Updated on May 2, 2023

Future-proofing your business starts with updating your technology. Tech tools can do a lot for you, so don’t let fear hold you back.

A lot of companies are due to upgrade their technology, but they can’t seem to get the ball rolling because they are too busy addressing other needs, like the labour shortage. But the more time passes, the more they get left behind. And without a well-thought-out plan, they will have a hard time resolving this problem—and many others down the line.

A critical plan for a successful transformation

The future is right around the corner. Companies of all sizes, including SMEs, risk seeing their dreams evaporate and all their hard work go to waste if they invest time and money in the wrong things.

You don’t want to fall into the trap of inaction or making hasty decisions. Instead, take things one step at a time, based on a well-designed plan that’s part of your growth strategy. This will help you sidestep pitfalls.

Make up for the labour shortage

Let’s consider the case of a fast-growing company whose operations revolve around a series of manual processes. The business needs people to help it step up production, but it can’t find enough workers due to the labour shortage. The right technology could make up for the shortfall, plus it would give the company’s employees more time to spend on value-added tasks.

Preventing costly inefficiencies

What about a company that has added new technologies over the years, but the different programs aren’t linked. This means that data gets entered twice, leading to inconsistencies and an increased risk of error. Their IT team is overwhelmed and feels powerless trying to manage the monster and keep it fed. A custom digital transformation plan would help them get back on track to efficiency.

Achieve your business goals

Any transformation journey requires time, money and competent personnel. It can be hard for companies to know where to start. There are so many different technologies out there. Which ones are right for your business priorities?

It makes sense to get help from an external consultant who is neutral and committed to helping your organization reach its strategic objectives using technology. This consultant will help analyze your needs, assess your available resources and develop a realistic game plan to get you where you want to go. You will come away with a well-defined plan that you can translate into a success story.

A solid game plan, step-by-step

1. Diagnose the issue

First, you need to understand your starting point. What challenges are you facing right now? What issues will affect your business’ ability to achieve its objectives in the coming years? You have to know where you stand and where you want to be in order to really understand your company’s current limitations.

2. Map out your processes

Having a solid understanding of your business processes is essential. You may need to optimize some of them before choosing a technology. Otherwise, your new tech could just end up making things more chaotic instead of more efficient. You will want to hold workshops with your internal teams to define, review and clarify processes before selecting the right tools.

3. Develop an action plan

A good plan is broken down into small, realistic steps and addresses issues in the right order.

For example, it would be pointless to purchase an application that lets you produce bids more quickly if your production plant is already operating at maximum capacity.

A well-designed plan is aligned with your business vision and will help you achieve your broader organizational goals, instead of just serving the needs of discrete departments.

It’s like building a house: you need a strong foundation. And in this case, technology is your cornerstone. Then you want to make sure all new assets can be connected so that they can contribute positively to the system.

4. Back your plan up with people

You need to have someone in charge of the company’s digital transformation plan. They will need to be able to dedicate most of their time to the project and rely on a knowledgeable team to help get things done. Having the right talent is crucial for your transformation’s success.

5. Prepare a change management plan

Digital transformations impact people. Every change or new piece of information will have an effect on your employees. Details that seem trivial to some workers can be perceived as disruptive by others because they change the way things are done.

For instance, what if you start using digital tablets for inventory management but your staff is used to a colour coded system. If workers need to remove their gloves to enter information into a new program, that will have an impact.

That’s why a digital transformation plan should always be paired with a change management plan. With communication and training provisions, it will keep your priorities centred on people.

6. Never assume that it is over!

Technology is always changing. Even if your company’s digital transformation plan has a three-year timeline, don’t expect to hit cruise control afterward. You will need to keep refining your digital vision and make sure it is aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.

Expert support: a key ingredient for success

External experts can provide a different perspective and help you see what is in your blind spots when it comes to digital transformation planning. They will be familiar with proven methods and have broad experience that you can leverage. By working closely with your in-house team, they will help you get started and keep the project moving forward.

A consultant can also provide support for calculating costs and returns, selecting the right suppliers, managing change and assessing project risks. At the end of the day, it is your project. Being able to get a handle on it with an expert at your side—that is the key to success.

Your business’ future is directly linked to its digital transformation. After all, there are many strategic advantages to modernized technologies, including:

• Staying ahead of the competition;
• Increased productivity;
• Obtaining reliable data to support decision-making;
• Attracting young employees;
• Keeping up with customer demands and market requirements.

Our experts are available to help you master your technological evolution. Don’t hesitate to contact us. We want you to succeed!

In 2022, Grant Thornton’s Women in Business research has once again tracked the position of women in senior management across the world, and the progress towards gender parity in leadership.

Our 2021 Women in Business report identified a window of opportunity created by post-pandemic working practices that were enabling more women to move into senior roles. In 2022, as economies slowly recover and the worst impacts of the pandemic recede, that trend looks set to continue.

