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How well do you know your technology right now? The 60-second tech test gives you a quick burst of tech questions against the clock. You only have one minute, so time is not on your side. It is designed to be a bit of fun, but there is a useful point to it too. By the end, you will get a better sense of what you know, what feels familiar, and where you might need to brush up. It is quick, simple, and a good way to check your current tech confidence. Ready to test yourself? .

Many more UK businesses are now using ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to streamline their operations, reduce their costs and grow more efficiently. Whether managing your cash flow, people, stock, orders or customer relationships, ERP software allows you to conveniently integrate your core business functions, make best use of your resources and maximise the efficiency of your systems. Ultimately, ERP software can make your business more profitable. ERP software reveals critical data in real time, so that you can make smarter business decisions based on current information. It can support your regulatory compliance and help you mitigate a wide range of operational risks. The significant amount of effort, time and money that you save by using ERP software can be used to grow your business. Read on to learn how ERP software could help you make your business more successful. What Is ERP software? ERP software can enable a business to run more smoothly and efficiently by centralising management of all its key operations, including finance, stock, HR and customer relationship management (CRM). You can think of ERP software as like having a central digital control panel or dashboard for your key business functions. Did you know? Large companies were enjoying the benefits of ERP software in the 1970s. Some 20 years later, ERP software became available to smaller businesses, with cloud computing fuelling more widespread adoption in the 2000s. ERP software business benefits ERP software enables businesses to remain well-organised, more efficient and better-informed in real time about their health and performance. ERP software automation can bring significant time and cost savings on business admin and management. ERP software enables people in various parts of a business to access and share critical data, which can deliver efficiency gains. ERP software enables owners and managers to make smarter business decisions – sooner and guided by real-time data. ERP software can enable a business to provide superior customer service, for example, by allowing better customer relationship management and more personalised communication with customers. The dangers of not using ERP software Businesses that do not use ERP software can be hamstrung by operational inefficiencies. Manual processes such as data entry, inventory tracking and invoicing can take much longer, while human error can be more likely. Lack of automation can mean having to repeat tasks time and again, which damages productivity and adds an unnecessary additional cost burden. Without ERP software, data is usually stored in disconnected systems, making it much tougher to get a reliable overview of operations, which is key to effective management, decision-making and planning. Incomplete or outdated information, especially regarding finance and sales, can lead to poor decisions. There can be security and compliance challenges, too. Data security is more difficult to manage across several platforms, while regulatory compliance (eg GDPR) can become much more challenging. Without ERP software, you and your people may struggle to share information efficiently, which can lead to duplicated effort and misaligned goals. ERP systems centralise data and workflows, facilitating better collaboration. And as your business grows, not using ERP software can lead to bottlenecks, as your systems start to get overwhelmed. Key considerations when thinking about ERP software “Modules” are specific components or capabilities within a larger ERP system. Focus on modules that will directly support your operations and growth. Accounting and finance are key, of course. Your ERP software should save you time by automating repetitive financial record-keeping tasks. Inventory management is key for businesses that sell products in volume. If that includes you, your ERP software must help you track stock, manage orders/reorders and warehouse operations efficiently. CRM digital tools can enable you to manage leads, track sales, build strong customer relationships and improve your marketing success. HR and payroll ERP software modules can make managing staff records, payslips and compliance with employment regulations easier. Reporting and analytics are key to making informed decisions. Your ERP should offer reliable real-time insights into how your business is performing, so that your key decisions are based on reliable data. Mobile access can be important, too, because it can allow your people to work wherever they are. Integration with your other digital tools is a key consideration, too. Cost is another important factor, of course. ERP software pricing varies widely, influenced by number of users, modules, implementation and training costs, and your customisation needs. Expect to pay between £50 and £500+ per user/month. Did you know? Most small businesses choose cloud-based ERP software, which offers lower upfront costs, subscription-based pricing, automatic updates, remote access and scalability. On-premises ERP may suit businesses with strict data control needs or larger organisations, but it requires more IT resources and greater upfront investment. Examples of ERP software for small businesses Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: A cloud-based ERP that integrates finance, sales and operations with strong mobile access and scalability. Ideal for businesses seeking a unified platform with Microsoft ecosystem compatibility. Find out more. NetSuite ERP: Consolidates finance, inventory, CRM and e-commerce into one system, eliminating data silos and manual duplication. Could help you make better informed decisions and better manage your cash flow. Find out more. SAP Business One: Integrates core functions such as finance, sales, inventory, purchasing, CRM and production planning. Strong on inventory and production management, so could be a good fit for businesses in complex supply chains. Find out more. Zoho One: Created to help growing small businesses win more customers, manage their people, track their cash flow and manage their operations on one unified system. Find out more. Odoo: An open-source ERP that offers more than 30 core modules including accounting, CRM, inventory, manufacturing, HR, project management and eCommerce. Highly customisable; install only the modules you need. Find out more. Many other ERP solutions are available, so, guided by your specific needs, research your options thoroughly. Tips on choosing the right ERP Start by identifying your top “pain points” and focus on key problems you need your ERP software to solve. Carefully consider your processes/workflows and think about where ERM-enabled automation could save you time and money. Also think carefully about whether you need industry-specific features or would a more general small-business ERP would provide the benefits you need. Seek ERP software recommendations from other businesses. Find out the pros and cons of their ERP software. Research good options online and consider whether the costs are in line with your budget. Contact ERP sellers and ask them to explain why you should choose their software. Take advantage of free demos, so you can try before you buy. Focus on key modules first, then expand to others. Also find out what support and onboarding is available, so you can get the most from your new ERP software from the start. CRM key takeaways Many more UK businesses are now using ERP software to streamline their operations, reduce their costs and grow more efficiently. ERP software allows you to integrate your core business functions, make best use of your resources and maximise the efficiency of your systems. ERP software shows critical data in real time, empowering you to make smarter business decisions based on current information. ERP can support regulatory compliance and help you mitigate a wide range of operational risks.

