Module 3-Transitioning to the Digital World Final LK

We completed a diagnostic survey of our businesses in Module 1 for the purpose of finding out what the strengths and weaknesses of our businesses are. It is important to realise here that transitioning your small business to an online medium will not automatically remedy all your problems. For example if you do not have a clear customer service plan in place on paper, moving to an online medium will not resolve your problem, it will exacerbate it. Not surprisingly most small business owners are constrained by a lack of resources both financial and non-financial. Most small businesses are unable to hire full time staff to look after every business function. It is therefore necessary to craft innovative solutions that these functions are still fulfilled albeit without full time staff being hired to do so. How then does the small business innovate? The answer lies in being able to find the most appropriate technological solutions without having to “break the bank.” Figure 2 is a development of Figure 1 and goes on to describe a basic e-commerce business model and how small businesses can implement this.

Activity 15

Converting traditional processes to online processes

In your group take a look again at the diagnostic survey you conducted of your business in Module 1 and then using the results of the diagnostic activity discuss which processes you think you can automate. Don’t worry about how to automate these processes now that will come later.

2. E-Commerce Business Model

Now that you’ve applied your mind to how to convert your traditional business processes to an automated one let’s re-visit the e-commerce model we looked at in module 1.

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