The notion of digital transformation has elevated from buzzword to business imperative since the pandemic. In 2022, the need to accelerate digital transformation and build greater agility into the business remains top of the agenda: according to the latest Workbooks CRM survey, it is still the number one challenge facing SME businesses. One way to gain speed and cut costs is to automate time-consuming processes and tasks – but is there a scenario in which digital transformation can be taken too far? How do businesses achieve digital transformation and still build meaningful relationships with prospects and customers? In a time of…
Author: sme-admin
Is the cost of living crisis the final straw for free returns? With retailers under ever greater cost pressures, even nominal returns fees will not safeguard margins. But, while retailers may fear disenfranchising customers by increasing returns costs, many consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable products and businesses that embrace the circular economy. To combat this, retailers can combine highly efficient fulfilment and returns processes with effective ethical positioning to radically reduce costs, while also boosting customer perception, argues James Hyde, Chief Product Officer & Founder, James and James Fulfilment. Escalating Problem As retailers prepare for the golden quarter, the cost of…
Leading BAME fostering agency, Banya will once again be hosting the ‘Banya Breakthrough Awards’ this month to celebrate the achievements of foster children in their care. The Breakthrough Awards is a private event that was first held last year in London. The awards celebrate and honour children brought up in foster care and also those who care for them. For 2022, as a result of feedback from Banya’s foster carers, the awards are being held in several areas where Banya has a strong team of foster carers and looked-after children and young people including London, Hampshire, Birmingham, Eastbourne and Sheffield.…
Document management specialist Filestream has been shortlisted for an award in the prestigious Document Manager Awards 2022 – and winners will be revealed next month. The team, based in Berkshire yet working with brands, organisations and big businesses across the UK, has been shortlisted in the ‘low code/no code’ category of the awards for their new level software known as Filestream 5. The awards are run by Document Manager Magazine which is a publication with a 30 year history and the awards themselves have been running for 16 years. Paul Day, Filestream’s technical director is an expert on secure software…
Networking expert Stefan Thomas, who has worked with everyone from small business owners, through to multi-national organisations such as BT, Instinctif and Oqema, is sharing some tips about staying positive in a negative world. Stefan, who lives in Oxfordshire, is a professional keynote speaker and the bestselling author of Business Networking for Dummies as well as Instant Networking and Win the Room. Seen as a business leader Stefan has been repeatedly asked about how a small business can navigate the current cost of living crisis. “What does that really mean for a small business owner? For me, I’m going to move into a serviced office…
Edinburgh startup, Gecko Glazing, has created an affordable, easily-installed alternative to double glazing that can cut window heat loss and carbon emissions by up to 50%. With huge potential to improve inefficient homes, including historic and listed buildings, the company has just secured a £150k investment in a funding round led by British Design Fund. After years of prototyping and product development, Gecko Glazing was officially launched in 2020 by entrepreneur and former banker Gareth Claase. With a passion for the environment, Gareth first came up with the idea for his business when looking to double glaze the windows in his own…
Like many SME’s, at Future Arc we have had our impact on the planet close to mind over the last few years. Future Arc is an innovation and venturing studio. We work with large organisations to deliver complex digital transformation projects and whilst our work is big, our team is small yet mighty. Recently, we have been pushed into action thanks to the need to qualify for a UK Government Framework. Part of our bid process required us to submit a Carbon Reduction Plan, and this has now kicked our business into a much needed drive to Net Positive. Wyndham…
Digital services company AND Digital has today released its The Nature of the Digital Skills Gap report, which reveals that over half (61%) of business growth depends on digital outcomes, with most (81%) managing directors admitting that a lack of digital skills is having a negative impact on their organisation already. Based on AND Digital’s estimations, this equates to £50bn per year across the UK economy, and more than £240bn between now and 2026.* These findings are alarming, with over a quarter (27%) of businesses attributing employee churn, a loss of talent, or difficulty attracting talent to a lack of digital skills. Critically,…
During the pandemic, online grocery orders rose by more than 50% and are expected to rise further this year, according to McKinsey research. More than ever, people make day-to-day purchases online, choosing quick commerce merchants that offer speed and convenience. As people open new accounts and make faster purchases, merchants are challenged to verify identities and manage evolving fraud threats in real time. To meet these needs, Mastercard and Ravelin, a leading machine learning fraud platform, have joined forces to deliver an enhanced fraud solution. Incorporating digital identity verification capabilities from Ekata and real-time fraud insights from Ethoca, Ravelin will help merchants…
Recent years have been challenging for small businesses, with an estimated 20% increase in insolvencies in 2022, and nearly 400,000 businesses closing between 2020 and 2021. Despite this, SMEs continue to launch new businesses. Last year saw a record for start-ups registered on Companies House, with nearly 80 new companies listed per hour in the first half of the year. With another difficult year likely ahead in 2023, it’s important that entrepreneurs set themselves up with the best chance of success possible. That’s why Virgin Money launched a study to reveal the UK cities with the best prospects for starting a…