For many small businesses, 2020 was riddled with challenges related to shutdowns, social distancing, economic woes and more. While these challenges will undoubtedly persist in the months ahead, 2021 also brings the opportunity for many small businesses to grow. Positioning your small business to take advantage of opportunities available in 2021 is essential, and these are some of the solutions or tools that your business can employ to achieve lofty goals.
A Mobile-Friendly Website
The prevalence of ecommerce has increased by approximately 20 percent in 2020, and this trend is expected to continue. While many people continue to use a desktop browser, others are transitioning to searching for goods and services on mobile devices. In addition, search engine algorithms are increasingly taking a website’s mobile-friendliness into consideration for search engine results. With this in mind, improving your small business website’s mobile-friendliness should be a top priority.
NetSuite Applications
NetSuite is a cloud-based application that is currently used by thousands of larger and smaller businesses around the world. It delivers solutions for ecommerce, customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and other functions in a single, integrated platform. If you are not yet working with a NetSuite provider, now may be the right time to do so.
Alternative Payment Solutions
Contactless payment methods have been increasing in popularity, and this trend is expected to continue. Regardless of whether your small business accepts payments online or in person, operations should be established to accept the payment methods that today’s consumers prefer. Contactless payment methods include online payments, mobile payments and contactless debit or credit card transactions. While cryptocurrency is not a mainstream form of payment, some businesses already accept the more popular types of cryptocurrencies. This is an area that you may want to monitor going forward.
Online Human Resources Solutions
Managing everything from payroll processing to time tracking, administering benefits and more requires a considerable amount of time. Because small businesses generally do not have the need or the ability to employ a full-time HR professional, these tasks can weigh down operations. With an increasing range of online and cloud-based HR solutions available, small businesses can streamline and simplify this aspect of operations. Because these solutions are improving regularly, consider reviewing the options if you have not done so recently.
While significant circumstances have created challenges for many small businesses, today’s small businesses can utilize many solutions to manage and promote growth. Consider how these solutions can be incorporated into your operations in the months ahead.
Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009221637700
