These top ten tips are not rocket science, but they will put a rocket in your profit and make 2022 a truly sensational year for you and your business.
Top tip #2 is all about managing customer expectation. It’s based on the old saying
You must under promise and over deliver
This is not a ploy to fool your customers. It is about managing the expectation your customers have about you, your products and your services.
Your task?
To surprise and delight your customers by exceeding their expectations.
Why Managing Customer Expectation Gives You a Competitive Edge
Many businesses think that to compete with their more successful, or more long-established competitors, they have to promise their customers that they will beat prices, deadlines etc.
It is important to understand that not all customers are driven by cost and speed.
Most customers rate the quality of a product or service, and the feeling of being cared for, understood and nurtured, over cost and speed.
The Outcomes of Over Promising and Under Delivering?
What happens to customer perception of your business if you fails to deliver and all the promises you made are not met?
Well, to put it simple, those customers will tell their friends and – more importantly – people they don’t even know.
How?
Word of mouth and online reviews.
When was the last time you booked a hotel or visited a new restaurant without checking the online reviews?
I know I can’t remember the last time I just booked something without checking.
The old saying was ‘give great service they will tell 10; give bad service they will tell 100’. Now add social media and review sites into that mix the ‘tell 100’ can very easily become ‘tell 100,000’
Perhaps the ‘under promise’ should be more ‘realistically promise’ and the ‘over deliver’ could be ‘exceed expectations’?
Next Steps?
If you’re unsure about how to implement any of the suggestions I have made in this article, why not take advantage of my free, half-hour mentoring session?
These top ten tips are not rocket science, but they will put a rocket in your profit and make 2022 a truly sensational year for you and your business.
Top tip 1 is all about why you have to communicate with your customers; why you have to communicate often and why you need to be easy to reach.
How Regular Communication with Your Customers Could Save You Money
How much does it cost you to run your business?
Whatever that number is, that is the amount it costs you to create customers. So why would you want to be continually attempting to find new customers when they are so expensive.
Doesn’t it make better business sense to nurture your current customers? After all, it’s easier getting someone who has already demonstrated that they know, like and trust you to buy from you again.
One really simple way of regular communication with your customers is via email, so building your email list in imperative.
Want to know how? Check out this blog – How to Use Email Marketing to Keep Your Customers Coming Back
The Value of Your Current Customers
You have already paid for them
It is 6 to 7 times more expensive to gain a new customer than it is to retain one
Repeat customers tend to spend 67% more on subsequent purchases than they do on the first
After 10 purchases / engagements a customer has already referred you to at least 7 people
Communicating with your customers on a regular basis is the surefire way of ensuring they remember you so that you are their supplier of choice when they choose to purchase again.
Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Ongoing Customer Communication
DO remember to ask for customer details – at the very least name and email address
DON’T just add people to a mailing list – ask permission, you could always offer an incentive
DO have a systematic way of dealing with contact details – if you have a system it is far less likely that you will ‘mislay’ a customer
DON’T have more than one mailing list – keep everyone in one place (an Excel spreadsheet is absolutely fine), you can always split the list into smaller groups for specific purposes
DON’T leave a pile of business cards on your desk with the intention of ‘one day’ doing something with them, do something or bin them!
DO keep in touch with your customers regularly and remind them about what you do and how you do it – don’t assume, just because you have said it a couple of times, that people remember what you do because until they need that ‘thing’ they will forget
Next Steps?
If you’re unsure about how to implement any of the suggestions I have made in this article, why not take advantage of my free, half-hour mentoring session?
By Ashok Suppiah, co-founder and CEO of the Mitra Innovation Group
The clue is in the name. Low-Code uses visual programming techniques to allow non-coders, or citizen programmers, to create digital applications. Using a graphical user interface (GUI), complex systems can be quickly designed and tested using a simple drag & drop approach. Citizen programmers can solve their digital issues or build new products themselves, vastly increasing the momentum towards digital transformation.
Here we look at 5 ways Low-Code can accelerate digital transformation.
