Today, being connected is essential. Especially when you are a business. We are slowly (but surely) emerging from a health crisis that has forced us to adapt and review our habits and ways of doing things. Going digital is necessary for any business. In its new report, Salesforce recalls the importance of digitalization, the advantages of being a connected SME and even reveals some tips for getting started.
An increasingly digital world
If some still doubted it, the pandemic and its multiple confinements have shown us the strength of digitalization. Many companies have had to, and knew how to adapt in these uncertain times and are determined to keep these new habits. To stay in touch with their employees but also with their customers, many SMEs have had to go digital. 72% of SMBs surveyed for a previous Salesforce report said they had increased their online presence. And 71% say they would not have survived the health crisis without this digital switchover. In short, our world is digital and it is time to jump on the bandwagon.
Thanks to the digital age, you can now be able to interact with your customers, partners and collaborators from any channel and anytime. A real pleasure for everyone. This 360-degree view and connectivity allows, on average, to earn 20 hours of work per month. This represents 7 weeks per year. Digitization allows you to greatly increase your productivity. As an SME, you have everything to gain: more agile, faster and more efficient.
Being a connected SME: what are the advantages?
The human size and proximity to SMEs is a real asset and allows you to establish a special relationship with your customers. Continue in this direction! Thanks to your connectivity, you will offer a ever more pleasant experience for your customers who expect a certain digitization from you.
If some obstacles stand in the way of SMEs that want more connectivity, these obstacles are generally only preconceived ideas.
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By going digital, you will be able to increase your productivity (thanks automation), create a consistent customer experience and thus increase customer satisfaction. In fact, 76% of customers expect consistent interactions between different departments in a company and don’t want to have to repeat themselves at every touchpoint. And if you are more in tune with your customers, they will be more satisfied. And for the most part, a good customer experience matters as much as the quality of products and services.
If data is key, 70% of it generated by companies is unusable. Lack of reliability and credibility. With better processes and centralization of data, you will increase the quality of your data. Your teams will thus be able to work more efficiently and will be better guided in their daily choices. As a result, you will be able to instil a data-driven corporate culture. Better data management means less stress and loss of time as well as the possibility of achieving objectives more easily for your employees. Snowball effect, they will be more engaged. Finally, the future is being prepared now and as we have already said, the world in which we operate is digital. The future too, therefore.
Salesforce tips to really connect your small business
While each business transformation project requires a unique and personalized approach to specific needs and objectives, certain best practices are universal. In its report, Salesforce gives you 10 tips to better connect your business in the future. We fly over them together…
- Create a single source of truth
- Be demanding on immediacy
- Document and map processes
- Unite teams around common goals
- Ask for feedback
- Streamline tools and procedures
- Encourage teams to create solutions
- Set long-term goals
- Automate workflows
- Repeat
To go in-depth, discover the good advice of Salesforce in its report dedicated to the connectivity of SMBs, available for free. Remember that, although they are often forgotten, SMEs are one of the main factors of economic growth and represent a large majority of businesses.
