Internet presence is key for SMEs
The explosion of digitalization has led to changes in production and consumption habits in every industrial and social field. Although there is no definitive data, it is estimated that More than 6 billion searches are made every day, only on Google. Therefore, if you are not on the internet, it is said that you do not exist.
In Spain, SMEs make up 99.8% of the business structure and are responsible for creating 66% of total employment. 65% of them have a website, online store or an e-commerce platform As the main sales channel, although it may seem low, it is above the world average of 61% stated by the GoDaddy Spain 2023 Digitalization Observatory. 70%.
Google, the excellent internet search engine, has designed a set of tools that make it possible to streamline and automate a large number of processes, using the possibility of having resources to know the trends, improve marketing techniques, both day-to-day. Have all kinds of documents and information always at hand, either on the network or, for example, with a storage unit.
For this reason, it is very important for the entrepreneurship ecosystem to embrace the innovations offered by new technologies and digitalization. This is so important that it has led to the design of the Digital Kit initiative within the framework of the Spanish Government’s Next Generation EU Funds. Direct assistance to SMEs, micro-enterprises and the self-employed helping these businesses increase their online activities through the creation or improvement of web pages, the development of e-commerce and social networks, and helping financial institutions such as Banco Santander access this package.
How to adapt to digitalization?
Not all businesses are the same and their operations are not at the same stage of maturity. Likewise, their level of digitalization will depend on the type of service or product they offer. However, this transformation is not an option, it is a necessity in order not to be left out of the market.
Accessing services such as digital banking requires planning to take advantage of opportunities such as carrying out multiple procedures with public administrations or opening new sales channels, increasing productivity brought by digitalization, reducing production costs or reaching higher sales.
Therefore, every SME must know what its priorities are and identify processes that can be digitalized to optimize resources and automate as many of the repetitive processes that do not add value as possible.
Likewise, it is very important to pay attention to the security of online environments and protect the company itself, its reputation and its customers. Without forgetting the huge potential that digitalization offers to understand the business environment, namely data. This data provides real-time analysis that allows company managers to measure results and correct them when necessary.
To realize the integration of new technologies in the management of the business and personnel, it is important to develop digital skills, for which Banco Santander has established a Scholarship program together with IE University. Digitalize your Santander SMEIt was designed to provide managers of small and medium-sized companies with information about the virtual environments required to adapt.
The importance of having a professional website
Increasing competitiveness or opening new markets and continuing to grow are some of the main advantages of having an online presence, especially being able to be among the thousands of queries made in a single day and being able to connect with some of these people. We are looking for a product or service.
Because having a professional website allows an SME to share this digital space, compete with any company in any industry and meet potential customers.
Presence on the Internet, also through a Marketplace, eliminates schedules and distances between the customer or user and the company, keeping always already “open” the possibility of purchasing and contracting the goods and services in question online. do it physically so you go much further.
A professional website represents a reasonable investment and the design process can be simple and in many cases easy to maintain. There are platforms with templates where you can get a beautiful and practical design that does not require any technical knowledge.
With this, a business can stay in touch with its customers and maintain an agile and direct dialogue that helps to get to know them better, identify improvements and even new market niches to continue innovating, and enables those responsible to reach an increasingly larger number of people. . For example, it is a visibility opportunity for companies in more local regions and in multi-segment and specific markets.
Social networks and online platforms that complement SMEs
In order for the entrepreneurship ecosystem to connect with its potential users, it needs to exist and be on the same channels as them. Therefore, social networks complement a professional website well and also help to use other tools, such as different marketplaces or virtual spaces dedicated to the buying and selling of products.
These speakers not only improve communication with the public, but also increase the brand’s visibility and reputation and become a powerful customer service channel by creating a digital community that supports all of this.