Light in the Dark - How to improve business using online / network tools, especially during a pandemic of non-digital virus
Fourth industrial revolution and online / network tools
The fourth industrial revolution or digital transformation of society has already drastically changed the way we live, have fun, socialize, but also work. The first industrial revolution used water and steam power, the second electricity, the third electronics and information technology. The fourth, like the previous three, continues this series by merging all technologies and erasing the differences between the physical, digital and biological spheres. Its speed in terms of growth in volume and influence is something that has not been seen before. It develops exponentially and with geometric progression conquers the whole world, transforms all relations, even those in the systems of industrial production and management. One of the most dominant tools being developed during the Fourth Industrial Revolution is what was once called the computer, and today is increasingly taking the shape of artificial intelligence from futuristic films. With their software, so-called smart devices are already taking over entire industrial areas, not only in factories as traditional markers of industry, but also on agricultural goods, households, houses and apartments.
A special story are online (network) tools related to the development and application of the Internet, a global network of computers and information technologies that are mainly characterized by distinct functionality in the field of communication, with inviolable parameters of availability and speed. Network tools are, when it comes to the Internet, administrative programming tools (software) designed to display information and serve users in different locations.
Business management tools
In the world of enterpreneurship, the world of business, online tools are those that contribute to the development of the marketing sector through social media, those related to graphic design - the use of programs and applications to improve functionality in terms of appearance and product marketing, tools for creating websites (landing) pages) and building lists of e-mail receivers, also related to marketing, then through online tools for project management, document sharing, communication and scheduling, webinars (online meetings) that have taken over the role of traditionally organized seminars, as well as for managing finances and payments. All new entrepreneurs, like the old ones, are looking for easier ways to run their business, which usually means efficiency at the level of spending time and money. In this regard, the best investments are in the field of modern technologies, in online tools, which are plenty and they are more accessible and easier for users. There are currently hundreds, if not thousands, of such tools. Many of them have a price, but there are also free ones. In premium and basic versions. Simple research, also online, on the Internet, can provide practically countless information on this topic, whether it is about the needs for market research, email communication, marketing, sales, webinar organization, making a business plan, creating visual materials etc.
Designhill, for example, is currently the leading platform for small and medium-sized businesses that need variety and ease in creating design solutions, such as logos, brochures, websites. On this platform you can get a lot of ideas, but also hire a professional designer. PicMonkey offers a slightly narrower scope of services when it comes to creating business cards or flyers, even completely free. Penjiis software that is known to be very simple and useful for start-ups, bloggers, agencies and all those who have a constant need for graphics solutions. Canva is also in this category.
Edgar is one of the most popular tools when it comes to promoting business content on social networks. Hootsuite is offered as a great choice for controlling multiple social media accounts from one place, with accompanying analytics. Buffer offers similar services, while Missinglettr runs the social media campaign completely automatically so that they can concentrate on other aspects of the work. Upwork belongs to the group of online business potentials with an offer from the domain of human resources. More precisely, this is a place through which companies can get in touch and hire skilled and already hardened workers with experience in programming, writing, web design ... The thing works so that the employer announces what he is looking for, and Upwork in turn sends a list of candidates. Fiverr is another similar platform, on which it is very cheap to find a trained workforce for many of the jobs, not only in the domain of information technologies, necessary nowadays. Shopify is a variant of the online tool that allows companies to open digital stores within their website. This service also provides sorting, inventory, ordering and payment services, which is practically the entire store management in the virtual world. Infusionsoft could be added to this group as a marketing and sales aid. Stripe also helps businesses whose services are billed online. Gumroad is a special set of software for selling products with the possibility of easy installation upgrades on existing sites. This software makes for a nice, easy and simple shopping process for users. It is free to install and maintain, noting that its use is charged at five percent of the price of each transaction.