1. Speed: Replacing Legacy Systems Quickly and Cloud Enablement
Legacy systems, for the most part, do their job, and only their job. The bugs have been ironed out over the years and staff are fully trained in their operation. What they don’t do is provide the flexibility to respond to change. Changes can be business based, ie market, customer or product; they can be regulatory or operational or they may be required as new technology becomes available. Legacy systems don’t scale easily, they are costly to run, require specialist management, often they operate with outmoded security and there is no easy way to integrate them with other systems.
There are various strategies for dealing with legacy systems. Building new green-field systems from scratch is an option, as is code refactoring, or a code rewrite. This is where Low-Code can speed up the transformation process. Using visual programming techniques, Low-Code reduces development times, in turn reducing the cost of development and ownership. Traditionally painful, long and costly transformation projects can be undertaken more quickly and at a fraction of the cost. Reducing the cost and time to innovate, accelerates digital transformation.
2. Evolve: Add New Features and Functions Quickly
One of the many reasons to replace legacy systems is to evolve new features and functions and with Low-Code visual programming tools, citizen developers are empowered to create the system functionality they require quickly and seamlessly. Low-Code places a much higher emphasis on the user experience, and with pre-built, reusable modules eliminating the need to code from scratch each time, you can not only evolve new functionality quickly, but also test it and deploy it with ease. With built-in scalability, security, monitoring and reporting all contributing to rapid turnaround times, digital transformation and an enhanced user experience become far easier to achieve.
3. Integration: Easier Integration with Low-Code
Data and systems integration is one of the more complex areas to get right during digital transformation. Think of the out-of-the-box (OOTB) modules used in Low-Code as building blocks that allow non-IT professionals to build applications. These building blocks can be interconnected seamlessly using pre-engineered connectors and accelerators to allow Low-Code modules to be easily and rapidly integrated with existing systems, enhancing functionality and delivering digital transformation with ease. The biggest risk with systems integration is around maintaining data integrity. With Low-Code you stay in control of your data, and with the ability to integrate data from any system quickly, traditional data migration is simply not required.
As a strategic partner of Creatio, we often use REST API, OData protocol, SOAP services, OAuth authentication and LDAP protocols to integrate with other applications.
4. Cost Savings: Economies of Scale Over Time
Low-Code technology goes far beyond just saving time for development teams. Using Low-Code reduces overall costs by accelerating implementation time and time to market and increasing the ability of the business to respond to market led innovation, bringing innovative products and services to market much faster. Maintenance of Low-Code systems and modules is also vastly reduced. The ability to re-use without re-engineering, using prebuilt workflows, templates and modules, implementation and maintenance is easier and quicker.
5. Time Savings: No Re-invention of the Wheel
Maybe the most revolutionary aspect of Low-Code is the ability to re-use pre-programmed and pre-tested functional modules to build applications without the need for traditional coding skills. Pre-built workflows mean there really is no need to reinvent the wheel. Low-Code lowers the barrier to entry for citizen developers, automating processes, and slashing development time. With highly skilled developers liberated from the more repetitive aspects of coding, they are free to be more creative, reinvigorating the development lifecycle and leading the march towards digital transformation.
About the Author
Ashok Suppiah is co-founder and CEO of the Mitra Innovation Group, a global technology provider specialising in digital transformation, product incubation and integration services. He has been a leading light in the tech industry for over 20 years. A serial entrepreneur, Ashok has started more than 10 technology companies in the USA and UK, notably as a member of Virtusa Corp which sold for US$2Billion in 2021 and as Chief Architect for eDocs which sold to Oracle for US$115Million in 2004. With recent successes in Conversational AI, Dynamedics and LowCodify, Ashok sustains his passion for pioneering and disruptive technology, with Mitra providing transformative solutions to clients and partners globally.
You can view this original blog and further Eagle Lab content here
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You know the saying “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”? We wonder if Instagram feels a little like that at the moment. Just when it was enjoying a moment in the social media sun with the announcement of a slew of new features, including the ability to post from the desktop (HURRAH and we’ll get to that in a bit), along comes parent company Facebook to elbow it back into the shade.
