Computers and digital technology are arguably humanity’s greatest achievements as they have revolutionized our lives in unprecedented ways. They generally make business operations easier, faster, and more efficient. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are pivotal in the successes of most, if not all, enterprises we see today.
Digital technology has become so important in today’s businesses that surviving without it in this tech-driven world is almost impossible, so it’s no surprise that many entrepreneurs are turning to digital transformation tools to level up. Find here everything you need to know about these tools, their importance in business, and how to use them.
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation describes integrating digital technology into analog areas of a business to improve customer experience, production performance, and service delivery. Think of it as automating a company’s daily operations with software to augment overall performance. Digital products such as Canva, Cincopa, and MetaSlider, for example, are digital evolution tools you can use to market your products via slideshows.
In essence, digital transformation is a process that every business must undertake if it is to attract/retain customers and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Benefits of digital transformation
The significance of digital modification in today’s business world cannot be overstated. Here are some ways digital evolution and its tools can help your business:
Enhanced efficiency
Digital modification automates processes that would’ve been otherwise handled by humans, eliminating or reducing errors and allowing employees to focus on other activities.
Better customer experience
With digital evolution tools, companies can easily collect customer feedback, data, and insights, which they can use to create and deliver better products and services.
Enhanced security
Every business with an online presence is at risk of exploitation, but digital modification tools that offer cyber security services can help prevent that. This is critical since data breaches can have significant financial and reputational consequences. For data security, encryption is necessary, and for that, you should buy an SSL certificate available at a reasonable price.
Greater flexibility
Digital evolution tools help businesses swiftly respond to drastic changes in industry trends. For example, cloud-based software help small businesses manage exponential increases in demand for their services without crashing.
What are digital transformation tools
Digital evolution tools are software that can be integrated into business processes to make them faster and more efficient. The main goal of these tools is to help companies use technology as a competitive advantage, especially in terms of customer experience and the delivery of products and services.
12 essential digital transformation tools for your business
- Email automation software (a tool for automating email using AI)
Automating email using AI is one digital solution you don’t want to miss. As a growing business, you’re likely to experience an exponential increase in emails if your products and services go mainstream. Dealing with thousands of emails is very stressful. Thankfully, you won’t have this headache if you use email automation software. These AI-powered software can also revolutionize your email marketing campaigns by categorizing emails and personalizing your replies to customers.
- Design software (good for downloadable menu templates)
Design software helps you create lovely designs for your business at a minimal cost. For example, if you’re a restaurant owner, to cut down on costs, you can use a design software like Lightspeed. You get a free downloadable menu template in a heartbeat. The best part is that it doesn’t require much technical know-how. In addition, this tool allows you to explore various design choices and tweak colors as much as possible.
- Event management tools
Event management tools are software programs that help event planners and organizers to streamline and optimize the planning, execution, and evaluation of events. These tools often offer a variety of features such as budgeting, task management, registration, ticketing, and attendee tracking. Some examples of event management tools include Goallevents, Eventbrite, Cvent, and Meetup. Eventbrite is a popular platform that allows event organizers to create and sell tickets, manage guest lists, and collect data on attendees. Cvent is another event management tool that offers a wide range of features including online registration, event websites, and mobile app support. Eventbrite and Cvent are both well-respected event management tools, but they do have some differences. Eventbrite tends to be more geared towards small to medium-sized events and has a more user-friendly interface, while Cvent is better suited for larger, more complex events and offers a wider range of features. Please refer Goallevent’s indepth guide on comparison between eventbrite and cvent.
- POS system tools
POS (Point of Sale) system tools are computerized systems that are used to facilitate transactions in retail environments. They are often used in conjunction with physical registers and cash drawers to process sales, accept payments, and track inventory. Wise Small Business’s pool hall POS system guide is a resource that provides information and advice on choosing and implementing a POS system for pool hall businesses.
- Cloud storage tools
Cloud storage tools store data on highly secure remote servers. They’re must-haves for every business that wants to undergo digital evolution due to their efficiency at data security and accessibility. Cloudways, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Sync are some of the top cloud storage solutions in 2023. They all have free versions, but the storage space is often limited and may be insufficient for large-scale use.
- Communication tools
These digital software make discussions between team members more seamless and coordinated. With these tools and best practices for building effective internal communication systems, you can easily track your team’s performance, compile contributions and feedback, and keep everyone in the loop.
Tools like Skype and Zoom also allow your company to work remotely, as features like video conferencing mean your team members don’t have to be in the same place to communicate or work efficiently. Crisp, Google Chat, Slack, Discord, and Microsoft Teams are also good communication tools to incorporate into your business.