In this year’s data, we see mid-market businesses across the world taking decisive action to mould more flexible working practices around the needs of their people. They say that they are prioritising employee engagement and modelling open, inclusive working environments. By so doing, organisations are opening the door to bring female talent into senior positions in greater numbers than ever before.

Read more on Grant Thornton website.

Online sales have become essential to reach clients and stay competitive. Which web platform should your business choose?

Every business has unique needs, and your e-commerce platform has to reflect that. In order to make the best decision, it is important to analyze your different needs in the short, medium and long term, and determine what your marketing and business objectives are. For example:

• Do you want to break into a new market?
• Do you want to engage your customers and build loyalty?
• Is your strategy based on increasing revenue or expanding your market share?

Your site, much more than a display window

There is more to creating an e-commerce component or online store than just displaying your products on a website. The site has to be carefully managed, just like a brick-and-mortar store or a production site: it requires strategic thinking and planning.

Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms

There are several platform options. Marketplace sites, such as Amazon, Etsy or eBay, are primarily intended for business individuals who are just starting out or have a low sales volume.

Integrated online sales platforms, such as WooCommerce and Magento, require more technical skills or using a web designer.

With a customized transactional site, designed by an agency, you will have the benefit of optimizing your platform according to your specific needs, while getting external support.

Unless you have a highly specialized business with specific needs and requirements that no e-commerce platform can provide, a cloud-based software solution (Software as a Service – SaaS) is likely more to your organization’s advantage.

SMEs can use SaaS platforms such as Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce in exchange for a monthly or annual fee. They will thus have greater control over technical functionality and can deploy more quickly.

SaaS e-commerce platforms eliminate much of the complexity of running an online business, such as upgrades, security, hosting or PCI compliance.

What features should you be looking at for your e-commerce site?

Understanding your needs and the functionality required on your chosen e-commerce platform will allow you to make the most of the digital environment. This will help you automate and streamline a number of tasks and activities that would have involved costly human intervention. As a result, your staff can spend their time on value-added functions for your business.

1. An easy-to-configure platform

Look for a platform that is easy to set up and design, and doesn’t require you to be a design whiz to create a professional look and update your catalogue.

Check to see if the product catalogue meets your industry’s needs. For example, if you are in the home decor or fashion industry, your product catalogue should have a feature that allows customers to access a size guide or select a product colour from colour chips.

Additionally, make sure the platform offers the possibility of creating a bilingual site.

2. A user-friendly platform to browse

One important factor is the e-commerce platform’s user experience (UX) which is key to the success of your e-commerce initiative. A user-friendly and intuitive website can improve user satisfaction and help your business achieve its goals. Specialized experts who are well versed in the concepts of web interaction and navigation structure will be an asset in building your site according to these criteria.

3. A secure platform

Security is perhaps the most important consideration. Since e-commerce is a digital platform that accepts financial payments, you need to make sure your provider has the necessary security protocols in place. Is access to the site secured using HTTPS? Is security enforced with multiple firewalls?

4. A platform with several payment options

PayPal, Square, Apple Pay and Stripe are some examples of popular payment gateways for e-commerce stores. Consider the payment methods you’re willing to accept when looking for an e-commerce platform. The platform should also offer tax and shipping calculations based on local, national or international sales.

5. A high-performance hosting platform

Does the web hosting guarantee a high availability rate of 99.9%? Does it allow for fast page loading and automatic server adaptation in case of high traffic, such as Cyber Monday or other sales periods?

6. A mobile-friendly platform

When looking at how customers interact with the online retail industry, one trend stands out: mobile shopping has become the norm. Your platform must be deployed on cell phones and optimized for this type of interface.

7. A platform that changes with your needs

As your business grows, will your e-commerce platform grow with you? Look for a platform that integrates with your other existing marketing systems and channels.

Many brands use APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to customize and automate their stores to fit their needs.

• Does your platform integrate seamlessly with your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system?
• Does it integrate with Facebook?
• Does it work with Instagram?
• Are plug-ins and extensions available?

8. A platform within your budget

Some platforms come with standard monthly fees, while others offer flat rates, some charge per transaction, and some charge extra for app subscriptions. Before committing to a platform, do the math and stick to your budget so you have room to grow.

9. A platform designed for search engine optimization (SEO)

When buyers are looking for a particular product or service, it should be easy for them to find your business. You need to make sure that your online store ranks well in search results, especially if you are a new e-commerce or a small online store. To do this, look for an online business platform that will meet SEO requirements.

10. A platform with good technical support

If there is a glitch (it happens!), will the provider have the support you need to help you solve the problem or answer your questions? Always look for providers that offer 24-hour emergency support and can be contacted through a variety of means, including email, chat and phone. Also ask your provider if they offer training for your employees.

A worthwhile addition

Finding the ideal platform and web partner that best suits your needs is something that deserves your full attention. The team you choose has to understand your business and offer services that go far beyond just a technical service. The benefits of offering your customers this new shopping experience are well worth it!

This article was written with Guy-Jacques Langevin, co-founder of Buzztroop.