UAE Businesses: Digital Transformation During Coronavirus

Famous physicist's Marie Curie's quote is something to remember and get inspired by in these tough times we are all facing due to the coronavirus crisis. She said, "Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." When the entire world is plagued in fear - the fear of death, the fear of illness, the fear of an economic crisis - it's time we learn to make the most out of what we have, by understanding how we can navigate through this situation.

COVID-19's impact could cost the world a loss of $1 trillion in revenue. UAE's local businesses have been impacted with disruption in the supply chain, dwindling of demand and complete shutdown of operations. In fact, many have been thinking of shutting down permanently. As UAE has a major source of revenue in tourism, so do almost all the local businesses. With no tourists and no local customers too, every business, including self-funded, family-funded ventures have taken a hit. This, combined with the lack of digital infrastructure to facilitate remote working, has painted a very grim picture for the businesses you have given blood, sweat and tears for.

However, the scenario could have been different if your business would have been more digitally empowered. For example, setting up an online shop through a well-designed website would have kept the sales on, with the deliveries done after the lockdown for non-essential commodities. There is still time to make it work and save your businesses, learning from the mistakes of the past.

Major problems for UAE's local businesses that can be solved through digital transformation in the time of this pandemic are:

• Crash in sales
• Drop in the demand, disrupted supply
• Lack of infrastructural support to go digital
• Lack of virtual communication with existing and potential customers

Evolve your business through a digital transformation. It is the best way to weather the storm. It is a necessity in a time when technology is keeping the world afloat. And it's not too late!

What is Digital Transformation?

Empowering your business with tools like having something as simple as an effective website that makes you visible on the internet means undergoing digital transformation. 70% of companies are either working on a digital transformation strategy or planning one.

How to Bring About a Digital Transformation

• Have a clear vision and strategy.
• Take one step at a time.
• Ask all the questions you want. Like "what can be automated?" or "what data can we collect?"
• Be prepared to take certain calculated risks.
• Hire a professional agency who knows what they are doing.
• Start by getting a feature-rich, powerful website created by a trusted, experienced agency.
• Set aside a budget. Consider it as an investment in the future.

What Digital Transformation Does for Your Business

1. Enhances Customer Experience & Interaction

All your customers are online.

Tools like a website or active social media platforms can improve customer experience and increase convenience. Use of CRM tools like HubSpot, Aritic, PinPoint, Drip, Kajabi, Marketo etc. in your website can help you achieve better customer relationships as a whole. For instance, HubSpot facilitates marketing automation, web analytics, SEO and more, for better lead conversions, empowering your business, digitally. Integrations of tools in your website for your business makes it hit the mark. CRM tools can get returns of $8.71 for every dollar spent! 

2. Streamlines Business Processes

Minimise errors, increase speed. 

Do you often think that everything is all over the place and your business could be more organised? That's possible. Use of varied tools can make everything seamless.

3. Boosts Productivity & Efficiency

Much needed right now.

Replacing manual operations with digital processes can make them faster and seamless. This makes a business productive and efficient. Giving everyday tools a digital upgrade optimises even the minuscule tasks. 40% of executives say that operational efficiency is the topmost benefit of digital transformation.

4. Elevates Brand Reputation 

That means more customers trust you.

As your business gets digitally wise, it improves its performance and online visibility, creating a positive brand reputation.

5. Empowers Employees

They all get a kind of a cape.

Let's take the simplest example. A sales representative is on a call with a potential customer who asks to know everything about the company. Without a website, the employee will spend several minutes explaining all about the company, instead of simply sending a link and saving time. Or let's say your company executed cloud migration, and no data is saved locally. At a time like this, all your employees would have access to important files and could efficiently work from home without stalling processes.

6. Expands Scope & Adds Value

There are more things you can do now.

Let's say you own a clothing shop in UAE that could only deliver locally. With the use of e-commerce, you can deliver across the country. Powerfully digital. 56% of CEOs say that digital transformation has increased revenue.

7. Increases Speed To Market

Level-up your manufacturing processes.

More efficiency, fewer errors and empowered employees tend to work faster, which means you can make up for all the losses that you have suffered during the lockdown. That's how you can increase your turnover and grow. Digitally mature firms are 26% more profitable than the others.

8. Better Decision-Making

More data. Knowledge is power.

Automated data collection through various tech tools can allow you to make informed decisions. You can know the audience demographics, for example, to know how you can tailor your products better and get more sales.

Why UAE's Business Need it Now

• Massive impact on revenue.
• No new customers.
• Mandatory remote working scenario.
• Stalled factory or office-based operations.
• Increased internet traffic.
• The need to make up for losses.

Digital transformation is a matter of survival, and 27% of companies agree. A recent news snippet spoke about how the leveraging of technology and data by the financial institutions in the UAE will allow them to withstand the impact of COVID-19. You too, can do the same for your business. 

We need precision like the Hawk of Quraish when we make our businesses undergo a digital transformation. Just having a website or integrating it with state-of-the-art tools is not enough. You need to get it done right, through the right professional agency. A child and an artist, both can use a paintbrush to create a work of art, but the results they achieve will be drastically different. Which is why you need the right people to get the job done. Blue Beetle is just what you need. 

Blue Beetle is a growth-driven, number one digital agency in Dubai that will help solve your business' problems digitally. Our experienced, talented and efficient team of in-house experts will create, manage, update and optimize a digital campaign for you. We are known for our stunning, impactful and high-ranking websites that boost your business' growth. Get in touch today to know more!