Congratulations – it’s a Meta! If you’ve no idea what we’re talking about, pull up a chair: Facebook ain’t Facebook any more – it’s rebranded to Meta, complete with a wibbly wobbly new logo that has no end and no beginning.
But don’t panic, the social media platform itself is still going to be called Facebook, but new corporate moniker Meta will be the stepping stone into a wider digital ecosphere. As Mark Zuckerberg explained in a founder’s letter: “The next platform will be even more immersive – an embodied internet where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it.
“You’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine – get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create – as well as completely new experiences that don’t really fit how we think about computers or phones today.”
According to Zuckerberg, we’re all going to be zooming about as holograms, from working in the office and ripping it up at a concert, to catching up with friends and family. “This will open up more opportunity no matter where you live,” he wrote. “You’ll be able to spend more time on what matters to you, cut down time in traffic, and reduce your carbon footprint.”
While we’ll have to wait and see what all of that really means for us ordinary mortals, let’s get back to Instagram. For years, many people have grumbled about only being able to access their Instagram feed but not post anything, and now the boffins have finally done something about it.
The new capability is one of several goodies unveiled by the platform that have been created to boost creativity (and, no doubt give TikTok a run for its money). For example, Instagram has made it easier to co-author posts and Reels with other users under the Collab feature.
There are also changes to the fundraiser prompts so you can launch one directly through Instagram and make it easier for people to donate.
And there’s more. Reels is going to get some music features, such as Superbeat, which adds video effects based on a song beat, while 3D lyrics brings up the words in tune with the melody.
If you need a helping hand getting to grips with Instagram’s new features, get in touch and we’ll get you posting like a pro.
We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.
These top ten tips are not rocket science, but they will put a rocket in your profit and make 2022 a truly sensational year for you and your business.
Top tip #2 is all about managing customer expectation. It’s based on the old saying
You must under promise and over deliver
This is not a ploy to fool your customers. It is about managing the expectation your customers have about you, your products and your services.
Your task?
To surprise and delight your customers by exceeding their expectations.
Why Managing Customer Expectation Gives You a Competitive Edge
Many businesses think that to compete with their more successful, or more long-established competitors, they have to promise their customers that they will beat prices, deadlines etc.
It is important to understand that not all customers are driven by cost and speed.
Most customers rate the quality of a product or service, and the feeling of being cared for, understood and nurtured, over cost and speed.
The Outcomes of Over Promising and Under Delivering?
What happens to customer perception of your business if you fails to deliver and all the promises you made are not met?
Well, to put it simple, those customers will tell their friends and – more importantly – people they don’t even know.
How?
Word of mouth and online reviews.
When was the last time you booked a hotel or visited a new restaurant without checking the online reviews?
I know I can’t remember the last time I just booked something without checking.
The old saying was ‘give great service they will tell 10; give bad service they will tell 100’. Now add social media and review sites into that mix the ‘tell 100’ can very easily become ‘tell 100,000’
Perhaps the ‘under promise’ should be more ‘realistically promise’ and the ‘over deliver’ could be ‘exceed expectations’?
Next Steps?
If you’re unsure about how to implement any of the suggestions I have made in this article, why not take advantage of my free, half-hour mentoring session?
These top ten tips are not rocket science, but they will put a rocket in your profit and make 2022 a truly sensational year for you and your business.
Top tip 1 is all about why you have to communicate with your customers; why you have to communicate often and why you need to be easy to reach.
How Regular Communication with Your Customers Could Save You Money
How much does it cost you to run your business?
Whatever that number is, that is the amount it costs you to create customers. So why would you want to be continually attempting to find new customers when they are so expensive.
Doesn’t it make better business sense to nurture your current customers? After all, it’s easier getting someone who has already demonstrated that they know, like and trust you to buy from you again.
One really simple way of regular communication with your customers is via email, so building your email list in imperative.
It is 6 to 7 times more expensive to gain a new customer than it is to retain one
Repeat customers tend to spend 67% more on subsequent purchases than they do on the first
After 10 purchases / engagements a customer has already referred you to at least 7 people
Communicating with your customers on a regular basis is the surefire way of ensuring they remember you so that you are their supplier of choice when they choose to purchase again.
Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Ongoing Customer Communication
DO remember to ask for customer details – at the very least name and email address
DON’T just add people to a mailing list – ask permission, you could always offer an incentive
DO have a systematic way of dealing with contact details – if you have a system it is far less likely that you will ‘mislay’ a customer
DON’T have more than one mailing list – keep everyone in one place (an Excel spreadsheet is absolutely fine), you can always split the list into smaller groups for specific purposes
DON’T leave a pile of business cards on your desk with the intention of ‘one day’ doing something with them, do something or bin them!
DO keep in touch with your customers regularly and remind them about what you do and how you do it – don’t assume, just because you have said it a couple of times, that people remember what you do because until they need that ‘thing’ they will forget
Next Steps?
If you’re unsure about how to implement any of the suggestions I have made in this article, why not take advantage of my free, half-hour mentoring session?
It would be very easy to get in to a panic and high state of fear relating to the risks of cyber-crime to your own business, or your employer, especially if you are in a position of responsibility relating to data, information or security. With the UK governments latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey reporting that “Four in ten businesses and a quarter of charities report having cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months”, we should not be overlooking that to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Any cyber security strategy, to be as strong as it can be, should involve a combination of technical, people and process elements.
Cyber criminals are always looking at ways to overcome technical solutions, which will never be 100% infallible, and they have the time to dedicate towards finding ways to bypass them. Phishing campaigns are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot, targeting companies at times they consider peoples guard will be down the most. Add to this that we see more and more that the technology side of an organisation is people dependent, as alerts need to be responded to, updates need to be made and the right questions need to be asked if people are unsure of something.
Although not glamorous at first thought, security processes and policies are arguably the bedrock of your cyber security strategy. They outline the organisational standards for the controls you put around the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data, and can also help employees know what to do under certain situations to further minimise risk. This element of your strategy is ultimately about people and how they understand, implement, follow and respond to any security related process or policy requirements.
Now above I said “arguably” as we often hear that people are seen as a key problem when it comes to cyber security. We prefer to see people as a potential strength and central to any robust cyber security strategy. So, what is the bedrock?…Educating staff about what to look out for, why they should/shouldn’t do something, and what to do if something does happen is paramount to a company’s defence against cybercrime.
Whatever data or sensitive information your organisation handles, the importance of awareness across the organisation cannot be underestimated as this can and will ensure a more vigilant workforce. One simple error can lead to catastrophic effects for any organisation. The sooner a mistake can be identified the better the chance of the company recovering quickly and minimizing the damage. Without awareness and emotional investment from employees, security will be forever seen as that mundane or intimidating topic that people will generally avoid.
Having your cyber security strategy clearly defined and accessible will also ensure that you are able to increase customer confidence and compliance with their (and your) supply chain requirements.
So what are we really talking about here? – building a culture of security within your organisation, a key element of which is investing in cyber security training for your staff. Depending on where you are on your cyber maturity journey cyber security training will often begin as non-technical, tailored to the teams and their needs, and will always be developed to be made understandable and accessible
Mistakes made by people can lead to cyber security breaches so placing staff training at the centre will help mitigate this. Greater awareness can lead to overall improvements in defences especially against the most commonly used tactics such as phishing.
By personalising your cyber security training, making it mandatory and part of staff onboarding, keeping it updated and on repeat to ensure everyone is kept abreast of the ever-changing landscape, all goes towards keeping the topic alive within the business. As change involves asking people to do something, they need to feel supported in this.
We believe that with face-to-face training, we can provide context and that human perspective on why security not only matters at a business level, but at a personal level too. People should be at the front and centre of security, they can spot a suspicious email, report if something doesn’t seem normal about their computer, they are the first line of defence and that should never be overlooked. We can also deliver remote sessions providing the same quality and value which are more accessible for people who can’t travel or are not comfortable with in person training.
So what now? Don’t sit on what you now know, make sure you talk to the relevant people in your organisation or reach out to us if that’s you and start building your cyber security strategy.
Shop window displays have never been so vital for long-range visibility and drawing customers into stores. With internet shopping and the oft-reported death of the high street, it’s essential to entice new customers over the threshold while encouraging previous customers to return. An attractive shop window design is key to achieving those goals so we’ve put together some pointers to help you get it right first time.