To take your business to the next level of success, you must sell more, whether to existing customers, new customers or both. You may have to launch new products or services, target new types of customers or sell in new locations. Selling overseas can be transformative, with technology now making this quicker, easier and cheaper. But people will not buy from you if they do not know you exist, or what you offer and why they should buy it from you. Marketing makes this possible. In simple terms, marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell and convincing them to buy from you and keep coming back for more. Read on to find out how to harness the power of digital marketing to grow your business. What is digital marketing? Digital marketing describes using online channels, technologies and methods to promote brands, products and services. Digital marketing can enable all businesses to reach targeted audiences, even with limited budget and know-how. Businesses of all sizes, types and sectors can use digital marketing to: build brand awareness and trust significantly increase their reach target specific customers sell more and ensure customer loyalty. The advantages of digital marketing Cost-effective: You can reach many people even with limited budget. Targeted: You can target specific customers. Effective: Get it right and it can bring fantastic results. Measurable: You can track clicks, leads, conversions, etc, learn and improve. Scalable: You can scale up your digital marketing and as your business grows. Key digital marketing channels 1 Your website Your website should look professional (it encourages trust), work well and successfully showcase your products and services. It needs to explain what sets your business apart and why visitors should buy from you. Websites are a huge influence on buying decisions. Your website imagery should be engaging, attractive, high quality and “on brand” (ie consistent with what your business is and stands for). Your website should not be overburdened with images, text or pages. It should be fast-loading, mobile friendly and easy to navigate. Your website should be your main marketing hub. Top tip: Make sure your website features clear calls to action (eg “Buy now!”, “Contact us”, etc) on every page in several places. 2 Search engine optimisation (SEO) Even in the age of AI, your website should still be optimised for search engines (Google chief among them). Even though AI tools answer questions directly, they source from top-ranking websites. Successful SEO is about making your website discoverable, relevant and trustworthy. The right keywords must appear in the right density and in the right places (ie headings, subheadings, body copy, title tags, meta descriptions and image alt text). Top tip: Your website should feature valuable, relevant, engaging and regularly updated content that is original and authentic, because this also aids search engine visibility. 3 Email marketing Sending emails to customers/prospects to promote products, services, share content, news and offers remains one of the most cost-effective digital marketing channels. It is a proven way to attract and retain customers for little cost. Email marketing includes welcome emails sent to new customers, monthly newsletters, promotional emails with news of discounts, events, sales and product launches, as well as re-engagement emails. Success is determined by having good email subject lines, as well as concise, engaging and appealing content that is timely and relevant, with strong CTAs (calls to action). Regularity is also key to success. Make sure your contact lists is well maintained and only include people who have opted in to receive your emails. Also, A/B test different versions of your emails to see what brings the best results. Top tip: Segment your customers/prospects (ie split them into smaller groups who share similar characteristics, needs or behaviours) and send tailored versions to each. 4 Social media Social media marketing means creating and sharing content on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, etc, to achieve marketing goals. It can be a highly effective way to increase awareness of your brand, generate leads and sales, build relationships with customers and prospects, support them and create a loyal community around your brand. Social media marketing can be highly cost-effective. Your campaigns can be highly targeted, while potentially giving you access to a huge audience (an estimated 5.66bn people around the world use social media). Paid social media means paying for advertising to promote your business on social media. These ads are typically labelled as “sponsored” or “promoted”, but they too can increase reach, visibility, engagement and conversions. Top tip: Success comes from setting measurable objectives, having a clear strategy, understanding your audience, choosing the right platforms, creating engaging content and analysing your performance to improve. Consistency and timing are crucial. 5 Digital advertising This means displaying adverts (eg banners, images, videos, etc) on third-party websites, apps and social media platforms. Advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network, Meta Ads or programmatic ad exchanges. Ads are served based on user behaviour, context or real-time bidding, with performance trackable. Display advertising can be a great way to retarget visitors who left your website without buying. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves paying a fee each time someone clicks on your advert, so you buy visits to your site. Ads appear on search engines, social media platforms or websites in ad networks. PPC offers many advantages: your ads can appear at the top of search results soon after you place them, campaigns can be highly targeted and easy to measure, while you can also set daily or campaign budgets to control spending. Top tip: If you are new to PPC advertising, choose the right platforms, set budgets and start with limited test campaigns, so you can ditch or scale based on your results. 6 Content marketing Content marketing means creating and sharing value-rich, relevant content to attract, engage and retain customers. Content marketing can be used to establish authority, build trust and relationships, whether through blogs (for your website or someone else’s), videos (tutorials, explainers, case studies), podcasts, infographics (visuals that aid quick understanding), how-to guides, whitepapers or webinars (live or recorded online sessions) that provide genuine value. Top tip: Your content should help your customers or prospects to solve problems, answer questions or increase their knowledge. Good knowledge of your customers’ needs should guide your content choices. 7 Mobile marketing Mobile marketing targets customers and prospects via their smartphones and tablets, using SMS and MMS messaging (direct text or multimedia messages), mobile apps (in-app ads, push notifications, etc), websites (optimised for small screens and fast loading) and social media (“mobile-first” platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc). Because 95% of UK adults aged 16+ own a smartphone (source: Ofcom), mobile marketing potentially offers great reach for UK businesses. Top tip: Keep your SMS marketing messages short and clear, with a strong call-to-action. You need to gain consent before sending SMS marketing messages, while offering recipients the opportunity to easily opt-out. Which digital marketing channel should you choose? A wide range of digital marketing channels is available, and a mix rather than just one or two is likely to provide the solution. Offline marketing options, such as leaflets, brochures, postcards and print adverts, still work very well for many UK businesses, so some of these might be part of your overall marketing mix. Continually test and measure your campaigns, so that you can learn and improve. If something is not working – stop doing it. Why waste any more time or money? How to plan a digital marketing campaign 1 Decide your objectives Make them SMART: Specific: You should know exactly what results you need to achieve. Measurable: Assessing key metrics allows you to judge success. Achievable: Your aims must be realistic, otherwise failure is inevitable. Relevant: Your aims should align with your business’s broader growth aims. Time-bound: You should have a clear deadline for achieving your objectives. Setting SMART goals ensures that you know exactly what you need to achieve and by when, so you can stay focused and judge campaign success. SMART objectives enable the tracking and evaluation of results, so you can improve your success. Examples of SMART objectives: Increase your website traffic by 10% within two months; generate 20 new leads a week; or increase your online sales by 20% by the end of the quarter. Ultimately, your aim should be to sell more, of course. 2 Target the right buyers Be clear about which customers you are targeting and let other decisions be guided by your deep knowledge of them. If you lack that knowledge, carry out market research to avoid the risk of wasting time and money on ill-conceived campaigns. Top tip: Segment your customer base (ie split it into smaller groups by age, location, buying habits, sector, size, etc), clearly define your specific target audience and tailor your messaging/content to their needs, tastes and behaviours. 3 Choose the right marketing channels Knowing precisely which customers/prospects you are targeting should tell you which channels to use – providing your knowledge of them is good enough. While mobile marketing, TikTok and X might be right for some customers, for others it could be LinkedIn, email, blogs, digital advertising or offline marketing. Top tip: Most business use a mix of channels, with experience telling them which ones deliver the best results. Find out what channels work best for you, but always monitor your results and remain open to changing tactics. 4 Create engaging, valuable, individual content Once again, knowledge of your target audience is key. How can your content solve a problem for them, help them to save money or time or increase their knowledge? Your content must engage and hold people’s attention. It should be visually appealing. A constant stream of blatant sales messages will turn off many people; be much more creative than that. Provide clear value, be original, relevant and timely. Top tip: To save time and money, repurpose content across various marketing platforms to maximise your reach. 5 Measure and improve where possible Always analyse key metrics, such as CTR (click-through rate), page visits, page views, conversion rate, CPA (cost-per-acquisition). They help you to evaluate and improve the performance of your digital marketing campaigns. Crucially, you need to find out what your return on investment is, to see whether a campaign has been worthwhile or not. Adjust your budget and tactics based on performance. Top tip: Run test pilot campaigns. Focus on one or two channels before extending. Learn from each campaign and seek to improve. Budget permitting, get help from digital marketing experts, if it will cost-effectively bring you better results. Digital marketing key takeaways Marketing is critical to growing your business. Marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell, convincing them to buy from you and keep coming back for more. Digital marketing means using online channels, technologies and methods. Digital marketing is highly measurable, scalable, cost-effective and you can target specific customers. It can deliver impressive results, even with limited budgets and experience. The key digital marketing channels include email, search engine optimisation, social media, advertising, content and mobile marketing. Your website should be you key marketing hub. A mix of offline and online (ie digital) marketing channels will likely provide the right solution for your business. Find what works for you and do it well.

