Are Businesses Equipped to Handle the Changing Times?

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A majority of businesses are not prepared for digital transformation. One study found that 60% of businesses' digital modernization programs are not ready for the future. Even with the rapid development of modern digital technologies like cloud infrastructure and automation, many companies have yet to adopt them. One reason behind this is not knowing how or where to start the digital transformation journey. If you’re part of this statistic, here’s how you can equip your business to handle these changing times:

Assess your business’ digital needs

Each business has its own technological needs. Adopting wrong or inefficient technologies will only waste the time and resources you invest in them. This is why it's vital you first assess what digital transformations your business will need. For example, if you have a food business—like a restaurant—with a lack of staff, automated restaurant systems can perform tasks and bridge the gap caused by a staff shortage. If you have trouble assessing your own needs, consult a professional with a digital strategy background. Such a consultant can help your company execute the right digital transformation processes thanks to their education and experience in the digital industry. For example, if you’re in the education sector, they may suggest digital platforms or virtual environments for learning that will enhance your customers’ needs.

Prepare your team for the transition

Even when you’ve acquired the right digital tools for your business, the transformation won’t be complete unless your team is bought in and prepared for it. For one, you'll need to educate your employees on how to operate the new technologies efficiently. Next, you need to staff your company with people who are agile and adaptable to industry trends. If you're looking to modernize your marketing strategies, ensure your marketing team understands the new era of digital marketing and knows its way around social media engagement, content management, and data analytics. With prepared and skilled employees, your digital transformation journey will be smoother and more effective.

Ensure it serves your customers

Even if you implement digital tools and prepare your employees for transformation, all of these efforts will be for naught if they won’t better serve your customers. After all, businesses are dependent on customer acquisition and retention. That's why you must understand the consumer experience This will ensure that your customers build trust in—and loyalty for—your brand. You can start by adopting our customer feedback solution: Tapyness. This digital tool is a SaaS platform designed to collect consumer sentiment without hassle. Customers can easily share their experiences while you get real-time reports. What's more, it's designed to integrate into your current processes easily. This way, you can immediately address any concerns or problems your customers have with your digital transformation initiatives, and more.

Keep up with industry trends

Technology is always evolving. Even when you deem your digital transformation complete, there will always be updates, newer systems, and product developments that will improve your business. It’s important to keep up with technology to streamline business processes, gain an advantage over your competition, and improve the customer experience. The latest updates and devices are faster and better than their older counterparts, allowing more efficient procedures. This differentiates you from other businesses, as it allows you to attract new customers by exceeding their expectations. You can stay on top of all the latest industry trends by reading the news, conversing with fellow business owners, and keeping an eye on competitors. This way, you can more easily find the latest technologies worth investing in.

The digital transformation of businesses will benefit them and their customers. Start it today by assessing your digital needs, keeping up with the news, preparing your employees for the change, and ensuring your chosen tools benefit your customers.

Guest post written by Reese Jones