Making Your Company Better In Small Ways

Keeping a business successful means being in a constant process of evolution. Entrepreneurs enjoy finding new ways to improve their operations, but often that requires a large outlay of resources. However, some of the most effective changes that business owners can make are small and simple ones that don't cost a fortune. Here are just a few of the little ways that you can make your company better. 

1. Leverage Automation

One of the most powerful tools for business has come about only within the past few years. The advent of distributed computing along with artificial intelligence (AI) has fueled the creation of programs that can do sophisticated tasks from a portable device. In fact, machine learning operations (mlops) have evolved to help deliver these AI products. Now, tools such as automated timesheets, analytical software and digital assistants are all available at a relatively low cost. It could be time to see which of these new systems may help boost the efficiency of your enterprise. 

2. Find High-ROI Marketing Strategies

Yet another area in which digital tools are helping business processes is sales automation. Studies have shown that email marketing campaigns offer up to a 42-1 return on investment. Text campaigns can be even more lucrative. The reason for this is leverage. It takes much less effort to organize and run a digital sales campaign than a traditional one.

Digital infrastructure such as customer relationship management software is often able to automate campaigns, and while this may seem a bit impersonal, the reach is enormous, and most importantly, it puts interaction on the customer's schedule which is vital to securing loyalty. In fact, customers are apparently around nine times more likely to respond to a text message than they are to an email, so in this case, the simplest solution is truly the best. 

3. Train and Energize Your Staff 

No amount of technology can fully compensate for having an untrained and unmotivated staff. In fact, they could end up costing you money. Unmotivated and uninformed staff can make costly security errors. This is especially true online; in fact, security company Tessian, working alongside Stanford University, found that 88% of security breaches involved a human error in some way. Conversely, research clearly demonstrates that an energized and educated workforce boosts productivity considerably. A regimen of regular and immersive training for everyone might be just what your organization needs to level up. 

4. Optimize the Office for Efficiency

Whether your workforce operates remotely, on-site, or something in between, the environment that people work in plays a major role in their overall productivity. From purchasing ergonomically designed office furniture to using color psychology to enhance everyone's mood, there are multiple small steps that can be taken to re-engineer workspaces. Even the food offered to employees in the workplace via lunchrooms and snack machines can make a sizable impact on their wellbeing, which in turn cuts down on time lost from sick days and lethargy. Consider going paperless as well if you haven't already. It's good for minimizing clutter and good for the environment, especially if you use renewable energy (another good idea). 

5. Educate Yourself on Emerging Trends

Marketing research isn't what it used to be. The information age has accelerated the rate of cultural change, but the internet has also made it easier to get a feel for how those trends are taking shape and how to capitalize on them. It's worth doing a deep dive into polls and demographic analyses to get a feel for the public consciousness. Doing in-person or online qualitative surveys such as focus groups and customer feedback questionnaires is another low-cost way to get a feel for the market as a whole. Remember, though, that as subcultures grow in number and diversity, so do the opportunities to cater to brand new niche consumers and earn their loyalty. 

Scaling your company doesn't have to mean breaking the bank or putting in a massive effort. In the business world, keeping things simple is often the surest path to success.