Whatever type of business you run, your ability to effectively manage your customer relationships is vital to your plans to succeed and grow. How small businesses store customer information varies massively. In many cases, it is stored only in the heads of the business owner and their staff, with business cards kept in a basic index box or contact names and numbers stored in a mobile phone or scribbled into a little black book (both can easily get lost or damaged). Other businesses store customer information in a basic computer spreadsheet, which at least means it can be used more efficiently, shared more easily and stored safely online (which is critical against a backdrop of ever-increasing online threats and data breaches). However, there is a far better way to gather and store your customer data, which helps you to make the most of the value of your customer relationships – one that could also save your business a lot of time and money. What is a CRM system? CRM is short for customer relationship management. Far more than a digital address book, CRM software enables businesses of all sizes to store, organise, manage and analyse valuable information about existing and potential customers. Information or data that you can input into CRM software includes: customer contact details communication history (emails, calls and meetings) sales records (purchases, agreements, quotes) marketing activity (campaign engagement, customer preferences, etc) support-related information customer behaviour (eg website visits). Did you know? The average cost of CRM software for small businesses ranges from £10 to £50 per user per month, depending on features. Some platforms also offer free entry-level options, which can be great for new businesses. CRM business benefits CRMs allow you to conveniently log every customer call, email, video and face-to-face meeting – recording the “what, when, how and why” of your contact with all your customers. CRM systems conveniently bring together key customer data/information in one place, helping to streamline work processes, while enabling more personalised engagement with customers, no matter how big your business or how rapidly it is growing. CRM systems can also help you to simplify your day-to-day operations, saving you time and money by automating repetitive tasks, while preventing the loss of potentially valuable sales leads and strengthening your customer relationships. CRMs can also enable you to make better-informed business decisions and make your marketing efforts much more successful. They also enable better communication and collaboration between different people and parts of your business. Common challenges CRM can solve Disorganised data: Customer information scattered across handwritten notes, spreadsheets, emails and out-of-date systems. Lack of knowledge: You know some information about your customers, but not enough information that can fuel more sales. Wasted time: Time-consuming customer administration tasks that slow down you, your people and your need to sell more. Limited potential: Your existing CRM may not be able to grow as your business does, which means it could hold you back. Good CRM systems address these challenges by creating a single source of reliable customer data/information, while saving you time and money and arming you with valuable knowledge that can help you to sell more and grow your business. How to choose the right CRM Software-based CRM systems differ. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. When researching which CRM solution is right for your business, there are several key factors to consider: Scalability: Can it grow with your business? Integration: Does it connect with your existing tools and systems? Simplicity: Is it easy enough for you and your people to use? Automation: Will it save you time and money by making tasks easier? Analytics: Will it reveal the customer information you really need to know? Value: How does it compare to other options? Sector-specific CRM examples The CRM software solution you choose should also be guided by your sector-specific requirements. For example: A retailer may use their CRM to identify and send targeted offers to customers based on their purchase history, preferences or behaviour. Manufacturers often sell through a network of distributors, wholesalers or dealers. CRM software can enable them to track communication history and order patterns for such partners, as well as automate follow-ups for reorders, product updates and service reminders. A construction firm might use its CRM software to track leads and tender bids, log estimate requests and other inquiries from potential clients, manage proposals and follow up on bids and estimates. A haulage firm might use its CRM to automate its customer notifications, by linking to its fleet management system and sending real-time updates via email or SMS to clients about delivery status, delays, etc, keeping customers better informed and reducing communication costs. Four popular CRM options HubSpot CRM: Offers an all-in-one platform to enable you to better manage your marketing, sales and customer service. Its free CRM tools can help you to track leads, automate customer follow-ups and build stronger customer relationships. Can be upscaled as your business grows. Salesforce: A powerful yet scalable CRM platform that can help small businesses better manage their customer relationships, sales pipelines and service interactions all in one place. Its automation tools and analytics make it easier to track leads and deliver a more personalised customer service. Zoho CRM: Offers an affordable, easy-to-use platform to manage your sales, customer interactions and marketing, all from one dashboard. It helps you to automate routine tasks, track leads and improve customer engagement without needing a large team or budget. With customisable features and strong integration, it will keep pace as your business grows. Pipedrive: Helps small businesses stay organised, with its intuitive, visual sales pipeline and easy drag-and-drop interface. It automates follow-ups, tracks communications and provides clear insights into sales performance, which can save you time and boost your productivity. Simple and scalable. How to introduce a new CRM solution If you invest in new CRM software, obviously, you must implement it correctly. So, what does that involve? Set clear goals Decide what functionality and information you need your new CRM to give you. Rather than “better knowledge of my customers”, be more specific, for example, customer churn rate (ie customers lost during a period), or marketing email click-throughs, lead conversions (ie how many leads became customers), repeat purchases, etc. Set specific, measurable KPIs (key performance indicators) that will give you genuinely valuable insight. Clean your existing customer data If stored already, before importing into your new system, audit and standardise your customer records. Also delete duplicates and outdated entries, because these will just waste your time. Get your team onboard Their full involvement will ensure your CRM system serves their practical needs and maximises value to your business. Your people need to realise the importance of your new CRM and fully commit to using and maintaining it. Provide training and support Provide onboarding sessions and ongoing support. Your people should know how to get the best of out of your CRM and what to do if they have any issues. Start small, get more advanced Begin with core features provided by your new CRM, then expand into more advanced automation, integrations and analytics, so that you can truly maximise your return on investment. CRM for growth – key takeaways A CRM system enables businesses of all sizes to record, manage and analyse all interactions with existing and potential customers. CRM software can allow you to stay closer to your customers, better target them and serve their needs. CRM software can also help you to identify opportunities and respond to change, so you are better prepared for the future. Start by carefully assessing your current CRM (if you have one), think about how and where it could be delivering greater value. Spend time searching for the right CRM software and find out how to use it to its full potential. Customer relationships are vital to the success and growth of your business. Prioritise all your customer relationships and manage them well.

More than 21m people in the UK are now estimated to regularly use tools and apps powered by artificial intelligence (AI), including many small-business owners. From saving time and cutting costs, to improving efficiency, productivity and turnover, AI is helping many UK SMEs to be more successful. AI describes the ability of machines or software to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, which includes answering questions, learning from data, recognising patterns, solving problems and making decisions. AI can also automate repetitive tasks and summarise large amounts of data with amazing speed. As AI continues to learn and improve, many more UK businesses are likely to use it much more often. If you are interested in finding out how to use AI for your business, here are 10 things you need to know. 1 There are different types of AI ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini are among the most widely used “generative AI” platforms. After you type a question or command, generative AI platforms rapidly answer questions or create text, images, music, video or code, “scraping” information from existing online sources. “Traditional AI” (also called “narrow AI” or “analytical AI”) uses logic or rules to analyse data to then make decisions, predictions or recommendations. 2 Small UK businesses use AI for many reasons Customer support: AI-powered “chatbots” offer a cost-effective way to answer customer inquiries, resolve issues and provide 24/7 customer service. Task automation: AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks such as invoicing, inventory management, data entry, etc, saving businesses valuable time and money. Marketing and sales: AI is used to personalise email campaigns and optimise online ad targeting, while CRM software AI-enabled predictive analytics can be used to increase leads and conversion rates. AI is also now used to create a huge volume of marketing and social media content. Operations and logistics: AI is helping many businesses to streamline their supply-chain management, while even small logistics firms are using AI to cut their delivery times and costs. Decision making: AI-driven dashboards and analytics can help owners make smarter decisions in real time. AI can also be used as a “critical friend” to test ideas, develop new products and inform strategic growth plans. 