Intelligent SME.tech Issue 13 | Page 35

intelligent

// EXPERT PROFILE // relationships , but it ’ s easy to worry that these will suffer if you can ’ t meet customers face-to-face . However , an online storefront gives businesses unprecedented insight into customer preferences .

From what customers most enjoy browsing to their dwell time on specific pages – a small business owner has an abundance of valuable data at their fingertips . Armed with the means to understand what customers
Michael Office , Sage ’ s VP Small Segment like , and analyse where they experience problems online , small businesses can drive better decision-making . Despite the physical distance , a small business is empowered to constantly improve the online experience for its shoppers .
Crafting a company in the cloud
Going online presents a multitude of new opportunities for small businesses . However , some preparation is essential before the transition can be fully made . To embrace a truly robust online model , small businesses need to be supported by easy payment technology and support systems . Usually , e-commerce transactions need to go through an online merchant or payment provider , so
small businesses must ensure this relationship is in place first before they invest heavily in their online presence .
A larger challenge is visibility . When all your customers and staff are in-store , it ’ s relatively easy to keep an eye on operations . Organisations traditionally check the books when they need to know how business is ticking over . But this isn ’ t as easy when everyone is working remotely . Without the right tools and technology , staying on top of things can be tough .
However , when all the information needed is digitised and available online , things become far easier than before . The cloud provides a comprehensive , secure environment to

A BUSINESS BUILT TO BE DIGITAL- FIRST IS MORE RESILIENT TO UNFORESEEN DISRUPTION AND FLEXIBLE TO CHANGING CUSTOMER NEEDS .
Intelligent SME . tech
. tech
35