Shop Window Design: The Essentials
The first things to consider for a shop window design are its objectives and the message you want to convey.
Are you trying to attract attention generally or to draw people to a specific event, such as a sale or new product launch? With that in mind, consider what could draw attention. What would stand out on your street?
For a sale consider using banners, bunting or self-adhesive window stickers to quickly update your windows. Use colours that passersby will associate with a sale, such as eye-catching red lettering or price tag detailing to reinforce the message. For a new product, consider making it the hero item at the centre of your window
Above all, remember that your message must be cohesive. Tell people what you want them to know and keep it on brand. The concept should include brand colours, typography and messaging so that it’s consistent with your in-store experience.
Spatial Awareness
Planning the space available is essential to the success of your display. You don’t have to put everything in the window just because you have a large space!
Window displays that are busy and interesting can be good, but it’s important to avoid clutter because the eye won’t be drawn to any particular element. Experiment with minimalist designs that highlight a few key pieces, props and printed materials. This can look both attractive and be attention-grabbing.
Alternatively, consider implementing a theme, colour palette or category (kitchenware, books or clothes) to keep everything cohesive and inspire your customers.
Don’t just think of the width of the space either; work with the depth, too. Posters or printed fabric or logos don’t have to go at the back but can stick on windows or plinths, or even be suspended mid-display to create a layered scene.
The same goes for height. The use of lighting, suspension and different display products can be really effective. Just remember that any key products should be the focal point of the window display – ideally at eye level.
Don’t forget that shop windows make great canvases, too. Printed vinyl and decals can be used to form themed borders and incorporate logos or branding. They can even be part of the narrative with stickers of graphics, animals or landscapes to set the scene.
Seasonal Window Displays
Retailers of any size can really go to town for seasonal events such as Easter, Christmas and Halloween. They don’t call it window dressing for nothing!
Small or indie shops can use bespoke design solutions and decorations to engage the public and steer their attention to their own products.
Larger outlets, on the other hand, can be more conceptual and tell a story with their window displays. Think Hamleys, Liberty or Fortnum & Mason. Using a selection of the varied products sold within the store and carefully chosen props and printed material or signs, you can design a one-off and quirky shop window that tells a story. Displays can be targeted, themed and stop potential customers in their tracks.
Types Of Window Display
There are several common types of window display to consider, including:
Open-Backed Shop Window Displays
These have become popular in recent years. The window is fronted by the usual glass but there’s no solid wall at the back of the display. This allows passersby to see through the shop window design and right into the shop, giving a modern and inclusive feel.
Closed-Back Shop Window Displays
These are fully shut off with a wall or screen at the back of the display. They can be useful where the window is in front of an unattractive space or when a backdrop is required.
Semi-Closed Shop Window Displays
These, obviously sit between the two above, giving passing traffic a glimpse inside the store, enticing them to enter and find out more.
Elevated Window Displays
With these displays, items are positioned above ground level. They can be open, semi-closed or fully closed. Different elevations can help you play with the space and incorporate eye-catching elements.
Of course, you can combine open-backed with elevated, or even opt for semi-closed back.
Shop Window Display Materials
Well-placed props and furniture can really make for a great shop window and drive footfall. Many generic items can be sourced online but we can produce bespoke items for your brand!
Not sure where to start? Here are few suggestions:
Mannequins: Display clothing, accessories and create a tableau
Window decals: Printed text, graphics or QR codes that can be attached to the windows
Posters and artwork: Draw the eye, share a message or inspire viewers
Furniture: Display stands, shelving, platforms and plinths allow you to showcase key items
Tech: TVs, screens and neon signs can be used to add movement
Banners, bunting and signs: Make use of the space and add a splash of colour
Lighting: Add to the atmosphere and enhance the display after dark
Printed fabric: Add texture, colour and designs to your display
3D-printed giant props: Use 3D printing to create giant products and eye-catching items
Shop Window Sustainability
There are no hard and fast rules about how often to change shop window designs. It can depend on the time of year, the size of the shop or budget you have available. It could be every few weeks, twice a year or seasonally. It really depends on your needs or objectives.
