Modern companies rely heavily on digital tools. From internal collaboration to data storage and communicating with customers, today’s entrepreneurs should be aware that there is a software solution or digital platform for virtually anything!
In fact, if you fail to embrace technology, you might easily fall behind the competition. According to Deloitte small businesses that don’t shy away from using tech tools are more likely to create new jobs and tend to earn more revenue per employee.
Still, 4 out of 5 businesses in the US don’t leverage the tech tools available to them. This is good news for you – as a small business owner, using digital tools will give you a huge advantage over your competitors.
To help you out, we’ve created a list of 9 essential business tools that will make your life easier and help your business grow.
1. Website Builder
Contents
In today’s digitalized world, having a website is as important as having a door to a physical store! Having a website says that your company is legitimate and credible, and makes people trust in what you do. The good news is, a good business website doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg. You can easily create a clean and functional site using website builders such as Squarespace, WordPress, Weebly, and Wix.
2. Team Communication Tools
As your business grows, it will become increasingly difficult to communicate and keep track of tasks. Team communication tools allow you to communicate with all members of your team no matter where they are, share files, and track the progress of each project from start to finish.
3. Social Media Management
Besides having a great website, being present on all major social media platforms is also a must. As the importance of social media for marketing and customer service strategies continues growing, so is the popularity of digital tools necessary to manage different social media business pages. Using a social media management tool for your business will help you keep up with social engagement, manage customer relationships, analyze social performance, etc.
4. Email Management Tools
Coworkers’ email threads, customer inquiries, newsletters, and spam can easily clutter your inbox and impact your productivity. However, it is possible to spend less time on your emails without sacrificing the quality of communication with clients and colleagues. Email management tools can help you organize your communication efficiently, prioritize your workflow, and get rid of email overload.
5. Database Solution
Companies that are looking to draw insights from their data should consider using MySQL, an effective database solution that helps reduce the cost of any database software infrastructure by about 90%.
You can also turn your data into actionable insights by integrating MySQL and Power BI. PowerBI has various capabilities like direct access to various data sources, easy analysis with natural language queries, and data updates in real-time. In addition, it has an ability to share reports and dashboards across different departments in a company. PowerBI visualizations include charts, bubble charts, KPIs, maps, and scatter plots.
6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
If you want to build a successful business, having strong relationships with your customers is vital. But the process of building these relationships can be complex and time-consuming. A good CRM software solution serves as a centralized database where you can get info on your existing customers and leads, including current transactions, recent purchases, and previous interactions, allowing you to optimize and streamline your workflow when it comes to interacting with customers.
7. Accounting Software
If you’re a business owner who’s still handling accounting manually, you already know how daunting it can be. Additionally, taking care of accounting can prevent you from focusing on what matters the most – selling goods or providing a good service and growing your business. Having a reliable accounting software will handle running numbers on sales, expenses, taxes, profits, and taxes, thus taking the most of the burden related to financial reporting off your back.
8. HR Management Software
HR management systems have become an indispensable asset in almost every corporate environment, including small businesses. Even though many small business owners tend to believe that HR technology is an expensive addition, using HR management software saves lots of money and pays off in the long run.
HR management software is a term that covers all workforce and recruitment management systems. Its purpose is to combine different administration and human resource processes in a single centralized location, taking you a step ahead in improving decision making.
9. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
With data breaches and cyberattacks on the rise, the internet is becoming an increasingly scary place. Hacking is obviously an attractive criminal activity and numbers are the best proof – experts predict that cybercrime will cause damage worth $6 trillion per year by 2021! So, it comes as no surprise that VPN services have also become increasingly popular in recent years.
Virtual Private Networks are used to improve online privacy by encrypting the internet connection, provide access to services and websites that can only be accessed from certain locations, and bypass local censorship and regional blocks by “spoofing” your location.
Final Thoughts
Any new business that doesn’t use a number of digital tools and software solutions to automate tasks and streamline operations may soon find itself falling behind the competition.
Make sure to constantly seek opportunities to adopt new digital tools and adapt them to grow your businesses in the future.