Attention: entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate executives, employees, and managers, the digital transformation is now in full effect.
Due to an expected, but highly unprepared for pathogen by the name of COVID-19, the global economy has been forced into complete automation.
As a business consultant one of the first questions I ask myself is what’s the life cycle of this event?
If business is of any interest to you then please listen to my findings carefully: this business environment is the new normal, so don’t take it lightly.
With that bold announcement let me introduce some ways for your organization to thrive in the digital transformation.
The proceeding steps are imperative to digitally transforming a large, well-established company, but are still transferable to a small business.
Please note we’ve dedicated the latter part of this article to Automating a Small Business.
Customer-Focus
The first and foremost step to digitally transforming your enterprise is to shift from a product-focus to a customer-focus.
Let’s take Amazon for example. The driving factor behind their gargantuan success has been their commitment to customer-centrism.
Try to look at technology as a tool to provide customers with the best experience possible, instead of a means to make things easier for your company.
Break down the walls of your organization. A digital transformation must have everyone on board, which often means a shift in your organizational structure.
All team members and departments must work cohesively to provide the most customer-centric experience possible.
Managing the Transformation
As beneficial as a digital transformation can be for a company it won’t come without some overhead.
Expect a backlash of unwillingness and disinterest from a portion of your team, be prepared to listen to their concerns.
Reinforce the company’s vision of a customer-focused enterprise, and the subsequent benefits to all stakeholders including your staff.
Technology
Much like the need for fluidity within your organizational structure, your data systems must be integrated into one internal process.
By this stage the majority of your team should be on board with your digital transformation. Directly involve your team when focusing on digital solutions for your customers.
By empowering employees to provide consumer grade technology solutions you’ll end up with a remarkable customer experience.
Personalize your product or service every chance you have. Leverage digital solutions to better understand customers, then utilize the data, by providing recommendations that are unique to the end user.
Automating a Small Business
I’ll now delve into the very real situation most small business owners find themselves in. I want to reinforce my hypothesis that the period we’re now in, the new normal, is very much here to stay.
I want to reinstate that this new era in business will have it’s winners and losers. I’m hoping our clients and readers understand the significance of this new business environment, and act accordingly.
Below are some ambitious, yet appropriate steps to help solidify your success in the digital era:
Become the industry expert in your field by providing boundless amounts of free, valuable content to your target audience through your website and social media platforms.
Once you gain adequate recognition and a sizable following, monetize by offering an additional, specialized course for a fee.
A general price point is between $400 – $2,000. Ideally your course will be $995, since this is typically a sweet spot where businesses are able to scale their course, and earn enough revenue to be profitable.
Continue this process. Listen to your customers, and your followers in what they want to learn from you.
Some final, more obvious ways to automate your small business is in having an exceptionally user friendly and up to date website.
A truly automated business has a clear website that’s able to process customers payments for your services or merchandise.
To Conclude
The digital transformation is a business evolution that will ultimately benefit the consumer, and create a hyper competitive, consolidative business environment for the rest of us.
Digest the information in this article then ask yourself:
Is there an opportunity to shift from a product-focused business to a customer-focused business?
Am I employing technology to benefit my business processes or to enhance the end users experience?
Is my small business creating passive revenue through the steps suggested above?
Please reach out with any further questions or inquiries. We’re always happy to help.
Kevin Foreman
President, Black Sheep Business Consulting
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