How to Modernize Your Business For 2020
The end of the year is in sight, which means that now is a good time for business owners to reflect, plan and modernize your business for the year ahead.
The start of a new year should be a time where your business takes positive strides forward and finds ways to improve the operation, attract more customers, improve working life for your staff and boost sales. Modernizing your business is a smart way to make positive strides forward and there are many ways that you can do this in 2020. So, if you want to make next year the best one yet for your company, then read on for a few ways in which you can modernize your brand.
Encourage Remote Working
An increasing number of companies are encouraging their staff to work from home at least one day of the week, and this is a smart idea. It may feel like you are losing control when staff work from home, but you will find that productivity and morale are often higher. Not only this, but remote working can help you to save money on your energy bills, so it is a win-win situation for all parties. In addition to remote working, you may also want to provide flexible working opportunities to staff, as this can be effective for reducing stress, improving morale and increasing employee loyalty.
Find New Software & Apps
Most businesses rely on software and apps as part of their daily operation and this is an excellent way to automate, streamline, reduce error and free up time. It can also be hard to stay current because there are so many different software programs and apps that are constantly being released, which means that often there is a newer and better option available. Spend time researching new software and apps which could boost your business and then implement these in the New Year.
Upgrade Technology
Similarly, technology plays a key role in most industries, but it is also constantly improving. Upgrade your tech and equipment for 2020 and you will soon see the benefit – additionally, this is a good way to improve morale and show staff that you care. New technology can be expensive, but you could look to lease technology and equipment which can be easier to manage and also allows you to upgrade every few years.
Increase Collaboration with The Cloud
It is important that you are able to keep your team happy, engaged and challenged so that they enjoy their work and stay loyal. This can be challenging when they are doing the same work each and every day, which is why it is helpful to keep things fresh by increasing collaboration. This is made much easier with cloud computing, which allows staff to easily collaborate even if they are working remotely.
Update Your Branding
A strong brand identity is key to success, but you can also find that branding can become tired and dull, particularly if it has been the same for many years. Updating and modernizing the brand image can breathe new life into the company and help you to form a stronger connection with your target audience. This might involve having a new logo designed, coming up with a new slogan, or changing your color scheme.
Revamp the Company Website
Similarly, a company website can easily become tired and outdated, particularly when you consider the ever-changing trends in web design. Revamping the company website is a smart way to modernize for the year ahead, because this is often the first point of contact with a potential customer. Make sure that the website is easy-to-navigate, clear, stylish and serves a purpose – it is recommended that you use the services of a professional web designer.
Modernize the Office
You could also look to make improvements to your work environment, which can boost morale, improve daily performance, increase brand reputation and improve employee loyalty, among many other benefits. There are all kinds of ways to modernize your office, but a few of the best approaches include making the office open plan, increasing the amount of natural light, adding plant life, investing in ergonomic furniture and making improvements to the break room.
Increase Digital Marketing Efforts
There is no point in having an attractive website if nobody is visiting. Increasing your digital marketing efforts in 2020 is a smart way to improve your online presence, increase brand awareness and direct more traffic to your website.
Learn Lean Six Sigma
One of the best ways that you can boost your business and improve your own skillset in 2020 is with the highly effective methodology of Six Sigma. You can benefit from Lean Six Sigma certification, which will help you to improve business processes, overcome problems and streamline your business through an approach based on statistical analysis. This is a highly accurate way of improving your business and will help you to make positive changes to your business operation.
Develop Your Team
A business really starts to grow and improve when it is driven by a team of hard-working, skilled and passionate employees. Developing your staff with training opportunities, new hires and team-building events and activities is a smart way to modernize for the year ahead and something that will benefit everyone.
Find New Partnerships
It is always a smart idea to keep your eyes peeled for exciting new partnership opportunities, which could boost your business and open you up to a new market. Look out for new startups in the area, attend local community events and network online to speak to fellow business owners and see if you could strike up some form of partnership which would benefit all parties.
Modernizing your company for the year ahead is a great way to breathe new life into the company, improve morale and streamline your operation. There are many ways in which you can do this for 2020, but the above are a few of the best strategies that are worth considering. You could pick a few of your favorites, or even just one strategy, and you are sure to notice improvements in the year ahead.
