tools for online business

Use of Online Tools In Business; A Guide for Kansas City Businesses in 2023

The year is 2023, and no one can deny the impact that the Internet has had on our lives. Socially, we depend on the use of online tools to keep up with friends and family, connecting with the world through social media and messaging apps.

Professionally, workers across the planet can take advantage of the use of online tools – such as their phones, tablets, and laptops to fulfill their job responsibilities anywhere with a wifi connection.  Businesses have also seen the impact of the online world on operations and their ability to connect with audiences.

If you are a business owner or executive, then you are likely taking advantage of various tools that are only available online. What tools are you using, and how can you maximize them to promote growth for the brand? With regards to making the most from the use of online tools, here are a few things to consider.

Well-Designed Website

A website is often the first point of contact that your brand will have with a potential customer outside of marketing initiatives. This is where they will go to learn more about the business and what it can offer them.

If your website is confusing or text-heavy, then consumers might look for another solution in the form of your competition. For example, an e-commerce site must be designed intuitively so customers can easily browse products, select them, read details, and then complete an online transaction. If any steps are missing or unclear, customers may be turned off from the brand entirely. Invest in your website design to increase your average session duration. 

Use of Online Tools

Custom Mobile App

Embracing the smartphone trend is always a good idea for brands that are serious about growth. People rely on mobile applications so much these days, and when a company can offer a custom app, a better connection between the company and the customer is possible.

You do not have to be tech-savvy to develop a great app for your company since you could partner with Kansas City software developers to achieve this objective. With the right platform, you could see an expansion of the customer base since it will be easier for them to interact with your brand online. 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Reaching maximum efficiency is the goal of most companies. An organization that is using all its resources to maximize success is more likely to experience growth in the industry. One tool that has helped foster this objective for thousands of brands is enterprise resource planning systems.

ERPs can accomplish many business goals, including increased productivity, better financial records, lower operational costs, improved internal communication, more precise analytics, and even stronger customer service practices. An ERP is a software system that improves day-to-day business activities and, when implemented correctly, can completely change your organization’s efficiency. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Just as an ERP can help improve business functions overall, a CRM can improve your company’s ability to track customer information and interactions. This tool can be used to create better marketing initiatives, more complete customer service interactions, and stronger data collection practices.

A CRM also maximizes inter-departmental communication for all stages of the customer journey. The various benefits of using this type of software can yield better relationships with your customers, insights into their behaviors and preferences, and meeting the accessibility needs that customers have. 

project management

Use of Online Tools for Project Management

If you have worked as a professional in any capacity for several years, then you have likely been a part of projects that have both succeeded and failed. Projects are a way in which businesses complete specific initiatives, putting together teams of people for a particular objective that has an end date.

The problem is that managing these projects and keeping them on track is incredibly challenging, especially if it is large in scale and many people are involved. This is when your organization could benefit from a project management tool.

Programs like Asana are designed to streamline communication, assign tasks, and keep everyone on track for various projects. These intuitive tools can do the work required to manage a project team without wasting the time of a manager or executive that constantly has to check on the status of a project. 

Maximizing The Use of Online Tools – Do You Have the Right Systems In Place?

A key question to ask about your Kansas City business is this; could we be using technology to greater advantage to promote growth? This is the principle behind all the tools listed above.

A well-designed website and custom app can improve your online presence for customer interactions, resulting in better sales numbers. ERPs and CRMs can make internal operations more efficient so that resources are maximized.

Project management tools can reduce the amount of oversight needed on projects while still keeping everyone on track and on the same page. When you use your online tools to their fullest capacity, your brand has a greater chance of reaching its long-term goals.

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