John Cradden outlines the tools and technologies that owners and leaders of growing businesses could use to help with their scaling ambitions.
Emerging technologies are no longer the preserve of corporates able to spend vast amounts of money exploring them.
Digital tools such as AI, automation and cloud computing are accessible to businesses of all sizes, and choosing these tools well can help foster a culture in your business that drives growth, innovation and efficiency without stretching budgets to breaking point.
“Whether it’s AI or automation, cloud computing, IOT or blockchain, the key to staying competitive in a rapidly changing technological landscape is continuous learning”
In his book, ‘Digitally Curious’, former IBM global managing partner and AI expert Andrew Grill suggests finding ways to encourage a sense of digital curiosity within your organisation. This means being on the lookout for new tools and techniques that improve operations, deliver efficiencies and enhance customer engagement.
Harnessing the power of AI
For a time it was all about ChatGPT, but since then AI tech has filtered through to a whole suite of technologies – many of them cloud-based – that can help small businesses to streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and improve productivity.
Automation tools such as Zapier and IBM Watson can help with repetitive processes, such as invoicing, inventory management and customer support. Chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance customer interactions and deliver personalised experiences at scale.
Data analysis is another area that is coming into its own with AI power, with tools like Google Analytics, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI delivering a richer seam of information that can better influence critical decisions on customer needs, operations and marketing.
Cloud Computing: scale as you expand
The key advantage of cloud computing is flexibility – the ability to scale your computing power up or down depending on what your business needs. It also reduces the need for costly on-premises infrastructure and enables a company to adapt to constantly changing market conditions.
It’s a far more mature market than many others, with almost every major software player offering cloud platforms with associated services like data storage and software-as-a-service (SAAS) applications, including Microsoft, Google and Amazon Web Services, which all offer affordable entry points.
Internet of Things: Transforming operations and business models
The Internet of Things (IoT) is essentially a network of connected devices that are often all around us and could be serving any type of functional purpose, but its potential shines particularly brightly in an industrial context. When you combine IoT devices with automated systems, data can be gathered for analysis, environments can be monitored, alerts can be triggered, or actions can be remotely executed.
By leveraging IoT, SMEs have the opportunity to enable smarter inventory management, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking, making it especially attractive for those in the manufacturing, automotive, and retail industries.
Planning for long-term IoT implementation alongside greater automation will be crucial for SMEs to grow their efficiency and operations while staying connected. The big platform providers here include almost all the big names like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google and IBM.
Blockchain: Enhancing security and transparency
Trying to explain blockchain to non-techies has always been a bit of a challenge, but here is probably the simplest definition: a distributed ledger technology that’s shared across a network of computers to authenticate digital transactions in a way that is faster and more decentralised. It’s very closely linked with cryptocurrencies because Bitcoin was the first popular application to use the technology, but its applications extend well beyond that to areas like retail, healthcare, construction, agriculture, textiles and finance.
It also offers a solution to three of the biggest pressures facing SMEs: increasing digitalisation, the need for sustainability and, above all, greater security online. It does this by providing immutable, encryption-protected record that guards sensitive data while enhancing accountability and trust among all parties. The big names in this space include IBM and Microsoft, but there are also lots of small, local blockchain firms worth checking out too.
Digital Marketing: Strategies for growth and engagement
Digital marketers have been embracing emerging technologies for some time, and it’s clear to see how these have been influencing strategies to enhance customer engagement and drive conversations.
Witness the number of personalised marketing campaigns you probably get every day from your favourite brands, generated with the help of AI-powered data analytics that analyse browsing history, purchase behaviour and demographic information to created tailored, personalised content.
Many of the ideas for the content – not to mention the content itself – will likely have been generated by tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and DeepSeek. Highly targeted campaigns are run with the help of Hubspot or Mailchimp without the need for constant manual input.
Whether it’s AI or automation, cloud computing, IOT or blockchain, the key to staying competitive in a rapidly changing technological landscape is continuous learning. Managers must ensure that their teams are not only aware of changes brought about by digital transformations but also equipped to get the most out of them. So encourage your employees to take part in online courses, listen to podcasts, or subscribe to industry newsletters. By fostering a learning culture, you ensure that your business remains adaptable and prepared for future technological shifts.
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