3 SMEs in different sectors are using AI in different ways Retail: Small retailers are using AI to analyse customer purchase history and send personalised marketing messages/emails to drive repeat sales. Hospitality: Hotels are using AI-enabled chatbots to respond to booking queries and upsell other services/deals, freeing up staff and boosting revenue. Professional services: Accountants are using AI-powered transcription and summary tools to streamline client meetings and generate reports sooner. E-commerce: AI can be used to predict demand, manage inventory and quickly generate product descriptions for ecommerce sales and marketing. Construction: Small constructions firms are using AI to improve project planning, reduce costs and streamline operations. It can also prove useful when producing estimates or tendering for new projects. Manufacturing: AI is helping small UK manufacturers to boost their productivity, reduce waste, improve quality control and make better strategic decisions. 4 Businesses of all sizes can benefit from AI Cloud-based AI platforms and subscription models make AI affordable to even the smallest of businesses. Because AI is either free or affordable and easy to use, small firms can access the same advanced tools as big companies, which helps to level the playing field somewhat. AI can also help small businesses to scale without having to significantly increase their overheads and headcount. 5 Introducing AI into your business can be quick and easy You could start by using AI to automate tasks that are repetitive and time-consuming, perhaps where mistakes are more common, too. Consider using AI chatbots if you have many customer enquiries to manage. Maybe AI could save you time and money when marketing your business or managing your finances or people. Find out about cost-effective standalone “turnkey” AI solutions that can be integrated with your existing software. Involve your team, because their knowledge and support will really help. Provide training and guidance where necessary. 6 Using AI in your business need not be expensive Many AI tools can be accessed for free online, while others are “pay as you go” or involve paying a subscription (£10 up to hundreds of pounds a month). Free trials and low-cost plans for limited users may be available. Cost will be determined by AI features, your integration needs, as well as support and compliance requirements in your sector. For example, in finance, healthcare, etc, higher-level AI security is required. The AI solutions you choose should be scalable as your business grows. 7 Be limited and specific with your initial AI use Rather than going all-in with AI, if you are new to it, a better approach is to trial one or two AI solutions in specific areas, measure their impact on your workflow and costs, find out what has worked well and what hasn’t, learn lessons and plan before using AI in other areas. Pick specific parts of your business where AI can also save your business time and money and provide other valuable benefits. 8 AI does not get it right all the time There is no doubting the power and attraction of AI, but it can be flawed. AI can draw from poor-quality sources, while your own data must be accurate and up to date. Generative AI can give you wrong answers. And AI systems learn from historical data, which may contain biases or not tell you anything about the future. The prompts that you input into generative AI determine the replies you receive. Asking the right specific questions is essential, which is something you must master. Double-check all information that is given to you as fact. 9 Do not allow your business to become too reliant on AI AI could bring your business many advantages – but avoid overreliance. AI should complement human intelligence and judgement, not replace it. It does not always understand context or nuance, and it will likely fail when it comes to tasks that require human intuition, ethical reasoning or mental agility. AI can also struggle with things that are new, unique or ambiguous. AI still has lots to learn, but that does not mean you cannot use it to your advantage. 10 Some caution is advised when it comes to AI AI platforms invest heavily in security. They also have privacy policies and there are regulations with which they need to comply. But to mitigate your risk, caution is recommended. Do not share passwords or personal, financial or security information, etc. Check the privacy policy of AI platforms before your use them and access them only via secure networks and devices. Protect your data at every stage by using encryption; limit access to sensitive data and make sure your people get AI security training.

Many UK businesses use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. It can help you to streamline your operations, reduce your costs, boost your productivity and grow your business more effectively. Whether you are managing stock, orders, customer relationships, cash flow or people, ERP software brings together your core business functions in one place, allowing you to make the most of your resources, maximise your efficiency and profits. By offering real-time access to critical data, ERP software enables you to make business decisions based on real-time information. It can also bring a host of other benefits. If you are considering introducing ERP software into your business, here are 10 things you should know. 1 ERP software can give you greater control ERP software centralises management of key operations, such as finance, stock, sales and marketing, HR, payroll, procurement, customer relationship management (CRM) and project management. Using ERP software can bring it all together in one place, so that you can work smarter, reduce your costs and save time and money when running and growing your business. 2 ERP software can bring a wealth of benefits ERP software helps businesses to remain well organised, more efficient and better-informed. Its automation can deliver significant time and cost savings. ERP software allows people in different parts of a business to share the same critical data. SME owners and managers can also use ERP software to make smarter business decisions based on accurate, real-time data. ERP software can enable better customer service, for example, by better tracking orders, managing customer relationships and personalising communication with customers, etc, which can boost sales. 3 ERP software can benefit businesses great and small The benefits of ERP software are not just available to large enterprises, SMEs can also gain. While the big fish rely on ERP software to manage the complexity of operating on a large scale, all businesses need to streamline their processes, minimise their costs and maximise their productivity. Although larger organisations require highly customised, on-premises ERP solutions, for a far lower investment, smaller businesses can gain from more flexible, cloud-based ERP software. 4 Not using ERP software could be a big mistake Without ERP software, many small businesses need to rely on separate software or even simple computer spreadsheets. This can lead to duplicated effort, errors and missed opportunities, because information is not shared. Using ERP software brings everything together in one place, saving time, improving accuracy and helping businesses make better-informed decisions. Not using ERP software leaves businesses stuck with fragmented systems, siloed data, manual processing and poor visibility, which can lead to inefficiencies, higher costs, lower productivity and no growth. 5 Compliance can be more challenging without ERP software Regulatory compliance can be much more challenging when you need to manage critical information across several platforms. Businesses must rely on fragmented systems, manual processes and inconsistent data, which increases risk of mistakes, missed deadlines and regulatory transgressions. Not having data stored in one safe central location can create additional data security risks. 6 ERP software can boost your productivity and profits Using ERP software to share information efficiently across a business prevents duplicated effort, while allowing your team to work better together towards the same objectives. It could also free up their time. So, for example, a business could use ERP software to integrate its website with inventory and accounting records. When a customer buys something, the ERP system automatically updates stock levels, generates an invoice and actions shipping, leaving staff to focus on customer service and selling. 7 ERP software features a wide variety of modules ERP software modules are parts of an ERP software system that take care of specific business functions, such as inventory, CRM, finance, HR, etc. Each module integrates with others to streamline operations and centralise data. So, for example, when a customer buys something and the sales module processes their order, the finance module automatically records the sale as revenue in the business’s financial records, while, if stock is low, it triggers a purchase order in the ERP procurement module. 8 ERP software is used in different ways in different sectors Manufacturing – A small UK manufacturer could use ERP software to schedule production runs, track materials and help ensure compliance with safety standards. ERP software could also play a key role in reducing downtime and defective products. Retail – A small fashion retailer could use ERP software to synchronise online and in-store sales, manage seasonal stock and predict seasonal buying trends, helping to enhance customer experience and prevent overstocking. Logistics/distribution – A small regional distributor could use ERP software to optimise delivery routes, monitor warehouse stock and track shipments in real time, helping to minimise transport costs and ensure delivery accuracy. Hospitality – A small hotel chain could use ERP software to manage room reservations, coordinate housekeeping and analyse occupancy rates, to cut costs and ensure higher guest-satisfaction rates. Construction – A small construction firm could use ERP software to manage its work on multiple job sites, as well as manage expenses and ensure regulatory compliance, helping to keep projects on schedule and within budget. 9 There are key factors to consider when researching ERP software options Most small businesses choose cloud-based ERP software. The upfront costs are lower, the pricing is subscription based and you benefit from automatic updates, remote access and scalability. Your ERP software modules should directly support successful operation of your business. They could include finance, sales, marketing, CRM, people management, payroll, inventory, procurement, project management and manufacturing modules. Focus on where you need your ERP software to relieve pain and add value. Ask for ERP software recommendations from other small businesses you know and research potential options online. Contact ERP software providers for advice, take advantage of free demos and find out what support and onboard training is available. 10 ERP software may not be as expensive as you imagine ERP software pricing varies, but for cloud-based ERP software, budget for £50-£250 per user per month. That is not a small amount of money for many micro businesses, but that cost should be considered against the potential savings and productivity gains. Cost is influenced by several factors, including user number, modules included, implementation and training costs, customisation needs, etc. The more you need, the higher the monthly cost.