- Payroll management tools
Payroll management is one of the most demanding aspects of running a business, but it doesn’t have to be. Tools like Remote, FreshBooks, Figgo, Workday, and Payfit help you sort through payment schedules, payroll hours, absences, and other factors surrounding employee payroll. Team members can also submit necessary information in payroll calculations using these tools.
- CRM tools
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is another must-have for any business that wants to track feedback, complaints, and suggestions from its target audience. Also, choosing the right CRM for a small business is crucial, as it can empower teams to collaborate seamlessly, share insights, and ultimately drive growth through a more customer-centric approach. These tools also boost your business’s overall efficiency. Little wonder 60% of businesses claim they experienced productivity using a CRM platform.
CRM tools like Freshdesk, Salesforce, and Hubspot leverage customer data to create analytics that help your team adjust key business activities, such as service delivery or product development, to meet customers’ expectations. You also retain customers and improve your position in the market by meeting their needs.
- CMS tools
Without Content Management System (CMS) tools, it’s impossible to fully undergo digital modification. They enable entrepreneurs to edit, create, and publish content (images, texts, and videos) on websites, social media, or mobile apps. CMS tools such as Drupa, WordPress, and PrestaShop, for example, come with simplistic user interfaces, templates, and themes that allow users to create the ideal content for their brand, all without requiring much technical know-how.
- Project management tools
Project management software, such as Trello, Asana, and Jira, are essential in any digital modification process. Integrated with communication tools, this project management software improves workflow by enabling your team members to seamlessly plan, track, and execute projects to meet project deadlines and goals.
Many of them come with features such as project planning and scheduling, resource allocation, time and budget tracking, Kanban board, feedback management, project dashboards, and third-party integrations that give you the ability to control and direct all business projects.
- Electronic signature tools
E-signature tools allow team members to sign documents electronically on their devices. These tools speed up document processing and accreditation, eliminate human error, and, of course, reduce paper usage, which has a positive impact on the ecosystem. DocuSign, Dropbox Sign, and Foxit eSign are some of the best e-signature tools to try out.
- Document management software
Moving from paper to paperless is one of the goals of digital evolution, and document management software like DocuWare, Dropbox Business, and Google Drive can help you achieve this. These digital products are used to retrieve, store, send, find and organize documents electronically, eliminating the need for paper documents in offices. In addition, they typically come with various features that will allow you to create, edit, and share documents electronically. You can also track and control access to these documents.
Factors to consider when choosing digital transformation tools
Compatibility
Digital transformation is about the seamless integration of digital technologies into existing systems – a smooth transition into a tech-driven enterprise, not the disruption of the system. Therefore, your chosen tools must fit into existing business structures or networks without upsetting them.
Security
Digital modification tools are at high risk of being compromised because they connect to various online networks. Hence, you need to consider their in-built cybersecurity protocols or ability to integrate with third-party cybersecurity systems before making a choice. Therefore, look for features such as data encryption, threat scanning, backup and recovery, and access controls before paying for digital transformation software.
Scalability
Every business owner wants to grow their company over the next few years, and the most astute ones do so by selecting solutions that can accommodate rising demand. Digital transformation tools are scalable if they can handle growing client demands or data or connect with new technologies as they emerge.
Functionality
Every digital solution aims to make businesses more efficient and productive, but they do so in different ways. So, before choosing one, ensure you know what it does and how it works. In other words, evaluate the capabilities of various tools and choose those that best meet the needs of your business.
Support and maintenance
Your chosen digital solutions should have a solid support system and offer ongoing upkeep and updates. This will guarantee that problems or flaws are rapidly fixed and that the tools remain up to speed.
Usability
Select user-friendly tools if you want seamless integration into regular business operations. For instance, the software you choose to compute customer orders effectively should have a simple user interface and other features that make the process easy for your personnel.
The Importance of Price Monitoring Tools in Digital Transformation
With the ever-growing competitiveness in today’s business landscape, price monitoring tools have become an indispensable part of the digital transformation process. These tools enable businesses to track their competitor’s pricing strategies in real-time and help in making informed decisions about their own pricing models.
By using price monitoring tools, businesses can stay on top of market trends, optimize their pricing strategies, and ultimately increase profitability. Furthermore, these tools provide valuable insights that help businesses better understand their market position, thus enabling them to craft strategies that effectively address customer demands.
Therefore, in the era of digital transformation, leveraging price monitoring tools is not only a smart move but a necessity for businesses striving to maintain a competitive edge in 2023.
Digital transformation tools – a must for every business in 2023
Digital transformation tools are not an option for businesses that want to succeed in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape; they are a must. Therefore, as a business owner, you must consider integrating the discussed digital products into your business. However, remember that even the best digital tools do not produce great results on their own. They can only be used to their full potential when integrated with a solid strategy and a well-grounded team.
