider hiring a Managed Service Provider (MSP) or Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) to help lighten the load.
MSPs can help streamline the processes of a business while MSSPs provides cybersecurity to keep your intellectual data safe from hackers and other activities that could deter the productivity of your business. These services can help you manage your business and save you time and money that you can allot to other important tasks that contribute to your long-term goals.
2. You still use outdated tools and applications
Spreadsheets are a common tool for keeping track of your business, but if your business is heavily dependent on it for data recording and organizational tasks, it is a sign that an organization needs a change. The past decade has already developed other tools that can erase your dependence on heavily customized spreadsheets.
Project management tools like Microsoft Project and Planner, Jira, Scoro, Basecamp, and Asana are available to manage activities like projects, tasks, contact management, team collaboration, reporting, and many others. As mentioned, an MSP can also help you streamline processes according to your business style.
3. A lot of your time is still spent on emailing
Emailing is an easy way to reach people and communicate information, but an inbox full of e-mails is a source of stress for many people nowadays. Sometimes, it is difficult to sort out the important ones and remain distraction-free. A lot of precious productivity time can be wasted on decluttering one’s inbox.
A good project management app can handle such a process and many more, and already include things like production schedules, tasks, and assignments. Everyone has also been wary of emails that can become an endless chain of feedback that become hard to track. Collaboration tools like Slack can organize these conversations and create more space for back-and-forth messaging.
For a business to improve their communication to customers, they should also explore marketing automation. Email marketing platforms can send notifications on specific customer activities that can help you analyze market trends and improve/streamline your services.
What can you do for your business at this moment?
The first steps are the most important. The tech market is unpredictable, and nobody can know what will come next that could change how businesses interact with their customers. But instead of sticking to an old routine or keeping things as they were because of convenience, we have learned that a proactive approach is needed to keep your business in its best shape.
Finally, be constantly on the lookout for areas of improvement in your business and approach them with the mindset of digital transformation – the mindset to make processes easier and more efficient for the benefit of both your employees and customers.
Sources:
https://www.coxblue.com/3-signs-your-small-business-is-in-need-of-digital-transformation/?fbclid=IwAR1QIUdRcwsp9oCJ0AzACJ0sj3sbSbUpYw3YHmoXgUW4q-72wK34Qyy3xy8
https://www.hitachi-systems-security.com/blog/benefits-managed-security-service-provider/
