Automation Tips SMBs Should Implement to Raise Productivity
Running a small business takes more dedication than simply checking off items on your daily to-do list. Time is of the essence when you only have 40 hours a week, to keep workflow moving at an efficient pace with limited resources and staff available.
Trying to conduct operations manually or relying on your workforce alone would create unnecessary delays, especially when multiple departments are required to communicate at all times, either through emailing procedural documents or sending information about customer requests.
As an SMB owner, your responsibilities are always shifting around. That’s why you can take advantage of a built-in CRM toolset for your top-of-the-funnel activities to maximize client engagement and drive long-term revenue growth.
Why Companies Need Marketing Automation Software
There are many enterprise companies that would cite automation as the reason for their steady growth in revenue and top-notch performance while operating in a mainstream market.
But for small to medium-sized businesses, they can incorporate automated software into all kinds of infrastructure using artificial intelligence tools, namely touchscreen apps, database systems, company networks, and marketing analytics.
The following methods will allow SMBs to prioritize their “big-picture” objectives by automating repetitive tasks that would’ve prevented them from making innovations:
Send Automated Appointment Reminders to Clients Who Filled out Online Forms
Administrative duties such as scheduling meetings and sending notifications are now being handled by chatbots that respond to voice commands. They’re able to list relevant search results, help you organize your calendar events, and even interact with other apps that recognize your location.
Instead of hiring a contractor to be your virtual assistant, you now have a built-in AI to serve as your secretary. Sales reps will receive a virtual assistant to help them organize customer information and make recommendations on how to close the deal.
Improve Customer Support by Responding to Large Volumes of Phone Calls and Emails
Automating the lead generation process will free up time to dedicate towards building sales campaigns for a more personalized shopping experience. Instead of responding to every single customer, you could send hundreds of emails using a default template, to increase your outreach in a large-scale demographic.
You also have access to analytics for measuring the level of engagement they have with your platforms. It makes customer service calls easier to handle as AI instantly transfers them to the appropriate department by interpreting voice command inputs.
Methods to Improve Customer Engagement on E-Commerce Sites
E-commerce platforms can benefit from using automated chatbots since they remember previous customer browsings and suggest upsells or cross-sell deals based on those. This is particularly helpful if your business is a distributor already offering multiple solutions in a particular niche.
For instance, an SMB that manufactures a line of herbicides might also have online listings for other agricultural products like organic plant nutrients or hydroponic filters. After all, companies want their clients to come back and try another product instead of moving onto a competitor’s listings.
Collecting Documents and Creating a Work Agenda for Office Management
Other departments can take advantage of automated software, namely accountants who are tired of doing routine bookkeeping where every transaction must be documented to comply with regulations.
Whether you’re proposing contracts to freelancers or filing taxes on behalf of the company, you need a way to organize these tasks efficiently so you don’t spend too much time searching for files buried in the system. The same concept applies to job applications just in case HR decides to do some hiring.
If your company chooses to partner with a marketing automation service provider, then you could receive the following benefits:
- Cutting-edge lead nurturing functions, allowing you to send a series of automatic emails at specific intervals through a drip campaign
- The ability to manage integrated data across multiple devices from mobile platforms to cloud drives
- Offers full control of your sales pipeline so you can gather accurate insights into business performance metrics determined by the system
- The option to move your customers and prospects into separate mailing lists by observing their shopping preferences
- Includes user-friendly tools to help you create landing pages and run targeted ads on social media sites
Since AI and automation are the main game-changers, you need them to effectively conduct marketing campaigns that would reach more customers while helping your accountants keep track of the billing process.
If you are struggling to handle all those contacts from your growing email list, then it’s time to automate away the lead generation stages of your marketing funnel.
Marketing automation software has the capacity to direct more leads to your sales team, by getting the promotional material in front of your target audience as you take your business to the next level.