If you’re not already doing it, selling online could be a game-changer for your business, such are the commercial opportunities it offers. Worth £127bn in 2024 (source: The Federation of Small Businesses), online now makes up more than 25% of UK retail sales, when that figure was only 3.3% in 2007 (source: ONS). About 52m people in the UK (77% of the population) were expected to make a purchase online in 2025, confirming the UK’s place as one of Europe’s most digitally active consumer markets. The ONS predicts that UK online retail sales will grow by an average of 2.4% a year to reach £145bn by 2030, up from an estimated £128.8bn in 2025. If you want to set up an ecommerce business or your business wants to boost its revenue by selling online, here are 10 things you should know. 1 Selling online offers many advantages It gives you access to a much bigger customer base, whether people living in other parts of the UK, specific territories overseas or countries worldwide. An estimated 2.7bn people (a third of the global population) buy online. Selling online can take less effort and be much cheaper than selling offline. You can trade 24/7, 365 days a year. There really is no need to close. 2 Scaling up your online sales is cost-effective Technology makes it achievable and cost-effective to achieve further growth by scaling up your online sales, using tactics that have already served you well or new ones. Without necessarily having to commit lots of additional time or money, you can add new products/services and target new customers/countries 3 You can pick from several ecommerce channels You can sell via your own website (as long as it can accept payments and process orders) or create a separate ecommerce website. Site-building solutions such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce and Squarespace can enable you to do this cost-effectively and with limited know-how. Budget permitting, you could have a website created for you, or have ecommerce functionality added to your existing website. Many UK businesses also sell via online marketplaces (eg Amazon, eBay, Etsy, etc) and social media platforms (eg Facebook Marketplace, TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping). 4 A mix of ecommerce channels could maximise your sales The ecommerce channels you choose should be determined by what you are selling, who you want to sell to, associated costs and your knowledge/skill. Many businesses take a hybrid approach, combining marketplaces (which offer great reach), with social platforms (which can provide great engagement) and their own website (which gives them total control). Need to know! Online marketplaces often charge listing fees, commission (5%–15%) and subscription costs (£20–£25 a month). Find out how much you will be charged before you start selling on marketplaces and factor it in when setting your prices. 5 You should follow these steps before you start selling online Decide your ecommerce target customers You must know who you want to sell to, what they want, how they buy and how much they will pay. If necessary, carry out detailed market research. Research your ecommerce competitors Find out what they sell, how they sell it, how much they charge and whether they offer any discounts or special offers. Think of ways to be better. Choose your ecommerce channels Could be your own website, a separate ecommerce website, online marketplaces or social media websites. A mix is likely to provide the answer. Decide what you will sell and set your prices Knowledge of your target customers should guide your product/service choices. You do not have to charge less because you’re selling online. Bear in mind your competitor prices, your costs, customer expectations and delivery. 6 Secure payment options and reliable shipping are a must You need to provide secure, easy and convenient payment options, as well as reliable, fairly priced shipping. It helps to build trust, which can encourage customers to buy more. Get it wrong and it can lead to cancelled orders and negative reviews online. Payment options include debit/credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Buy Now, Pay Later, bank transfer, Direct Debit, etc. Shipping can include flat rates, higher rates for quicker deliveries, free shipping thresholds, alternative carrier rates and local delivery or pickup. 7 Digital marketing is key to driving your online sales Customers need to know you are there, as well as what you sell and why they should buy it from you. A mix of digital marketing channels and strategies can attract and retain ecommerce customers, including SEO (so your web pages rank high up in search engine results pages), digital advertising (including pay-per-click ads on Google Ads and Facebook Ads), social media (including paid social), email and mobile marketing. 8 Continually analysing key metrics can maximise your sales Closely assess the analytics data page in the back office of your website and/or other ecommerce channels so you can better understand your performance. Google Analytics could also give you a deeper understanding of your website’s performance. Measure what matters. Key metrics include bounce rate (ie percentage of visitors who land on a webpage and soon leave without any further activity), conversion rate (ie how effectively your site turns visitors into buyers), total sales revenue, average order value, customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, repeat purchase rate, cart abandonment rate, refund and return rate, etc. 9 There are proven ways to build customer loyalty online These include offering cost-effective loyalty deals and exclusive offers, as well as rewards for referrals to others. Make returns easy and always provide great customer service. Using CRM software can help you to better understand your customers and personalise your communication with them, which can help to make them feel valued. Be honest, clear and transparent, because it helps to build trust. Sending monthly enewsletters can also enable you to reach and sell to customers. It is cheaper and easier to sell to existing customers, so look after them. 10 Selling online to customers overseas brings specific challenges If selling from your own website or a separate ecommerce website, you need to display your prices and accept payments in other currencies. International payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay, etc, can really help. All transactions should be seamless, secure and the fees shouldn’t be excessive. You may also have to add pages in other languages to your website and work out how you will answer customer enquiries from people who don’t speak English. Your customer service must always be professional and responsive. Use reliable couriers and realise that international shipping can add significantly to your prices for overseas customers. They may also have to pay tariffs, local taxes and customs duties, which can make your products more expensive than local alternatives, so you may need to lower your prices. Some products may be restricted, while overseas countries have their own consumer protection laws.

If you want to grow your business, you need to sell more, it really is that simple. And the greater your ambitions, the more sales you need to make, whether to existing customers, new customers or likely both. Marketing is critical to business growth and digital marketing has become the main focus for many UK SMEs. Although offline marketing still has a place, in many cases, digital marketing dominates, now powering the growth of many UK SMEs. It involves using online channels, technologies and methods to promote a business, its brand, products and services. Businesses can use digital marketing to make many more sales, even with little budget and know-how. If you want to use digital marketing to grow your business, here are 10 things you should know.   1 Digital marketing can provide many benefits Businesses of all sizes and sectors use digital marketing to build brand awareness and trust, increase reach, target the mass market or niche customers, sell more and encourage customer loyalty. Because it can be highly effective, without necessarily costing a lot of time and money, digital marketing can deliver an excellent return on investment. And you can track key metrics (eg  leads generated, conversion rate, email open rate, etc), learn valuable lessons and improve. You can also scale up your digital marketing as your business grows.    2 Your website is crucial to marketing your business Websites have a powerful influence on buying decisions. Your website should be your main marketing hub. Having a professional-looking website encourages trust and strengthens credibility. Your website should showcase your products and services in the best way. It should tell visitors why they should buy from you. Your images should be engaging, high quality and evocative of your brand. Your website should be fast-loading, mobile friendly and easy to navigate.  3 Optimising your website for search engines is still important AI tools such as ChatGPT answer questions with impressive speed, but they take information from top-ranking websites. SEO (search engine optimisation) can make your website discoverable by AI tools. The right keywords should appear in the necessary density in webpage headings, subheadings, body copy, title tags, meta descriptions and image alt text. Valuable, relevant, engaging and regularly updated content that is original and authentic can also boost your search engine visibility, as do backlinks from other websites.  4 Email remains a highly successful digital marketing option  Sending emails to prospects and customers to promote your products and services, share content, news and offers can be a highly cost-effective digital marketing option. Your subject lines should be short and compelling, your copy concise, engaging, value-rich, timely and relevant. Your email contact list should be clean and current, made up of people who have agreed to receive your emails.  Sending emails tailored to smaller “segmented” groups of specific customer types is a proven tactic, as is A/B testing (ie sending two different email versions to find out what works best).  5 Social media marketing works well for many businesses This refers to sharing content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, etc. For no cost, it can raise awareness of your brand, generate leads/sales and build relationships with customers.  Paid social means buying advertising on social media, with ads labelled as “sponsored” or “promoted”. This can deliver much better results. With all social media marketing, you need to take a structured approach, set clear objectives, choose the right platforms, share high-quality content, have conversations, and analyse your results so you can improve.   6 Digital advertising can help you to generate leads and sales  This refers to displaying adverts on third-party websites, apps and social  media  platforms. Advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network, Meta Ads or programmatic ad exchanges. Display advertising gives you the opportunity to retarget visitors who left your website without buying.  Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is where you pay a fee after someone clicks on your digital advert.  PPC campaigns can be targeted and easy to measure, with daily or campaign budgets set to limit your spending.  7 Content can be king for your business Content marketing involves creating and sharing content that gives genuine value to customers and prospects. Whether through blogs, videos, podcasts, infographics,  how-to guides, whitepapers or webinars, content can encourage others to know, like and trust your brand. It can drive engagement, prove your authority and boost your search engine rankings. Content marketing is not broadcasting sales messages, but it can ultimately drive sales.  8 Many UK businesses now use mobile marketing  With an estimated 95% of UK adults (16+) owning a smartphone (source: Ofcom), mobile marketing provides good returns for many UK businesses. Mobile marketing is targeting prospects and customers via their smartphones and tablets. Options include SMS texts and MMS (multimedia) messages, as well as mobile apps (eg in-app ads, push notifications, etc), your website (optimised for mobile devices) and posting content on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other “mobile-first” platforms.   9 A mix of digital marketing options will probably work best You may need to use a few digital marketing options, together with offline marketing (eg leaflets, brochures, word of mouth, postcards and print adverts). Measure key metrics to judge the success of all your campaigns, so that you can learn and improve. Find  out  what works and do it well.   10 Proper planning prevents poor digital marketing performance You need to set out your aims and explain how digital marketing will help you achieve them, which can keep you on track and prevent wasted time or money. Start by setting SMART (ie specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) objectives. Target your chosen buyers with the right content and messaging, using the most appropriate marketing channels. Use digital analytics to “measure what matters” (eg click-through rate, page visits, conversion rate, etc). Work out your return on investment and adjust your budget and tactics guided by your successes and failures. Budget allowing, get support from external digital marketing experts, because it could bring you much better results.

