Sophisticated technologies can boost your business’ performance on multiple levels. The research study by Deloitte backs me up on that. When compared to companies that do not invest in new technologies, tech-savvy businesses generated two times as much revenue per employee.
Yet, the same study found that 80% of SMBs are not taking full advantage of the latest technologies.
Here are a few tools that will help your small business grow.
1. CRM Software
For any business, building a relevant customer base is critical. And, that is where choosing the right CRM tool steps in.
As CRM keeps all the information in one place, it will provide a holistic view of customer relationships. All teams, from sales and marketing to customer support, will have access to the same data. That way, you will eliminate the silos between your departments and provide more consistent and on-brand customer relationships.
CRM integrates with all of the tools you use, from website analytics software to social networks, to help you keep track of data from multiple sources and interpret more easily, from a single, visual dashboard.
2. Online Business Phone Services
When compared to traditional landline phone systems, VoIP services benefit businesses in multiple ways. First, they are far more affordable, as they do not require any initial hardware investments. As VoIP is built on the cloud, system checkups and maintenance are done by the provider.
Another advantage of online phone systems is improved customer experiences. Apart from traditional call center features, such as call routing or forwarding, these systems offer a wide range of advanced options, such as CRM integrations.
That means you will be able to collect customer data and map out their buying journeys from beginning to end. Leading VoIP providers like Nextiva also offer on-screen popups with customer information, such as their names, locations, previous inquiries, problems with your brand, stage in a sales cycle, etc. They show up in real-time, when a customer makes a call, allowing your sales representatives to answer phone calls with confidence and provide each customer with personalized experiences.
3. Workplace Collaboration Platforms
No matter if your employees are working side-by-side or from remote locations, it is important to provide them with an uninterrupted flow of information.
With the rise of cloud-based software and modern workplace collaboration tools, you can improve almost any aspect of employee collaboration.
First, with the online phone services mentioned above, it will be easier for you to hold proactive virtual meetings and conferences. With VoIP systems like Nextiva that offer both desktop and mobile apps, your employees can now receive calls, share screens, and download files in real-time, regardless of their location. Above all, you can schedule video conferences with up to 250 participants.
Second, provide employees with real-time chatting tools. In Slack, for example, conversations do not happen in a single, overcluttered place. Instead, employees can create multiple channels to communicate both internally and with their clients. The tool allows them to keep track of the conversation and find relevant files via an easily searchable archive.
Finally, get the most out of your projects and employee performance by investing in a project management tool. With Basecamp, Asana, Trello, and similar platforms, your project managers can delegate tasks faster and more efficiently. They can create multiple projects, add new responsibilities, and assign them to the right team members in a few clicks. Apart from staying on top of their deadlines, employees will be able to communicate faster in a clutter-free place.
4. Automation Tools
With the right cloud-based platforms, you can automate your workflow, boost efficiency and, yet, stay on the budget.
For example, with cloud-based accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero, you can check your financial state, send invoices, and pay bills automatically, across multiple devices.
You can automate your digital marketing efforts, too. From automated lead capturing and email responses to AI chatbots and social media management, you streamline the majority of repetitive digital marketing operations and facilitate your marketing team’s jobs.
Your HR department can also benefit from automation, since they need to manually handle a wide range of time-consuming tasks, such as leave requests, candidate screening, employee onboarding and offboarding, and payroll management.
With a wide range of enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools, you can now harmonize all business processes, including project management, financial management, customer relationship management, human capital management, production, inventory management.
Automation gives your employees a chance to get rid of dull and repetitive tasks and focus on those aspects of their jobs they are passionate about. Above all, it will improve their satisfaction and help them improve personal development and strengthen their career paths.
Conclusion
To grow and succeed in a competitive entrepreneurial market, businesses need to build strategies that are highly intelligent, data-driven, and agile. By investing in the right technologies, you will be able to break the silos between your teams, improve their performance and collaboration, automate repetitive business processes, and serve your customers faster and more professionally.
I hope these tips will help!
small business technology -DepositPhotos
