As a business owner, it’s important that you modernize your business so that you can:
- Prepare for the future
- Provide a better customer experience
- Attract the best possible employees
Of course, you can’t transform your business from nothing to a modern juggernaut over time. Modernization is a process that takes considerable time in the world of business, it can even take several years to complete.
If you’re interested in taking your small or medium-size business to the next level, here are some tips that will help you to modernize it for the modern employee and customer.
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Design Your APIs
Firstly, what’s an API? Simple: an API (Application Programming Interface) is a software-to-software interface that allows apps to communicate and exchange data with each other. For example, have you ever signed into an app before using the “Sign in with Apple” option? If so, that’s an example of an API, as Apple is communicating with whichever app you’re trying to sign in to.
Through following API Design Best Practices, you can design APIs that are perfect for your business applications. For example, if you decide to make an open API, this will allow developers from other companies to interact with your application and create software capable of functioning with the original program. To break down barriers and make your product more accessible, it’s important to address the challenge of managing your APIs and the contracts that govern them.
This is where contract management, or the process of overseeing your business agreements throughout their lifecycle, from creation to execution, plays a pivotal role. So, what is contract management? It involves effectively managing and organizing your contracts to ensure smooth operations and accessibility.
By implementing robust contract management practices, you can streamline your API management process and ensure that your product remains accessible to a wider audience.
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Go Hybrid
Since 2020, some big changes have happened across almost all major industries. Without a doubt, the biggest change of them all has been the introduction of hybrid work.
Now, 58% of Americans have had hybrid work options made available by their companies. Essentially, if they want to work from home on some days, now they can.
It’s important that your business offers hybrid work, too. Failure to modernize in this way will potentially lead to big problems down the road, such as being unable to attract employees from younger generations.
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Switch to Cloud-Based Apps
From office-based to remote employees, make it a priority to equip everyone with cloud-based apps.
A popular example of a cloud app right now is Google Workspace, which combines all the main Google apps, from Gmail to Google Drive, into a single space. This makes it much easier for business employees to create content and collaborate with each other.
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Sell Online
The e-commerce train just refuses to slow down. In 2023, e-commerce sales are expected to increase again, this time by 10.4% (Forbes).
Have no doubt about it, now is the time to start selling products online if you haven’t already. Over the coming decade, brick-and-mortar shopping is likely going to continue to decline as more and more consumers rely on online shopping instead.
Selling online comes with a host of exciting benefits, too, such as reduced order processing costs and no opening and closing times.
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Use Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is one of the most powerful (and effective) marketing tools around.
Through platforms like Facebook and Twitter, you can market to mass audiences without having to spend a penny on ads. If you go the organic route, you can grow your customers by posting interesting content, interacting with customers, and just being an all-round good brand!
Plus, if you don’t have any in-house social media marketing experts, you can outsource your social media marketing to a third-party company. It’s a no-brainer.