There are more than 180,000 management consulting firms in the UK and they employ a huge number of consultants who provide HR, legal, tax, management, marketing, IT and other consultancy services to businesses in all sectors. The UK consulting industry is worth £20.4bn a year and according to the Management Consultancies Association: “Digital and technology consulting, along with business transformation services, remain most in demand. As industries embrace AI and advanced analytics, UK consultants are helping organisations integrate these technologies to boost efficiency and competitiveness.” Consultants bring objective perspectives and specialised expertise that businesses lack in-house. Their influence can be transformative. If you’re considering using a consultant, the following steps could help you to achieve the best outcomes. 1. Set clear objectives Before searching for a consultant, work out what value they must contribute. What do you need to achieve and what is the deadline? What will success look like? Setting SMART objectives (ie specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) can really help, because as well as providing a framework geared toward delivering a tangible impact, it can also help you choose the right consultant. Examples of SMART objectives: increase online sales by 15% in four months reduce supply chain costs by 10% in three months introduce new CRM (customer relationship management) software and have all staff fully trained on how to use it within a month. 2. Choose the right consultant Sounds easy, but it can lead to expensive mistakes. Having clear objectives is key, because you know what skills, knowledge and experience your consultant should have and what you need from them. Ideally, they will have a proven track record of working for businesses like yours, while having sectoral experience could be essential. Seek recommendations from other businesses you know. Research your options online, contact consultants that seem suitable and fully check their credentials. Ask for references and find out what their customers say about them. Ask the consultant to clearly explain how they will meet your needs and expectations. Crucially, get a detailed quote (not estimate) and remember – focus on the value you will receive – it is not simply a question of finding the cheapest option. 3. Communicate your expectations at the beginning Poor communication are likely to get things off to a very bad start. It is a key reason why businesses do not get the results they need when using consultants. Before the project begins you should agree: deliverables, timelines and reporting methods how often and when you’ll be updated on progress payment terms what your ideal outcome looks like. You and your consultant need to be on the same page, with both parties knowing their roles and responsibilities. Don’t shy away from negotiating the best deal you can get from the consultant, whether on price, scope or schedule. Detail all key points in an agreement signed by both parties, so there are no misunderstandings. 4. Agree the right arrangement for your business Obviously, you must choose the right arrangement for your needs and budget. Several types of consultancy arrangement are common: Project-based contracts: Suited to a specific challenge, such as introducing a new software system, launching a new product or delivering staff training. Retainer agreements: You may need ongoing monthly support, for example, from a marketing consultant to manage your social media or digital advertising campaigns. Retainers ensure a consultant’s availability, giving you predictability. Short-term audits: Temporary audit engagements to address urgent business requirements, specialised projects or to fill resource gaps. An example could be bringing in a consultant to identify and mitigate risks linked to cybersecurity, data handling or regulatory compliance. 5. Involve your people throughout That should start early on when you are specifying your objectives and searching for consultants. Your people need to work in partnership with your consultant and provide them with all required information. Your employees’ insight could be pivotal to your consultant’s success. All parties should very see it as working in partnership, with your consultant a valued temporary team member. Encourage your people to speak to and learn from your consultant. Post consultation, you and your people should fully understand the consultant’s work and recommendations. 6. Commit to full implementation If you’ve picked the right consultant and they’ve done a sound job, you need to listen to what they’ve told you and implement their recommendations in full, otherwise you won’t get full value. Unfortunately, many businesses fall into the trap of paying good money for consultancy advice they ignore, whether partially or fully. Someone within your business (possibly you) should lead on implementation, with clear responsibility assigned to each action point. Hard deadlines should be set and adhered to, with progress carefully tracked. If necessary, seek additional implementation support from the consultant. 7. Measure your return on investment You and your people might have invested much time and effort in working with your consultant, and it may have involved a considerable financial investment. You need to measure your ROI by comparing your costs against the tangible outcomes delivered. Often there can be intangible benefits, too, such as improvements to your processes, staff morale and knowledge, and/or enhanced business reputation. If your results aren’t clear, seek assistance from your consultant. Ask them to demonstrate, with clear data, the impact of their work. If results are below agreed expectations, obviously, the consultant should explain why. Transformative value UK businesses of all sizes use consultants in many ways and areas. They can be a powerful additional source of support, giving you access to expertise, objectivity and ideas that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Obviously, you must know what you need to achieve. But if you take time to find the right consultant, work closely in partnership with them and act on their advice, it can bring real transformative value to your business.

