3 Solutions for Simple, Affordable Digitisation for SMBs
There’s no getting around the fact that digitisation is key to the growth and success of all businesses, but it can be a stressful process to consider when you are running a smaller enterprise or startup. After all, digitisation costs money – a LOT of money. Or does it? Here are three simple ways to help your business transform digitally – and affordably.
#1 – Chatbots
A chatbot is a virtual program that runs like a virtual assistant on your website. It’s designed to stimulate and process human conversation using AI technology, allowing visitors to your website to interact with it. These chatbots offer an alternative way of contacting a business and getting key information. Although this tech can be sophisticated, they’re really there to answer all the basic questions that visitors will need answers to – all without using up your resources.
They come up as a little chat box when a visitor arrives on the website and, in addition to allowing visitors to type in their own questions, they usually have a range of frequently asked questions that visitors can tap on directly. For more complex questions, people can phone in and speak to your team, but your chatbot creates an invaluable and instant customer service resource for asking quick questions about operating hours and services as well as allowing you to place orders, source products, troubleshoot problems, and other automated tasks.
#2 – Data analytics tools
We live in the age of data, where businesses can collect, analyse, and utilise an enormous range of data to create a more efficient and powerful offering. Depending on your business, you can extensively research your target market to understand their consumption habits, values, and interests. You can analyse market demand to react faster than competitors when changes in demand shift, and you can collect data to inform decisions about how your business should grow and new opportunities to tackle. And the best part is that many data analytics tools are essentially free, including Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Amplitude.
If your business relies on seasonal demand or reflects current trends, being able to create practical action plans from the data you collect is essential. It will help inform you of how and when to promote your products for the best results, what social media and digital marketing channels are delivering, and how to create a unique customer experience that drives loyalty and engagement.
#3 – Optimised workflow tools
Digital transformation isn’t just about customers or digital presence, it’s about streamlining operational processes as well. For small businesses, it makes sense to develop remote teams and save on workplace-related costs, but you still need your team members to be able to collaborate, communicate, and fulfil their roles efficiently. Digital project management and collaborative tools have come into their own in the last two years, and many are either free, offered as part of your OS package, or affordably designed to work at scale, including Asana, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and ProofHub.
At Otto, we pride ourselves on our human touch. Along with the most advanced tech solutions, security, and support, we offer our clients a strong personal relationship, an understanding of their business, and a commitment to keep our tech simple and affordable. Chat to us today about how we can assist your small business through innovative IT solutions that suit your budget – and your goals.
Jordan is the Chief Commercial Officer at Otto. Jordan is here to help clients remove roadblocks and achieve the business goals they’ve set out. Jordan’s biggest focus is Customer Experience, Business Relationship Management, Risk Management and Strategy.
