For most modern companies, technology is a crucial part of your sales team. If you're using an outdated sales platform, your business could be struggling.
Some small business owners are not sure whether there will be a discernable return in investing in technology. Not taking advantage of advances in software mean that you could be sacrificing success by reducing productivity and minimizing profits when compared to peers who do have the latest and greatest technology. Here are some of the downsides of not investing in new sales platforms and the upsides of acquiring better technology.
Security Risks:
Security risks are the number one danger of older technology. Security is vital; without it you could compromise you and your clients. The older your operating system or application, the easier it is and the more likely that evil hackers will be able to exploit weaknesses in your IT. This is all round bad for business.
A Slowly Rotting Apple:
Software rot is the process by which a slow deterioration of software performance can occur over time, causing your sales platform to work increasingly slowly and respond to commands with longer and longer lapses in time. In turn your staff will be slowed down and unable to keep up with the pace of your competitors.
Data Loss:
If you let the system become too old, with time the files could become corrupted, unusable and you could potentially lose all your data. Most new sales systems allow you to be linked to the cloud so that you can never misplace any data.
Losing Your Edge:
Your competitors are always hoping that you will slip down a rung; after all they want your business and your profits. If they are savvy they might have acquired the newest technology to get that edge. Don't let them one-up you. You should make sure you have the best sales platform so that you can communicate as fast as they do, respond quickly or even quicker, therefore closing more deals.
Cumbersome IT:
Older technology simply isn't as clever as new software. New systems are nimble, fast and provide all sorts of smart data options which can allow your small business to gain all sorts of advantages. For example, newer sales platforms allow you all sorts of flexibilities in myriad areas to better your small business tactics. For example you can conduct different sorts of data analyses that will allow you to build better sales strategies and gather superior information about how effective previous strategies were.
Out With the Old, in With the New:
A new sales platform can revive a small business. It can give you superior speed and better options for creating a system that syncs with your company goals. It can protect your data from hackers or from data loss and it can also give you multiple methods of acquiring feedback on the efficacy of your sales team so that you can see the areas that need improvement. This in turn will mean more clients, happier clients and more profit in your pocket.