Few people start businesses with hopes of staying the same. Once over the hurdles of actually starting a business and being sustainable enough to find some ground to build upon, the next step for most business owners is growth. Looking to expand into new realms is only the next natural step to take and as we fly further into the 21st century, technology is helping us to do exactly that.
More Mobile
Most businesses in 2020 have a website and some have spent a lot of money crafting a brilliant site that showcases everything they have to offer as a brand. What you must have in 2020 though, is a mobile-device-friendly website. Think about it. Where do most people scroll away endless hours? From their smartphones of course. Getting a mobile friendly version of your site is not difficult and is definitely something worth investing in. The best approach is to make your website responsive rather than having a dedicated separate mobile website. This will ensure your website works on multiple devices such as tablets. It also means you don’t have to manage/invest in two different websites.
If you want to take it to another level also look at developing an app for your business and offer incentives for people to download the app. This way, your constantly in peoples view every time they open up their smartphone.
Materials
One of the industries often a little hesitant when it comes to adapting new technologies is construction, although technology in construction is now evolving at a rapid rate. Thanks to improved materials and more efficient designs, everything from high rises to farm buildings have reaped substantial rewards from technological developments, especially through using companies such as Smart Shelters Industrial Buildings. These shelters allow construction companies to expand at a pace that suits them because of how the shelters are made to specific requirements which means you’re not paying for more than you need. You can then add on as your business expands.
Project Management
So a project runs smoothly, it is crucial that it is planned out properly. Thankfully, we can today rely on project management software to do a lot of the hardwork for us which includes managing resources and costs. You can then ensure you have staff available for the job, keep track of who is doing what and when, what has been completed and budgets and kept under control.
The software will also enable you to collaborate with other people working on the same project so you can easily communicate and pass feedback to each other. There are several options available but some of more popular ones are Asana, Monday and Wrike.
Paperless
Of course, some things need to be printed and filed away – that’s just the way it is, but it is definitely worth thinking about taking things digital. You may wonder how this would help your business to expand, but being digital friendly as we move further into the 21st century can encourage young, innovative people to invest in your business. For example, when it comes to 25 page contracts that need signing by three parties, instead of printing 75 pages, having an e-sign technology will allow all parties to sign a simple PDF. This is not only good for the environment but helps to brand the business as one that is ready to trade in the 21st century.
Be Social
Everybody has social media of some sorts. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the big ball players when it comes to the socials. They are much more than just somewhere to keep tabs on people you went to school with or post pictures of your lunch. People have launched actual brands on socials in recent years and it’s not hard to see why. The immediate reach to your followers gives them instant updates of what is happening. As technology improves, you can also use a tool called ‘analytics’ within the social media themselves, which gets you inside the mind of your customers and provides endless information about their consumer habits.
There are many elements that contribute towards business expansion. Using new technology may be a challenging prospect, but it is worth the investment as it will help to reduce operational costs and grow business revenue in the long term, and who doesn’t want that?