In fact, signs with writing or imagery, say for Christmas, Easter or Halloween, can be reused, repurposed or recycled every year or every few years. Just ensure they’re stored somewhere safe and dry.
And remember, we can also source sustainable and recyclable materials to produce your window displays, so you can be sure your displays have minimal impact on the environment.
Get in touch
Not only can our graphic designers help you to create show-stopping shop windows, but we can manufacture bespoke items and deliver to your door. To find out more about our expertise and experience, give us a call on 01603 620780.
View this original article and other news from BDH Tulford here
It seems whenever we hear the term digital transformation, whether known to us or not, our minds will wonder to bleeding edge technologies, teetering on the edge of the latest Gartner Hype Cycle. The truth is for some businesses, and many people, they don’t actually know what a Hype Cycle is, or why it’s relevant for their business. Mostly, in fact, it isn’t. There is, however, a reason that simple digital transformation projects get lumbered into this category and leave many continuing with business-as-usual processes.
The rationale of digital transformation aversion.
There are many a thing that can leave business owners and leaders operating in a place they don’t feel comfortable. The two that generally have people concerned, out of their comfort zone and reaching for support are Law and Accountancy. When you think about it for a while, it isn’t hard to understand why. As a much younger man, I studied Law at A-Level, but even at that simplistic level, terms such as Actus Reus, Mens Rea and causation are common place in the classroom, but absolutely useless in any context apart from the one they were intended. There is a knowledge gap with law that the simple common-sense approach just doesn’t cover, nor prepare you for.
Further to this, like it’s contextual sibling in this ramble, Law and Accountancy have a much larger and ominous threat to business leaders and their owners. That of risk. Get your legal documents bent out of shape and the ramifications can be catastrophic. The same is true of accountancy, where application of any creativity can lead you not to an award for innovation, but to a stint at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
With digital transformation projects and delays associated with them racking up headline numbers such as £173m for digital border transformation delays, or £100m bill to the television licensee payee for the BBC’s failed DMI project, there’s an associated risk of implementation with any digital transformation project. Not to mention those projects that gain funding and implementation leaving you questioning if they ever had a benefits realisation meeting, and oh to be a fly on the wall in one. Whilst we live in a world of digital technologies creating umbrella drones. Perhaps benefits realisation isn’t always the motivating driver. Really, this is the absolute crux of the matter.
What does digital transformation really mean?
Digital transformation doesn’t have to be large scale. Doesn’t have to be bleeding edge and doesn’t have to include budgets that would make McDonalds’ land bank manager blush.
When considering what digital transformation is, every business leader and owner can relate to e-commerce or the social media, frankly, because the likes of Amazon or Facebook (yes, it’s still called that, it’s just the holding company that’s now Meta ????) are ubiquitous in our daily lives.
E-commerce has been an incredible benefit to drive top line revenue into businesses, accelerated by COVID-19, and we should continue to press the adoption of online retailing within our SME community. I have the same opinion for social media uptake, which can offer truly incredible insights into customers through data aggregation. However, as with all opportunities, we must focus on the deliverables of said project. Or to my earlier point, we would be walking around with drone umbrellas, potentially when it isn’t raining.
Digital transformation has a much wider net that can be cast and for many businesses just as big, if not bigger, fish to catch.
Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP systems integrate the fundamentals of business processes into a holistic operating system. An ERP will typically consist of accounting, procurement, project management, risk management and compliance, and supply chain operations. Having such a large volume and veracity of data through every facet of their business allows leaders to make well informed decisions due to the integrated nature and usually, when implemented correctly, outcome of real time data. Business processes are usually streamlined prior to integration, resulting in back-office efficiencies of moving to a digital platform. Of the many digital transformation opportunities discussed, ERP implementation is one of, if not, the largest opportunity as well as potential failure point.