Whether you are managing stock, orders, customer relationships, cash flow or people, ERP software conveniently brings together your core business functions in one place, helping you make the most of your resources, improve efficiency and increase profitability. 12 ERP software FAQs 1 What is ERP software? 2 How can ERP software benefit my business? 3 What if my business does not use ERP software? 4 How can regulatory compliance be harder without ERP software? 5 How can using ERP software boost productivity? 6 What are ERP software modules? 7 What key factors should I focus on when researching ERP software? 8 How do small businesses in specific sectors use ERP software? 9 How much should I expect to pay for ERP software? 10 Should I choose cloud-based or premises-based ERP? 11 What are popular examples of ERP software? 12 How can I choose the right ERP software? By offering real-time access to critical data, ERP software enables you to make business decisions based on the most up-to-date information. It can also support your compliance needs and help reduce operational risks. To boost your knowledge and help you understand how ERP software can save your business time and money, while supporting growth and efficiency, we’ve answered 12 of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ERP software systems below. 1 What is ERP software? ERP software centralises management of key operations, including finance, stock, sales and marketing, HR, payroll, procurement, customer relationship management (CRM) and project management. Using ERP software brings everything together so you can work smarter, minimise costs and grow your business more successfully. 2 How can ERP software benefit my business? ERP software helps businesses to remain well-organised, more efficient and better-informed. ERP software automation can bring significant admin time and cost savings. ERP software enables people in various parts of a business to access and share important data, which can bring productivity and efficiency gains. ERP software enables owners and managers to make smarter business decisions guided by accurate information they can access in real time. ERP software can enable a business to provide superior customer service (eg by better tracking orders, managing customer relationships and personalising communication with customers, etc). 3 What if my business does not use ERP software? Without ERP software, businesses rely on separate systems to manage sales, stock and accounts. This can lead to duplicate work, data errors and missed opportunities, because information isn’t shared easily across the business. Using an ERP system brings everything together in one place, saving time, improving accuracy and helping you make decisions based on up-to-date information. 4 How can regulatory compliance be harder without ERP software? Regulatory compliance (eg GDPR, health and safety, etc) can be much more difficult when you need to manage critical information across several platforms. There can be additional data security challenges, too, when data is not stored centrally. 5 How can using ERP software boost productivity? ERP software enables you and your people to share information efficiently, which can prevent duplicated effort, while allowing all team members to use the same data to work towards the same goals. By centralising data and workflows, ERP software can better facilitate collaboration between all team members. So, for example, an online shop could use ERP to integrate its website with its inventory and accounting. When a customer places an order, the ERP system automatically updates stock levels, generates an invoice and sorts out shipping, freeing up staff to focus on customer service and sales. 6 What are ERP software modules? ERP software modules are specialised components within an ERP system that manage specific business functions, such as finance, HR, inventory, CRM, etc. Each module integrates with others to streamline operations and centralise data. So, for example, when the sales module processes an order, the finance module automatically records revenue in the business’s financial records, while, if stock is low, it triggers a purchase order in the ERP procurement module. 7 What key factors should I focus on when researching ERP software options? Focus on ERP software modules that will directly support your operations and growth. That is likely to include accounting, finance and cash flow management, sales and marketing, CRM, people management and payroll. Inventory management is key for many businesses, who need their ERP software to keep track of stock, manage orders/reorders and (possibly) oversee warehouse operations efficiently. Procurement and supply chain management can be an essential ERP software module, while other businesses need project management and/or manufacturing modules. 8 How do businesses in specific sectors use ERP software? Manufacturing: A UK manufacturer could use ERP software to schedule production runs, track raw materials and help ensure compliance with safety standards. ERP software could also play a key role in reducing downtime and defective products. Retail: A fashion retailer could use ERP software to synchronise online and in-store sales, manage seasonal stock and predict seasonal buying trends, helping to enhance customer experience and prevent overstocking. Logistics/distribution: A small regional distributor could use ERP software to optimise delivery routes, monitor warehouse stock and track shipments in real time, helping to minimise transport costs and better ensure delivery accuracy. Hospitality: A hotel chain could use ERP software to manage room reservations, coordinate housekeeping and analyse occupancy rates, to cut costs and ensure higher guest-satisfaction rates. Construction: A construction firm could use ERP software to manage its work on multiple job sites, as well as manage expenses and ensure regulatory compliance, helping to keep projects on schedule and within budget. 9 How much should I expect to pay for ERP software? ERP software pricing varies widely, determined by number of users, modules, implementation and training costs, your customisation needs, etc. Expect to pay between £50 and £500+ per user/month, depending on the complexity required 10 Should I choose cloud-based or premises-based ERP? Most small businesses choose cloud-based ERP software, which offers lower upfront costs, subscription-based pricing, automatic updates, remote access and scalability. On-premises ERP may suit businesses with strict data control needs or larger businesses, but it requires more IT resources and greater upfront investment. 11 What are popular examples of ERP software? Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central A cloud-based ERP that integrates finance, sales and operations with strong mobile access and scalability. Great for businesses seeking a unified platform with Microsoft ecosystem compatibility. Find out more. NetSuite ERP Consolidates finance, inventory, CRM and e-commerce into one system, eliminating data silos and manual duplication. Could help you make better-informed decisions and manage your cash flow more effectively. Find out more. SAP Business One Integrates core functions such as finance, sales, inventory, purchasing, CRM, and production planning. Strong on inventory and production management, a good fit for businesses in complex supply chains. Find out more. Zoho One Created to help growing small businesses win more customers, manage their people, track their cash flow and manage their operations on one unified system. Find out more. Odoo An open-source ERP that offers more 30 core modules including accounting, CRM, inventory, manufacturing, HR, project management and eCommerce. Highly customisable; install only the modules you need. Find out more. Many other ERP solutions are available, so, guided by your specific needs, research your options thoroughly. 12 How can I choose the right ERP software? Begin by identifying your key pain points and focus on problems you need your ERP software to solve. Think about where automation could help you save time and money by making your processes and workflows more efficient. Work out how much budget you can afford to commit each month to your ERP software. Carefully consider whether you need your ERP software to have sector-specific features or whether generic ERP software would work well for you. Seek ERP software recommendations from other businesses, research potential options online and consider whether the cost is within your budget. Contact ERP software providers and ask them why you should choose their software. Take advantage of free demos, to a get a better feel for the software. To limit costs, focus on key modules first, then expand where necessary. Also find out what support and onboarding is available. You and your people should know how to get the most from your new ERP software.

If you want to grow your business you need to sell more, whether to existing customers, new customers or both. Getting the sales you need to really transform your business could mean having to sell new products or services, or target new types of customers, or sell in new countries. Selling overseas can really take your business to new heights and technology makes this quicker, easier and cheaper than ever. 12 Digital marketing FAQs 1 What is digital marketing? 2 Why do businesses use digital marketing? 3 What advantages can digital marketing provide? 4 How important is my website to marketing my business? 5 Is optimising my website for search engines still worthwhile? 6 What is the key to successful email marketing? 7 How can I use social media to market my business? 8 What is digital advertising? 9 What is content marketing? 10 What is mobile marketing? 11 Which digital marketing channel should I use? 12 How do I plan a digital marketing campaign? Marketing is central to your growth ambitions. People cannot buy from you if they do not know you exist. They also need to know what you sell and why they should buy it from you. In basic terms, marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell, convincing them to buy from you and earning their loyalty. Digital marketing has overtaken offline marketing and it is now powering the success of many UK businesses. To increase your understanding of digital marketing and how to use it to grow your business, below are the answers to 12 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about digital marketing.  1 What is digital marketing? Digital marketing means using online channels, technologies and methods to promote a brand/business and its products and services. Businesses of all sizes can use digital marketing to reach targeted audiences, even with little or no budget and limited marketing knowledge and experience. 2 Why do businesses use digital marketing? Businesses of all sizes, types and sectors use digital marketing to build brand awareness and trust, increase their reach, target specific customers, increase their sales and keep customers coming back for more. Because it can be highly effective and does not necessarily require huge budgets, digital marketing can deliver an excellent return on investment. 