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DIGITAL WONDERLAB: HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021
At the start of the year, many businesses needed to reimagine their way forward after facing the challenges of the ever-changing landscape.
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Business Strategies written in January were very likely in need of revision during the summer, and they continue to morph now as the world settles into a new pattern.
So how did we all get on this past year?
Here are some of the key highlights:
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Change brings opportunity As business owners, we are very used to dealing with disruption and the perpetual motion of change. In fact, that is one of the only constants in life! We all continue to learn to act fast, be agile and be prepared to flow with the movement of change.
It has been a time of incredible opportunity as we continue to learn and prepare for regrowth, re-evaluating and redefining ourselves, our work and our purpose, now and into 2022. Digital has become firmly embedded in every strategy no matter how small or large an organisation. Our world is now digital first and the future is all about growing through digital maturity to create better businesses.
For example, how we work has changed, using technology to enable our evolving needs. We have learned to work in balance, using office time and remote working to be flexible around our customers and our teams’ needs, suiting both personal and professional commitments.
People first – being in it together People are at the centre of everything we do. We know that working alongside technology is where magic meets logic and positive change happens. This is our focus when working with our clients; helping them make an impact to improve lives through satisfying real needs and solving the big problems that exist.
Our team supported not only our clients but each other throughout this past year, through activities including walking meetings and quiz nights. We started a weekly‘ wellness session’ to create time to check in and connect as a team.
We have developed a powerful partnership with a creative collective of West Country enterprises, from brand experts, photographers and videographers to CRM gurus, purposedriven consultants and content writers. They all compliment what we do to provide clients with everything they might need to succeed in the digital world, enabling us to build greater local opportunities.
Focus on projects which make a positive impact Our great blend of retained and long-standing partnerships has combined with new clients seeking to do more with digital, from charities and fintech for good, to start-up disruptors and healthcare businesses.
Helping charities this year through pro bono work has continued for us and has been more important in 2021 than ever before. We were privileged to have the opportunity to help several charities and not-for-profits, including Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Great Western Credit Union, MentoringPlus, BANES carers, House of Imagination, deafPlus, The Charlie Waller Trust, and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. Our team steadfastly ensured that these projects were delivered despite the many restrictions and pressures placed on society at the time.
Our team donates time, expertise and funding to enable great causes to realise their digital potential. During the past year, we donated over £ 95,000 worth of consultancy and design support time to charity partners, while also building and leveraging creative partnerships to help these organisations move forward on their digital journeys, delivering over £ 250,000 of savings and increased revenue.
Nathan Baranowski( our Chief Wondermaker) became a Digital Trustee at Dorothy House Hospice Care, joining the local charity to inspire the organisation and the communities they work with, bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience of all things digital.
Throughout the past decade, we’ ve built up an impressive nationwide clientele from our Wiltshire base. We are proud of the work we do locally with organisations such as Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Wiltshire Community Foundation, MentoringPlus, Playforce and Dorothy House, and it’ s this work that has seen us win an increasing number of clients from across the UK over the past 12 months.
The digital journey continues We have seen many businesses start to digitally transform, transitioning to the cloud( in many cases pre-pandemic) but this has gathered momentum for many reasons. It has taken many organisations into a good space ready to deal with the digital world we are now firmly living in, however a few took their foot off the pedal once the economy started to open up again.
One thing is for certain, digital evolution will continue at pace and we all need to accelerate rather than falter in our approach. You need to meet your customers where they are. Their world is most definitely in the hybrid space; transitioning between the online and offline worlds.
For more info: www. digitalwonderlab. com
01225 220155
@ digiwonderlab
digitalwonderlab
For more info: www. digitalwonderlab. com THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2021 13