The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 58: December/January 2021 | Page 36

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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 .
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 :
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 19