The locomotive pace of digital innovation makes it challenging for big businesses to keep up, let alone small businesses. A profusion of digital technology and trends continue to clog up the marketing airways year-in and year-out. Everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to video live streaming offers endless ways to interact with customers and win their loyalty – and each one requires the right resources and strategy.

One of the vehicles driving digital transformation is cloud. It is a key component for small businesses to utilize for updating their business processes and establishing a platform that will help them to reach internal and external audiences more effectively and reliably. Many businesses have accepted it as the most economic way of extending their reach while also solving any pre-existing IT issues. A prime benefit of cloud is the reduction in cost of operation and ownership – which is a selling point for any business.

So how do you drive digital transformation in small business?

Digital transformation is about taking proactive steps to ensure new technologies are incorporated into your business model. For some companies, changes that are uncomfortable may need to be made earlier than anticipated, or at the very least, it may require reconsidering past methods that were successful. Here are a few things small business can do now to drive digital transformation within their organization.

• Determine which processes are the most important to take digital first. (Tip: Customer experience, operations, innovation and marketing offer the largest potential for early ROI in digital transformation.)
• Focus on your consumer and how to make the user journey more improved and efficient.
• Ensure organization buy-in. All employees and stakeholders must be informed about and involved in the digital transformation.
• Be adaptable to digital disruptions and utilize them to your advantage.
• Focus on technologies that will drive growth. (Tip: Data analytics, integrated platforms and artificial intelligence are becoming key focuses for technologies.)
• Make room in your budget for it.

Many businesses have realized that, although there is a starting line for digital transformation, it doesn’t end. It’s an ongoing process that has to be flexible enough to adapt to disruptions and an ever-changing customer landscape. Small businesses should consider its short- and long-term goals – because digital transformation is not a “set it and forget it” tool. Company decision-makers should constantly think about the ways in which digital solutions can improve internal standard operating procedures or the customer experience. The most profitable businesses are established in a way that is beneficial to both the employees and the customers.

The potential of the new digital economy remains largely untapped by many businesses. Digital transformation can be a bit overwhelming to take in, but avoiding it is detrimental for businesses that want to stay competitive in today’s environment. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. At Wild Coffee Marketing, we help companies, big and small, brave the world of digital transformation. Contact us today for more information!