Why it’s time for SMBs to go digital

Businesses must view digital capabilities and platforms as an investment that strengthens their offering. Damon Kelly explains the how’s and why’s.

Technology has rapidly integrated itself into every aspect of our lives these past few years – whether it’s the way we work, order food, shop, or even communicate.

New Zealand’s move to digital has been fast-tracked by the pandemic, with every four percent growth in tech sector creating $2.7 billion additional GDP. But what does this new digital wave mean for Kiwi businesses?

It means that enhancing your digital capabilities and presence is now even more essential to staying relevant in a competitive market.

Large enterprises have always been ahead of the pack when it comes to digital transformations with larger budgets and the necessary resources on hand. Our local SMBs on the other hand, may feel they are on the back foot. This puts them in a position where they either need to keep up or risk being left behind.

But getting digital shouldn’t be seen as a burden – SMBs need to view it as an investment that will strengthen their offering; and here’s why:

Make your mark

Having suffered the full brunt of Covid, SMBs have proven their resilience. Technology can empower your business to stand out from your competitors in this tough market. Without digital capabilities, businesses are at a disadvantage when it comes to driving growth, innovation and development – all of which are essential to building a successful enterprise.

The implementation of ground-breaking technology can give SMBs the edge they need to make their mark on the global stage. For example, at Enlighten Designs, we use technology to specialise in niche services that enable us stand out from other key players in the industry. Most recently, we’ve been recognised as one of the only two New Zealand-headquartered businesses to be certified for Microsoft’s Advanced Specialisation for migrating and optimising web applications to Azure Cloud. 

Freshening up digital capabilities and platforms will help SMBs shine in their industry. Having spent more than two decades in the tech industry, I know that technology has the power and tools needed to help you do more with less.

The transformative effect of tech

People are engaging more online than ever before, and with customers no longer having to go in store to buy products or wait in a restaurant to order food, it’s clear that consumer experience and demand is driven by technology.

As a domino effect, technology now plays an integral role in the way people do business. Both shareholders and customers are increasingly demanding smoother experiences, more functionality and instant access to services and information.

MYOB’s 2022 Technology Snapshot Survey found that over the past year, 45 percent of SMBs have looked into new technology to help their business – this often focused on digitising sales, admin, accounting and finance, and customer communication.

Digital shows no sign in slowing down in the next few years. This is evident in a study commissioned by Google, which found that digital transformation could boost New Zealand’s economy up to $46.6 billion by 2030 – this would be 14 percent of its present-day GDP.

Without a digital presence, SMBs risk losing their relevance in the market and could suffer as a result. That’s why it’s important to embrace everything that technology has to offer, including its ability to transform the way you work.

Depending on your needs, there are countless tools and opportunities.

Looking to simplify the way you measure success? Try Microsoft’s Power BI software – a data analytical tool which can be used to create visuals and dashboards and help you measure your business’ performance.

Wanting to streamline how you communicate with clients? Start using Mailchimp – an email marketing service that manages mailing lists and creates email marketing campaigns to keep your customers updated about your latest news and offers.

Ready to kickstart your digital transformation? Try using no-code or low-code PowerApps that allow you to develop  custom mobile and web apps for your business, helping you manage costs while increasing productivity.

The benefits of tech

Getting digital won’t just ensure that SMBs stay relevant. It also improves their ability to do business as seamlessly as possible. This is evident in MYOB’s survey, where 30 percent of respondents claimed that digitising made their work less complicated. 

For any SMB wanting to fast-track growth, it’s important to think big and consider how technology has the power to strengthen your business – for example, creating better processes to improve customer experiences, and attract more people. AI services, such as the ones available through Microsoft Azure, provide access to powerful tools that transform the way businesses operate. These cloud-based artificial intelligence services help you build cognitive intelligence into applications, including translating text to speech, creating synthetic voice and auto-translating – all of which provide speed, scalability and security for your organisation.

Whether it’s an advanced system or an updated website, it’s important for SMBs to remember that technology is here to help, not hinder.

Article by Damon Kelly, Founder & CEO of Enlighten Designs.