By Tracie Sokol, VP/GM, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Small businesses faced immense change in 2020. Many were forced to re-evaluate their role in the marketplace after the pandemic struck as some services and offerings could no longer serve the same purpose. And today, it is clear that we are not completely out of the woods yet, and recovery is just beginning.
According to Salesforce, over 90% of the business population (1) consists of small- and medium-sized enterprises (as of 2019), also known as SMEs, and are responsible for creating a large number of jobs. But the Federal Reserve recently reported (2) that out of the nearly 10,000 small businesses surveyed, 95% of respondents said their business was impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, around 78% of respondents reported a decline in revenue and 46% said they had to shrink their staff.
As we look to the future and navigate the new normal together, it is imperative for small businesses to embrace opportunities and look to creative ways to overcome any obstacles thrown in the road ahead.
Here are a few strategies to consider:
Make resources more accessible and collaborative
In many ways, ongoing change has forced small businesses to become more agile and connected with their employees and partners. Even into the future, it will remain important for small businesses to provide easy ways to access information and resources to collaborate with people in all locations.
Helping create efficient workflows can encourage productivity, especially at a time when many people are feeling increasingly restless and overwhelmed with materials. To support this, consider implementing new and different tools that can make it easy for people to access what they need to help drive sales.
For example, Canon’s Customer Solutions Center offers online resources, such as dedicated e-support, tools and best practices, as well as important technical publications detailing device cleaning procedures to support customers and help them troubleshoot whether in the home office or elsewhere.
Tap into training programs to optimize success
When small business clients were forced to transform on a whim, providing outstanding customer service and support had to stay a primary focus. This forced organizations to reset and consider their touchpoints with customers. From virtual training courses and demonstrations to customer support enhancements, many now offer a variety of user-friendly training sessions and remote service applications that are designed to help businesses stay efficient and embrace new ways of learning.
For instance, Canon’s virtual offerings emphasize topics critical for its dealers, such as cloud security solutions, emerging technology, collaboration in the future of work and diversifying and expanding business offerings. Using a combination of online training tools and equipment in physical classrooms, brings an engaging learning experience to sales professionals that enables participants to experience virtual hands-on learning.
These courses, and others like them, can provide small business customers with tips to help them transform their sales efforts while navigating the blended work environment.
Consider ways to enhance personal tech
Beyond offering e-resources and virtual training, maintaining a good impression will remain imperative to driving success, especially in a virtual world. Small businesses should consider investing in the right technology to help ensure that nothing comes between them and a potential new deal. In 2020, popular video conferencing providers saw a massive surge in usage, such as Zoom’s jump from 10 million daily participants (3) to more than 300 million.
To further help enhance the video experience, companies are launching new software and equipment to support this trend long term. An example is Canon’s EOS Webcam Utility software for select EOS Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC) and PowerShot cameras to help customers improve their appearance while using compatible video conferencing applications, delivering clarity and high-image quality. The software requires one single USB plug to connect the camera to a compatible Windows or macOS operating systems computer. So, it’s easy for just about anyone to use and ensure their meetings aren’t compromised by pixelated connections or delayed signals.
Invest in resources, help boost productivity, drive sales
For 2021 to be the beginning of a new chapter, small businesses need to act differently enough to move the needle. However, this often starts with education and understanding what may be available to support yourself outside of your business’ (or home’s) four walls. Key to this is finding ways to help employees redefine their workflow with new resources, training and technology to find a balance that provides a sense of priority and clarity among all the notifications with important materials across multiple devices.
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(1) Salesforce survey of small and medium-sized business owners conducted in 2019 on the state of the industry.
(2) The Federal Reserve surveyed 10,000 small businesses conducted over September and October 2021.
(3) Zoom Inc. reported a massive surge in participants in 2020, spiking to 300 million daily users.