Easier business
When it comes to the digital revolution in the business industry with online tools, one should not overlook some of the basic and most widespread ones. Even in this text, Internet search is mentioned at the very beginning. Although many others have been developed, Google is still the most developed and by far the most widespread. In its business, this company has a global influence and position, frankly often viewed as monopolistic, which does not diminish its purposefulness in the business world and its environment. Google, in addition to its long-known search engine, has meanwhile developed a number of other online tools, such as a package called G Suite. This package contains Gmail, Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Google Calendar and Google Drive, service tools without which the business of any company is almost unthinkable today. Then, Google Analytics, known as a tool that helps monitor and analyze internet traffic. Its greatest quality is that it provides insight into visits to the website, useful for further elaboration of form, content and business strategy. One specific tool could be mentioned in this regard, in fact an add-on to the Gmail email service, called Rapportive. It shows the user's connections and contact details in the user's inbox, so that pictures and locations of the people he communicates with can be seen. Also, Rapportive "reports" their connection on social networks, thus expanding the range of possible strategies in business performance. This is supported by a service called Google Trends, which shows how specific phrases and keywords were searched in a certain period, allowing you to change your marketing strategy and performance. If the change in the way of communication is emphasized here as the main feature of the digital transformation of society, special emphasis should be placed on online tools related to this essential link of everyone, even the business relationship. Needless to say, the global use of the Internet has overcome various geographical and even political obstacles, and in the current Covid-19 pandemic, the impossibility of live encounters and contacts due to severe measures to prevent the spread of infection, including medieval quarantine. Thanks to new forms of communication and business relations, the sphere of economy has maintained its vitality and ensured its survival. Just as radio was replaced by television, the telephone was sent into history by the telegraph, it can be said that in the 21st century, mail was almost completely replaced by digital, electronic letters. As a cheaper and faster, so-called email is today the most common type of business communication, so it is not surprising that many online services and tools are dedicated to this phenomenon. Here are some handy tools in this field. ConvertKit manages mailing lists, with the ability to establish an automated response mode so as not to waste time required to compose similar or frequent emails. It is very easy to use. MailChimp is another great tool for managing a business email system. Its strong characteristics are for marketing purposes, and it is used by hundreds of renowned companies around the world. MailGenius is a free tool for testing e-mail against spam messages - letters that are sent to a large number of addresses without consent. This tool can also test the letters that the user sends to their contacts, so that they do not end up in electronic folders in electronic mailboxes, intended for spam. This would mean that there would be a high probability that it would never even be opened and read.
Communication - Networking
The telephone is also one category of communication that has undergone a huge transformation in the last twenty years. From fixed to mobile, smartphones are used today, which are more mobile computers than simple devices for talking to interlocutors. In parallel with them, online "telephone" lines and devices were developed, with the development of internet protocols for voice transmission, and then video. The speed and quality of service were not at an enviable level at first, but that is why now there is no telephone operator that can compete with them, among which Zoom is currently the best rated. This company is proud of its exceptional picture and sound quality, simplicity and mass use of Zoom software. For the greatest achievement, some of them believe that it has been "forced" to be used by even the most stubborn skeptics of new technologies, those whose fear was caused by the complexity of similar tools. Now it is enough to have a device with a webcam, click on the link and join an online conversation or conference meeting. At the same time, Zoom is a completely free service! Before Zoom perfected its software, the most famous and widespread form of online communication was Skype. Free voice and video calls were a harbinger of a revolution in this field. Skype is currently owned by Microsoft, which competes for leadership in a technology called VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). However, Microsoft would not be what it is if it had not developed a new package of services and tools called Microsoft 365, within which the so-called Microsoft Teams are especially important for business people. It is remote work, especially relevant in the time of coronavirus, productivity and teamwork, business management, security and compliance, are the basic opportunities offered to users. In addition to full compatibility with Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft Teams offers businesses and their associates a platform that combines communication channels, video meetings, data storage space, and full integration of business-assisting applications. This platform was created and launched at the hackathon in New York, in 2017, and very quickly experienced general affirmation in the business world. Companies that have smaller teams, scattered staff or develop international cooperation in this tool have an almost ideal balance between needs and their most efficient satisfaction. Niches for small groups, "silent hours", synchronized work on documents, are just some of the features that have given visible results for many users. In terms of some more current tools for the time ahead, we should mention Slack, another collaborative platform that is a major competitor to Microsoft’s efforts to be even better. Based on the cloud principle, Slack offers its customers internal communication among employees, all in one virtual place. From social networks, it is almost unnecessary to mention Facebook, but it should be noted that this company has recently realized its business potential, so through various services it has offered entrepreneurs a huge potential for communication and marketing.
Telegram is less known to the general public, but it is a very useful communication platform / application, with a large flow and speed of data, the possibility of establishing multi-purpose groups, sharing documents, etc. The story of online business tools would not be complete if we did not mention LinkedIn. It is a business network launched in the early 2000s to better connect employers and job seekers. Something like Facebook in the private sphere, LinkedIn provides its users in a competitive, business environment. The promotion of professional skills, their training, information, exchange of experiences, networking, are all indispensable attributes without which doing business in a modern environment is almost impossible to imagine. Meetup is a great choice when it comes to finding contacts for online business development. Networked events and niches for specific topics and areas are the main feature of this IT communication software. Basecamp is rated as a very useful software for communicating and working on projects in which clients can be involved. Webinar Jam is used to broadcast events via YouTubeLive, FacebookLive, and even its own web platforms. Chanty is another simple and quite popular online tool in the world of modern business, with the possibilities of text, voice and video communication, sharing what is on the screen, without the limit of messages in the free version. And there are more and more things like this. More and more developers are working on developing online platforms, services and tools so that the future, in any part of the world or even the universe, is always bright, despite the dark circumstances.
Nikola Burić
CEO i-platform, Diaspora for development of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Source: Infokom, Glasnik Vanjskotrgovinske/Spoljnotrgovinske Komore Bosne i Hercegovine, broj 78, juli/srpanj 2020