Client Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply-Chain Management (SCM) can digitally enhance two major touch points within a company. Whilst many providers may integrate CRM and SCM solutions into one package, these functions can also be implemented independently to great effect. Here transparency of interaction, time-based interaction management, automation and business intelligence can optimise performance within a business. For example, understanding the last purchase or interaction with a customer can drive marketing campaigns to increase sales revenue. Real time information on supply chain management can reduce costs through improved quality control, on-time deliveries, stock optimisation and much more.
Cloud based ICT and cloud-based accounting. Putting these two in the same pot is a bit of a stretch, but for the sake of this article spanning the time it takes to drink your morning coffee. Needs must. Cloud based ICT offers a number of security benefits and also reduces the need for costly on-site networking and infrastructure. Moving to office 365 is an incredible start, but there are many more opportunities for businesses to exploit. Cloud based accounting is much more prevalent today, especially since the implementation of making tax digital. It also offers a greater level of transparency and accountability within teams, used correctly.
Digital transformation, what’s needed for implementing technology?
Through the discovery phase time where the pain point is and what the improvement looks like. We will work to understand what the process is today, what the data is today and what the organisation looks like today too. Discovery is key because defines not only where we are today, but informs how we get to where we need to be tomorrow.
Define
The define stage takes all of the learning from the discovery phase and defines the future state. Choosing the right technology to deliver the required output is key. Too many times we see businesses augmenting software to deliver a required output, because package A was of choice. Understanding the current process and requirements or matching a process through redesign to a required outcome really can save time, effort and heartache. The technical term for this is business process reengineering consultancy – funny how we can make everything sound much more complicated than it really is. There’s a lot of sticky notes involved with this.
Define will then match data and process to the chosen system and outline the organisational alignment for delivery and ongoing use.
Deliver
The tip of the iceberg, but the piece that everyone remembers. The delivery phase executes and implements all the above into the business. Care is needed through this phase in ensuring that organizational change is delivered, but just as importantly, that the outlined deliverables are achieved.
Digital Transformation for SME’s
Throughout this discussion, we have moved into more high-level concepts around CRM’s and other words that again make digital transformation less tangible. The truth is, there are many simple to implement opportunities in this market, that feel infinitely more achievable. Companies like Hubspot, Capsule, Salesforce etc., make the implementation seem relatively mainstream. The key to starting digital transformation in your business, is to start thinking of digital transformation in your business. Hopefully this article has helped that happen.
Neil founded the Business Growth Club 10 years ago, with the aim of sharing his knowledge and experience gained over a life time in business and sales.
Aimed at small business owners who have to grapple with competing tasks, his practical down to earth approach has helped hundreds of companies grow and thrive.
He’s often quoted as saying the only advantage to getting old, is he’s gained more knowledge and experience!
I am the perfect person to help you find your happiness through mindset, motivation and movement.
My positivity is infectious (I am told), I like to have fun and I enjoy motivating everyone that I work with to give them the confidence that they can make positive changes.
My own journey to becoming the healthier and happier version of myself that I am today has had its ups and downs and I know from experience that making better choices isn’t always easy but my can-do attitude and determination coupled with my tried and tested methods will get you on your journey.
Fast forward to now and I have completed 6 London Marathons in under four hours and I am the current European long distance triathlon champion in my age group.
My awareness and understanding of the importance of balancing my training, eating and most importantly sleep and rest has come a long way over the years and it is these experiences and knowledge coupled with my academic studies that make me your perfect role model to work with.
With over 25 years’ experience in leadership and management, Alex Sellers is now a Director of Turning Factor and thrives on sharing insights and helping people and businesses develop to reach their full potential. He has line managed lots of teams and lots of people!
Our Vision is to be the first port of call for our clients to solve the everyday challenges that arise with people and business at the highest level, both locally and globally.
Effective leadership at all levels is the differential in the most successful organisations. Good leaders can inspire, drive, co-ordinate, engage, empower and enthuse their followers to great things. The followers become the leaders and the cycle continues. It stands to reason then that the impact of poor leadership on organisations is dramatic and costly.
So what is leadership? What does it mean to be a leader? How do we change? What skills do we need to nurture and develop our people? How can we encourage and grow leadership in our organisations?
Get in touch to discuss the answers to these questions and more and see how we can develop your people to develop your business