3 What advantages can digital marketing provide? Cost-effective: You can reach many people even with a limited budget. Targeted: You can “segment” your market and target specific customers. Effective: When digital marketing works, it can bring excellent results. Measurable: You can track clicks, leads, conversions, etc, learn and improve. Scalable: You can scale up your digital marketing as your business grows. 4 How important is my website to marketing my business? Crucial – websites are hugely influential when it comes to people’s buying decisions. Your website should be your main marketing hub. Having a professional-looking site encourages trust and strengthens credibility. Your website should work well and do a great job of showing off your products and services. It should tell visitors what makes your business special and why they should buy from you. Your website images should be attention-grabbing, attractive, high quality and in tune with your brand. Your website should not include too many images or pages or too much text. It should be fast-loading, mobile friendly and easy to navigate. 5 Is optimising my website for search engines still worthwhile? You should still optimise your website for Google and other search engines. Even though AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini answer questions directly, they still “scrape” (ie take information) from top-ranking websites. SEO (search engine optimisation) can make your website discoverable, relevant and trustworthy. The right keywords must appear in the right density in headings, subheadings, body copy, title tags, meta descriptions and image alt text. Valuable, relevant, engaging and regularly updated content that is original and authentic can boost your search engine visibility, as can backlinks from other websites. 6 What is the key to successful email marketing? Email marketing remains hugely popular. It is a proven way to attract and retain customers for little cost. Sending emails to customers/prospects to promote products, services, share content, news and offers can be a highly cost-effective digital marketing option. Email marketing includes new customer welcome emails and monthly customer newsletters, as well as special emails promoting discounts, events, sales and product launches. You need strong email subject lines and your email copy should be concise and engaging, with timely, relevant content and clear calls to action. Sending emails regularly is advised, but do not overdo it (once a month is recommended). Your email contact lists should be “clean” (delete old contacts) and only send your emails to those who have given permission (they should also be able to opt out). Another proven tactic is “segmentation”, which is splitting your customers into smaller groups who share similar characteristics, needs or behaviours, sending tailored versions to each. Also A/B test two different versions of your emails to see what works best and learn from your results. 7 How can I use social media to market my business? Many businesses create and share content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, etc. It can be a great way to raise awareness of your brand, generate leads and sales, build relationships with customers, support them and create a loyal online community. Social media marketing can be exceptionally low cost and your campaigns can be highly targeted, while giving you access to a huge audience. Paid social media means paying to advertise on social media and when they appear, ads are labelled as “sponsored” or “promoted”. They can be highly effective. For social media marketing, as with other options, your approach should be well planned. And you should have measurable objectives, a clear strategy and know who you are targeting. You must choose the right platforms, create and share high-quality content and analyse your results, because it can allow you to improve. 8 What is digital advertising? It refers to displaying adverts on third-party websites, apps and social media platforms. Advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network, Meta Ads or programmatic ad exchanges. Display advertising can be a good way to retarget those who have visited your website but left without buying. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is where you pay a fee after someone clicks on your digital advert. Your ads can appear at the top of search results very quickly. PPC campaigns can be carefully targeted and easy to measure, while daily or campaign budgets can be set to limit your spending. 9 What is content marketing? Content marketing is creating and sharing content that is relevant and provides value to customers and prospects. It can establish your authority on certain topics, build trust and relationships with customers, whether through blogs, videos, podcasts, infographics, how-to guides, whitepapers or webinars. Your content must provide genuine value. It should help your customers or prospects to overcome challenges, save money and time, be more successful or knowledgeable. Content marketing is not broadcasting sales messages. It is about getting people to know, like and trust your brand, so that they later buy from you. 10 What is mobile marketing? Mobile marketing is targeting potential and existing customers via their smartphones and tablets. You can use SMS (direct text) and MMS (multimedia) messages, mobile apps (in-app ads, push notifications, etc), your website (optimised for small screens and fast loading) and social media (“mobile-first” platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc). Mobile marketing can be a good option, especially as 95% of UK adults aged 16+ own a smartphone (source: Ofcom). You need to gain consent before sending SMS marketing messages, while recipients must be able to easily opt-out. Keep your SMS marketing messages short and clear, with a strong call-to-action. 11 Which digital marketing channel should I use? There are many digital marketing channel options and one is unlikely to offer a total solution. You will need to choose a mix of channels – online (ie digital) and offline (ie non digital). Offline marketing includes leaflets, brochures, word of mouth, postcards and print adverts, which still work well for many UK businesses. Measure the success of all your campaigns, so that you can learn and improve. Find out what works and do it as well as you can. 12 How do I plan a digital marketing campaign? Begin by setting SMART objectives: Specific: Decide exactly what results you need to achieve. Measurable: Analysing key digital metrics enables you to judge your success. Achievable: There is no point in setting aims that are unrealistic. Relevant: Your objectives should align with your overall growth aims. Time-bound: You should set a hard deadline for achieving your objectives. Make sure that you target the right buyers with the right content and messaging, using marketing channels that will reach them. Be engaging and authentic. Provide clear value; be original, relevant and timely. Your content should be visually appealing. Repurpose content across various marketing platforms to maximise your reach. Use digital analytics to “measure what matters” (eg click-through rate, page visits, page views, conversion rate, etc). Calculate your return on investment, and if something doesn’t work – stop doing it. Adjust your budget and tactics based on your successes and failures. Run test pilot campaigns, trailing one or two channels before going bigger. Budget permitting, get support from digital marketing experts, because it could bring you far better results.

The evidence is clear – using digital technology to its full potential can make your business much more productive and profitable. The Digital Adoption: Rapid Evidence Review (2024), which was commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), found that using cloud computing, CRM (customer relationship management) systems and ERP (enterprise resource planning) software can boost an SME’s productivity by 7%-18% per technology. That’s an incredible increase, one that is affordable and achievable. It could also make a huge difference to every SME’s bottom line – so why are so many UK SMEs failing to tech themselves to new levels of success? UK SMEs lagging behind The DBT’s SME Digital Adoption Taskforce: final report (2025) found that despite the UK’s world-class tech sector, UK SMEs lag behind those in other G7 countries when it comes to uptake of mass digital technologies, tools and AI. They have lower digital adoption rates than those in Germany, the USA, South Korea and elsewhere. Moreover, the DTB review found that UK SMEs trail larger UK businesses, which are more ready, willing and able to embrace technology and exploit it to its full potential. So, what key challenges do UK SMEs face regarding technology adoption? SME barriers to adoption Cost is always a key consideration, of course, especially at a time when UK businesses are having to pay much more for most things. Research suggests that many business owners (especially those with fewer than 10 employees) are frequently put off by the perceived upfront costs of adopting new digital technology, with many unclear about the return on investment it can bring. Resistance to change is also a factor, with some SME owners and managers preferring to stick with their existing systems, even though they know better options exist. Interestingly, SMEs are believed to be more open to change when key decision-makers have been in their role for a shorter time. Time and cost savings Adopting a new digital technology can cost much less than some SME leaders imagine, while the often immediate, productivity-boosting, cost-saving results can bring a considerable return on investment. SME leaders are notoriously time poor. They usually have more than enough on their plates already, without having to worry about the additional demands of adopting new technology, which some see as an unnecessary extra hassle they can do without. But, in truth, adopting new technology can be simple enough and save them and their people lots of time, which can be used to add more value to the business. Supporting UK SMEs Many UK SME leaders are not fully aware of the significant productivity gains digital solutions can deliver. Lack of digital skills and know-how can be another barrier to technology adoption. And many SME leaders are highly risk averse, while some aren’t as digitally literate as others. As a result, they can lack confidence in their own ability to choose and implement digital solutions successfully. There are more than 5.5m SMEs in the UK, making up 99.8 per cent of the total UK business population. They provide jobs for 16.6m people (60% of the total UK workforce) and generate £2.8 trillion of annual turnover (52% of the total). Quite rightly, they are referred to as the engine of the UK economy. Even a 1% productivity uplift across UK SMEs could add £94bn a year to UK GDP. That’s a huge amount of money. Classic win-win Quite clearly, many UK SMEs need targeted support, so they can make far better use of digital tools, such as CRM systems, ERP software, e-commerce and other potentially game-changing solutions. Not only could it have a significant impact on their success and longevity, but it could also benefit the UK economy greatly. It’s a classic win-win – one we all should support.