Top digital trends for SMEs to consider in 2021

Digital trends have the potential to create significant disruption, drive consumer behaviour, and deliver important opportunities, especially for small and mid-sized businesses that stay on the surface of the digital landscape.

However, it
evolves so fast that it can be hard to keep up with, so allow me to help you make
sense of it all by having an in-depth look at a few of the digital trends being released
which you can implement in your business to achieve results.

Small-business automation 

Take the manual component from simple operations, and increase efficiency by automating repetitive, daily tasks. Areas that can be easily automated include online forms, payment gateways, and drip email promotions. 

Digital automation not only enables a business to streamline its workflow but also help to identify areas that can be also automated to increase efficiency or perhaps reduce cost. 

5G will become
a mainstream service

As more
businesses continue to work remotely in 2021, some even making a permanent
switch, using video conferencing platforms like zoom and Google Hangouts,
and participation in webinars is increasing. And while 4G speeds are enough to
get regular work done, 5G speeds will take productivity to another level by
providing faster downloads and uploads for videos and conferencing tools. 

This is a big
advantage for businesses, especially small and mid-sized businesses, who cannot
manage to be disconnected. The faster the web speed for your business, the
more you are able to get done.

Voice search for SEO 

According to research by VERSA, over 2 million Australian households own a smart speaker, and something of three searches happen on a smartphone. A key focus for the business should be getting search engine optimisation (SEO) for voice search right. Element in the differences in the use of language and words when people type and verbally interact.

To make the most of voice search, list your company on all the relevant platforms including Google My Business, Apple Maps, Bing and Yelp. This will help voice assistants such as Search, Siri, Alexa, and Cortana find you during a search query. 

WhatsApp for business 

Instant messaging is among the fastest ways of disseminating information – be it videos or flyers and with over 2 billion active WhatsApp users, the potential to drive small business through the platform in 2021 is infinite. The platform's latest feature “WhatsApp Business” is definitely an all-in-one marketing solution designed just for small businesses. The app allows you to connect with your customers, promote services and products, and answer customer inquiries while they shop. The app also features several automation functions to sort and quickly respond to messages. 

*Note: WhatsApp's change of privacy policy on 8 February may impact its popularity, and cause users emigrate off the platform.

AI in every industry 

Machine
learning and AI is going to be playing an increasing role in businesses this season. As
a business owner, you need to understand what impact it'll have in your
industry. An easy way to do this is by going to YouTube and looking out for use
of artificial intelligence inside your industry, eg: architecture, fashion,
building construction or perhaps law. You'll be able to see how it's used in
business productivity, and how you can implement it in your area of business.

With a lot of
businesses pivoting in 2021, we can expect to determine more changes taking place
online in 2021. Preparing your business for this by staying along with digital
trends is important to improve the visibility of your business, create a
better customer experience and win leads.