The Benefits and Challenges of Going Digital: How to make the transition

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With the Internet and social media at their fingertips, many small businesses are going digital. It's not just the younger generation that wants this, but it's also the customers of today who demand a seamless experience.

With a website, you can conduct business from anywhere in the world. But what about when things go wrong? How do you handle data breaches or cyber-attacks?

In this blog post we'll talk about some of the benefits and challenges of going digital to help make your transition smoother.

What are the challenges of Going Digital?

1. Lack of Awareness/trusted information:

One of the biggest problems that small businesses face is lack of awareness about the digital technologies out there and how they can be used in their business. They know something is out there but can't seem to find reliable information on it. Or they just get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information out there that they don't know where to even start.

Fortunately there are many ways in which your business can benefit from going digital even if this is not something you intend on.

2. Uncertain return on investment:

While it is true that going digital can help the business to reduce its overheads and work more efficiently, not everyone will see the benefits straight away. In some cases, the investment may be too great for the anticipated return. For example, in the early days of ecommerce, many businesses invested heavily in website development and online marketing, only to find that their customers were not buying anything online. In other cases, investments in technology may not produce the desired results because they are not used correctly or because there are limitations in the technology itself.

The key is to learn where the limitations in the technology currently stand and plan a roadmap to overcome these limitations.

3. Security concerns:

One of the biggest concerns we see small businesses have about going digital is their lack of control over who has access to their data. They fear that their sensitive information will be compromised and they won't know what to do if it does happen. This can cause a lot of stress and confusion. And if they can't see the device storing their data, they wonder "is it really there"?

4. Not enough time:

Going digital takes up time from running the day. Another challenge that many small business owners face is that they simply don't have enough time to make the transition from a traditional small business to an online one. This is not something that you can do overnight and will require patience, commitment and dedication on your part.

By overcoming these challenges small businesses are better prepared to take advantage of all the benefits offered by going digital!

What are the benefits of Going Digital?

When done properly, going digital does allow your small business to become more efficient by working smarter rather than harder. Going digital offers many benefits that will help your company grow and expand into new markets, including:

1. Greater flexibility in the workplace:

Digital technologies allow you to work from anywhere in the world. Gone are the days when you would need to be tied down by a desk and stationary! Today, if your company is small enough, all of your employees can function remotely and don't even need an office space.

2. Greatly improved data collection:

This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits that small businesses gain from going digital. Digital technology allows you to collect huge amounts of data that can be analysed and tracked. This means greater knowledge for your company which in turn leads to improvements and better decisions being made based on this information. Going digital also helps you understand what is working and what isn't, allowing the business to focus its resources only where it is needed most.

3. Increased visibility:

The internet is a powerful tool that can be used to reach new customers from all over the world. By going digital, you are allowing your business to work smarter instead of harder. All it takes is commitment and patience!

4. Reduction in administrative overhead:

One of the biggest advantages of going digital is that you will spend less time on administrative work. By streamlining your business processes, you can easily decrease the amount of time spent on these tasks and focus more energy towards growing your company!

5. Work smarter and more efficiently:

Today, small businesses are utilising the benefits of going digital to create a more efficient and improved working environment. From using cloud-based applications for your business’ website or online marketing strategy, to equipping your employees with mobile devices so that they can work on the go – there is no limit as to what you can do when you have the right tools and technology!

Some helpful tips on how small businesses can start their own digital transformation:

Small businesses are the backbone of the the Australian economy, and as technology advances, it's more important than ever for them to stay competitive by embracing digital transformation. Here are some helpful tips on how small businesses can start their own digital transformation.

1. Invest in cutting-edge technology

2. Train your employees in new technologies

3. Update your business processes to be more efficient

4. Adapt your marketing strategy to reach new customers online

5. Embrace mobility and BYOD policies

6. Use cloud computing to streamline operations

If you are ready to make the transition, Intelligen Technology Solutions can help! Contact us today for a free consultation.

We will walk through your challenges and show you how our services can be of assistance in taking advantage of all that digital technology has to offer while still maintaining control over your business.

There is no obligation--we are happy to provide advice without any strings attached. Let's chat soon!

Shamus Dougan