Go digital or go away

Why should an SME go digital? What is the need to complicate your life if everything is running smoothly, just as we have it? 

Well, even if it seems to you that everything is running smoothly in your SME, you may not be considering all aspects. 

Nowadays, SMEs face a constant challenge to stay competitive in an increasingly connected and globalized world. 

That's why they must adapt. And one of the ways they can do this is through digitization.

What is digitalization?

Digitalization and digital transformation are often confused, but there are some key differences. In this article we already talked about Digital Transformation, which is the goal we aspire to in order to differentiate ourselves, offer an optimal experience and get our users to choose us every time.

Digitalization is a previous and essential step, and refers to the use of digital tools to automate and improve the processes of a business. 

This includes the automation of administrative tasks such as electronic invoicing, inventory management or order tracking. It also encompasses the use of tools to manage customer relationships (CRM), analyze data, make video calls, collaborate and share information in real time with your employees or partners.

By digitizing their processes, SMEs will improve efficiency and reduce costs.. 

In addition, the digitization makes it easier for SMEs to reach a much wider audience,as they can create an online presence and use social media and search engines to reach new customers around the world. 

Digitalization must be strategic and orderly, with a well-structured implementation plan to ensure that we are using the appropriate digital tools or adapted to our business efficiently. Digitalization yes, but personalized. Let's not forget that our business must differentiate itself and reflect who we are.

This is especially important for SMEs operating in local markets and looking to expand internationally where they will be competing with multiple suppliers.

It is proven that small and medium-sized companies that digitize correctly have the greatest chance of success in an increasingly competitive and connected marketplace. 

Benefits of digitizing your SME

Digitization offers SMEs several advantages. Some of the most important are:

• Improved efficiency: ya que permite automatizar muchas tareas y procesos, y esto reduce el tiempo y los costos necesarios para llevarlos a cabo, pudiendo dedicar ese ahorro a tareas más creativas.
• Longer range: Thanks to digitalization, SMEs can be seen by a much wider audience. By creating an online presence and search engine optimization, we have unlimited access to new customers worldwide.
• Improvement in communication:Digitization enables SMEs to communicate more efficiently with their employees, partners and customers, using online tools to collaborate on projects or solve problems (such as cloud drives, shared calendars, time and vacation management applications, task tracking, etc.).
• Customization:You can collect information on your customers' use of services or products and use it to improve your services by adapting them to the needs detected.
• Improved decision making:Using data analytics tools makes it easier for SMEs to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of their customers, their buying habits and their needs. This helps them make informed decisions, adapt quickly to change and take advantage of opportunities to grow their business.

Technologies that you should implement in your SME

The technology has been changing the way businesses operate. Some of the basic technologies to implement in SMEs are:

• Devices: that allow you to communicate with your employees, customers or suppliers in a faster and easier way.
• Cloud security:will help you ensure the recovery of important data in the event of cyber-attacks or loss of information.
• Protection applications:there are many applications that protect relevant or confidential information and keep it safe.
• Online presence and sales:having a website or an online store will make it easier for you to keep your information available to everyone, sell your products or services through the Internet and thus increase your visibility, positioning and potential customers for your SME.

Keep in mind that having a profile on social networks is not being digitized, but just another step towards having a presence on the Internet. We say this mainly because in social networks you do not have ownership of what you publish, but the content is in the hands of each network, with all the risks that this entails (censorship, changes in the terms of use, content theft, identity theft), while on your website you have control. It is best to use the networks as a loudspeaker of what you can bring to your potential buyers and a way to bring them to your website, which would be your real place on the Internet.

In conclusion, digitization is a opportunity that SMEs should take advantage of to improve their competitiveness in an increasingly digitized market. 

Digitizing your company is not an option, but a necessity. And also, we would say that it is an obligation, because not doing so is to risk that your SME risks disappearing in the coming months or years. 

So if you have not yet gone digital, don't wait too long. 

Tell us, is your SME already digitized?