Getting started with technologies
Getting started with technologies and Digital Transformation
Technologies can help you become more efficient and free up some of your valuable time. They can also help you reach your customers more efficiently.
We live in a digital world and the rules have changed. All organizations, including small businesses and non-profits, must integrate digital technologies to remain competitive. The purpose of this section is to help you get started (digital literacy section) as well as to learn how to adapt and improve your sustainable competitive advantage. The Covid pandemic has accelerated this. According to a study by the World Bank, “more than 25% of small businesses reported closing between the months of January and May” and many now see the need for digital transformation. Furthermore, a study by Cisco reports,
- “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the digital divide that was already present in the small business market, and it is forcing companies to accelerate their digitalization
- Small businesses are realizing that digitalization is no longer an option, but a matter of survival
- nearly three-quarters (70%) of respondent small businesses are accelerating digital transformation efforts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses with advanced digital maturity “can respond faster to changing market conditions and grow their revenue.” https://www.techrepublic.com/article/small-business-study-details-necessity-and-challenges-of-digital-transformation/
We are in the process of building an online digital literacy program to help small businesses understand the need for technologies and which ones could help them.
- National Digital Equity Center: “The National Digital Equity Center provides communities at all levels the expertise to mobilize broadband technologies through digital inclusion, literacy efforts, education, resource planning, funding research, infrastructure leveraging and stakeholder engagement.”
- Maine State Library: This website (about half-way down the page) provides some online resources on how to start a business, legal issues, health insurance, etc.
- This article discusses technologies that every small business should consider using.
- Microsoft has a basic online digital literacy course to help you learn things like computer basics, the Internet, the Cloud, useful software tools and more.
- Make your service more convenient for your customers – online booking systems and cyber meetings
- Doing business in the cloud – what are the benefits/ challenges?
- Automate your bookkeeping using WAVE/ SQUARE-UP
- Improve your marketing and promotion using online tools like CANVA, EVENTBRITE and MAILCHIMPA recent article from Business foundations said, ”
“Digital literacy 101 – How to Create, Connect and Contribute online
Ensure your business can be found online in several simple steps
- An overview of G-Suite – professional apps from Google to make running your business easier”
- “Web Site Creation: Click here for information on how to build your own website.
- If you are a small business, be sure to register your business with the FREE Google Business platform. This will provide incredibly valuable exposure on Google!