Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the planet, more new businesses have been registered than ever before. This shows that more people have decided to take the plunge and work for themselves, rather than sticking with a job they don’t like. This is great, as a new wave of remote, tech-forward companies are being formed and run by people with a passion for their new business.
So, there are lots of new business owners out there trying to make it for themselves, which is great! But, there are a few key tools that every new business should invest in to keep business running smoothly. If you’re a new business owner – or even an experienced one, adapting to the modern world – read on for a few key tools and solutions you should be looking at.
Cloud-Based Services
As mentioned, a whole host of these new businesses are being run remotely, partially due to the pandemic showing us all that remote working is not just achievable but also far more productive than previously imagined. It is for this reason that cloud-based services have taken the business world by storm, with the bloggers over at tech company Saicom stating that “worldwide lockdowns accelerated a trend that was already picking up steam – work from home, work from anywhere, as long as you work!” Remote working is here to stay, therefore so are cloud-based operations.
What can you get with cloud services? Well, just about everything. From communication resources to employee management, shared collaborative workspaces to secure data management, the cloud has it all. There is no better way to safely share, protect and collaborate on projects than doing so in the cloud. For a relatively small fee, a business can start its operations in the cloud, keeping data secure and allowing all its staff to work on the same content remotely.
Automation
Another tool changing the way businesses work these days is Automation. Brands like Blue Prism and UiPath expanded rapidly throughout the pandemic, as they offered automation services to all types of businesses. These platforms allow you – or a remote programmer – to automate repetitive tasks in your business. Things like reading and approving invoices, inputting data, or calculating tax payments can all be done with automated bots.
Automation is finding its way into various other platforms too, including the cloud, as more and more services adopt automation. This saves your business time and money – program a bot once and it’ll do the same task for as long as you want, no need to hire any staff to do repetitive manual data tasks.
HR & Payroll Management
HR platforms are also picking up steam – again, partially influenced by cloud-based computing. These software types allow you to do everything an HR team would but with far fewer staff. Onboarding of staff can be automated, as the system reads ID data, application forms, and bank details, inputting them all into your HR management system.
You can automate payroll, allow staff to check their payslips, and even manage benefits like health cover and pensions. This, again, is cutting out the need for large teams of people managing staff data, saving you time and money.
CRM Software
If you haven’t heard of CRM, it’s time to get reading! CRM software has completely changed the way businesses interact with their customers. CRM software platforms gather data on your customers, allowing you to build a picture of your ideal customer and market size. Again, automation is involved, as CRM can examine how long a customer spent on your site, what they are interested in, and how well they respond to marketing campaigns. All of this valuable data can be converted into great customer relationships and increased sales if analyzed and used correctly.
Cybersecurity
Finally, whether you’re working remotely or not, all of this data needs to be protected. Many cloud companies offer complete encryption and protection, especially in the case of personal details and customer information. There are, sadly, thousands of cyber attacks on small businesses every day. All this data you hold is extremely valuable to hackers and scammers alike, so you must have proper firewalls, encrypted data, and consider the use of services like VPNs. Data breaches can be costly and hard to recover from, so take cybersecurity seriously, even if you’re only a small business.
These few things will not only change the way you work for the better, but they will also save you countless hours and plenty of cash. Invest in these processes early and it will be far easier to rapidly grow your business.
