One of the most complicated and rewarding jobs on the planet is being the owner of a small business. More than 30 million small businesses are currently operating in the United States. In 2020, however, many businesses were challenged due to the COVID-19 health crisis. A number of small businesses in the United States closed permanently due to the ongoing pandemic. If you are looking for a way to not only keep your business open, but thrive in the New Year, then you need to focus on future-proofing your company.
Luckily, business owners have a number of modern tools and technology available that they can use to grow and expand their reach. Learning about these tools and properly using them can benefit your business greatly. Here are some helpful tips to modernize your business in 2021.
Make Life Easier for Your Remote Workers
Having employees work remotely is something many business owners became familiar with in 2020. Throughout the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people entered quarantine and lockdowns, making it a necessity for many. If you think that using remote workers is something your business will do from here on out, providing these team members with great technology is vital. Allowing information to flow freely from your base of operations to your remote workers is only possible with tools such as online faxing.
An online faxing service allows you and your team members to fax documents without the use of traditional fax machines. Most have an iPhone faxing app as well, to make sending information on the go much easier for both business owners and employees.
Improve Customer Experience
Approximately $4 trillion is spent on business technology annually. Most of the technology business owners invest in is designed to enhance their ability to serve their customers. Successful business owners realize that great customer service is the key to growing and expanding their reach. If a customer is happy with the service they receive from your company, they are more likely to recommend your products and services to their friends and family members.
If you have a business website in place, you might want to think about investing in chatbot technology. Chatbot software uses the power of artificial intelligence to answer commonly asked questions and to provide curious consumers with useful information. With this technology, you can serve existing and potential customers regardless of what time of day they send you a message. Successfully finding and implementing this technology will usually require the help of an information technology (IT) professional. These professionals will also be able to monitor and optimize the technology you put in place.
Realize the Value of an Online Presence
Another thing you need to modernize your business is improve your online presence. Most consumers use the internet to thoroughly research a business before becoming a customer. When people perform a Google search about your business, you want them to find positive reviews, social media profiles and a great looking website. Business owners who ignore the need for an online presence usually lose their competitive edge.
In 2021, you need to invest in a new website and online marketing campaigns. Allowing professionals to handle these important jobs will free you up to do sales calls or follow up on the sales leads your online marketing campaigns create.
Embracing Modern Technology Is Important
If you are tired of your competitors beating you at every turn, it is time to get serious about using new technology. With the tools and technology mentioned in this article, you can regain your competitive edge and make your business more profitable.
