Tools have advanced as technology grows and has provided small businesses with many budget-friendly alternatives. Tools and software range from money management, performance and productivity tracking, customer service, email marketing, internal communications, and much more. Just think of how using json stringify online has simplified JavaScript strings. Advancements make your IT costs more efficient and saves your business money in the long run.
The right kind of tools can make a huge difference and benefit your small business in all sorts of ways, for example, by increasing efficiency, collaboration, connectivity, productivity, and performance, and decreasing errors and tedious tasks.
Here are some of the best tools to enable your business to work smarter, evolve, and grow.
Payments
Functional and secure payment software is important for protecting your company and your customers. While there are many payment options to use, it is best to opt for a company that is well known and has a good reputation. The payment software should make it easy for your customers to purchase while instilling trust in them. The most common forms of payment software used in business are PayPal and Stripe, which offer platforms that can easily be integrated into any website or eCommerce store and accepts all major forms of payment.
Accounting and Bookkeeping
Accounting and bookkeeping tools and software enable you to create financial records while tracking your income and expenses. This is vital for the success of any business, as it empowers you to accurately forecast and set goals while avoiding critical errors and bottlenecks at the end of the financial year. Xero is used by millions of customers as a cloud-based software that can be scaled as your business grows.
Customer service
Technology has changed the face of customer service for businesses all around the world. Call centers and customers being left on hold are a thing of the past, while chatbots and ticket systems are being utilized to streamline and automate communications. These forms of communication allow businesses to use real-time reporting to track customer engagement and manage requests efficiently. The most popular platforms for customer service are Zendesk and Help Scout.
Note-taking
Digital note-taking is another tool that has completely transformed the way in which businesses are working. It’s no secret that it can be much more efficient to type notes on a laptop than it is to write them out by hand, especially if you are in high-level, fast-paced meetings that require accurate note-taking. There are many platforms that enable you to take notes, share notes and organize all the relevant information into groups, emails, task lists, or integrated into project management systems. Evernote and Todoist are premium and cost-effective note-taking platforms for your small business.
File Management
File organization and management are crucial to the operations and collaborations of a small business. Files typically contain important business and customer information that needs to be both accessible and secure. File management tools enable your business to create, store and share all information safely across secure, cloud-based systems that are synced to all connected business devices. Some also allow you to work collaboratively on documents in real-time. The most popular platforms used across all industries, which both offer free accounts, are Google and Dropbox.
Contract creation and signing
To support the majority of businesses striving towards a completely paperless operation, there are many tools that have come in handy. One of these is the contract management software that enables you to create, sign, manage, and file contracts or other important and highly sensitive documentation that is vital for your business operations. Dropbox Sign and DocuSign provide user and budget-friendly tools that enable electronic signing.
Communication and Collaboration
Communication and collaboration play an important role in the way your business functions. Tools and software provide your employees with ways to work together efficiently and communicate effortlessly, all in one place. These kinds of tools can be particularly beneficial if you have teams that are working from home or all around the world, as there is no limit on time or place with cloud-based interfaces. Microsoft Teams is a popular and reputable collaboration tool that combines chat, online meetings, emails, calendars, and file management.
Learning and Development
Continuous professional development is key in the growth of your business. When your employees are learning and growing, they are also extending the limits of your business. Providing your employees with a platform to expand their expertise can keep them motivated and boost morale. LinkedIn provides a huge platform called LinkedIn Learning which is filled with professional, affordable online courses in a range of industries.
The right kind of tools that can help your business grow doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. By streamlining things like learning and development, accounting, document management, and collaboration, you will quickly see a huge difference in your business operations.