By: Mikee Canaman
Running a small business today isn’t what it used to be 10 or 50 years ago. Aside from daily constraints, business owners, especially MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) need 21st-century skills in order to stay competitive. This isn’t just your typical marketing or organizational talent. Nowadays, business owners need to be technologically savvy as well.
These can range from information literacy, data management, to online marketing. With technological changes happening at breakneck speeds, MSMEs will need the latest knowledge and skills not only to stay relevant, but also to better serve their customers. More importantly, however, business owners need the willingness to learn.
One of the most affordable – albeit intricate – technological advances affecting the business world is social media. In fact, businesses of all sizes are leveraging it not just for marketing purposes, but for networking, too. But it’s more than just posting ads. MSMEs need to understand important concepts such as: setting their target market, improving their visual layout, as well as writing well-thought-out responses to comments.
Aside from social media, advancements in the Point-of-Sale (POS) and inventory systems are also something that MSMEs need to consider. Today’s world is running on data. When handled properly, it can help business owners understand their customers even more, so they can provide customized products and services.
But it’s not just data on customers that will come in handy. There are management systems that can multitask – deal with inventory, apply discounts, generate sales reports, and keep company details – so business owners get more time for themselves. This is made possible with cloud-based information systems including POS and inventory systems.
It’s time to look at how MSMEs can use technology to their advantage. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With tech on their side, businesses no matter the size, can compete in a demanding industry.
That’s why FutureSmart, together with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Negosyo Center is inviting everyone, especially small and medium business owners, to a FREE workshop entitled “Be Future-Ready: Skills and Technologies MSMEs Need for the Future of Business”. It will be held on November 15, 2019, Friday, from 8 AM to 12 PM at the DTI Iloilo Negosyo Center Ground floor of the DTI building, JM Basa Peralta streets, Iloilo City.
It aims to develop the entrepreneurial mindset so you’re updated with 21st-century skills and business management technologies. Make sure you reserve your slot because there are only 30! Register now. Take that first step to making your business future-ready today.
Mikee Canaman is the Senior Manager of FutureSmart Resources + Strategies Inc., an Asean company committed to bridge gaps through technological innovation and data-driven strategies. She is also a Global Shaper from Iloilo Hub, part of the Global Shapers Community — an initiative of the World Economic Forum.
