How to Prepare your Business IT for the Holidays

The holiday season is finally upon us, and this can present you with an opportunity to reach out to your consumers before the year ends. Many businesses across the nation take advantage of the holiday season so it’s a good idea to take that leap as well. Of course, due to the impact of COVID-19, this year will likely see a different outcome to the holidays, particularly in the digital space. That’s why it’s highly imperative to consider the various ways you can keep your workspace operations running while also keeping your team safe.

For instance, you may see a shift in how your business handles its sales, as 2020 has seen a rise in digital usage more than any other year. In fact, new research from Saas Scout shows that mobile sales are predicted to account for 45 percent of 2020 eCommerce sales.

If the current pandemic has significantly changed the way you run your business, and you aren’t too sure how to handle it for the time being, don’t fret! Here are a few tips that can show you how to safely prepare your business for the holidays.

• Identify goals. In order to know what your business needs for the holidays, you must identify your goals first. Consider what your business needs, and set a meeting with your employees. During these meetings, try to develop a plan that contains different goals you would like to meet. With your employees, you can map out their experiences throughout the year, and list any suggestions or tips they may have as possible strategies for the holidays (and beyond!). Some of the things you may want to achieve include: revenue goals, customer engagement, and improving tech experience.
• Move your business online. Due to the ongoing health crisis, many consumers have moved their interests to the online world in 2020. And this has had a significant impact on their shopping habits. According to data from daVinci Payments, 71% of US adults said they planned to do more than half of their holiday shopping digitally this year. That means a lot of people are going to be browsing online for their products rather than shopping at physical locations. You can capitalize on this consumer behavior shift by moving your business online.
• Increase tech usage. Whether it’s in a physical or digital space, the holiday season often comes with a high number of sales and long hours. This usually prevents business owners from handling their business operations in a time-sensitive manner. That’s why you should always stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements that can ease up some of the heavier tasks in a regular business day. For example, you can use different devices and digital systems to handle billing transactions, save your consumer data, and accounting tasks. Learning to use technology can advance your business not only during the holidays, but for its entirety.
• Update your computer software. With the new year quickly approaching, why not take the time to update or invest in some new software for your computer? New software can make it easier to operate business in and out of the office. It can also make it easier to keep confidential data organized and safe from online hackers. Make sure you have enough space in your computer and devices for any software updates. And if you’ve been eyeing on new software for your computer systems, take this holiday season as a season and invest in the future of your business. 

The holiday season is always a huge part of the year, especially for businesses. Early planning and careful execution of your ideas can make a difference in how your business fares this year. Be sure that all your preparation plans work to optimize your business operations so that you, your employees, and your customers have a pleasant holiday experience.