The Covid19 Pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had a devastating effect on worldwide business. The continual movement in and out of lockdown has to led to many companies having to close their premises for extended lengths of time. It’s, therefore, no surprise that in recent months, the majority of businesses are placing much more emphasis on their online presence. Shops are conducting most of their business online, workplaces are running remotely, and services are becoming digital.
Some company owners may be wary of pivoting towards digital, which is completely understandable. It can be a drastic change for some, moving away from face-to-face interaction and business as we know it. However, this move to digital has been on the horizon for a long time, as with many trends, the pandemic has accelerated the timeline, but the shift toward online-based operations has been long in the making.
Obviously, when a shop moves online, it’s fairly straight forward. In fact, most shops already have online stores, so the change has been relatively subtle. However, what about businesses that provide services, such as accountants, consultants or other B2B organisations? This is where things get a bit more complicated, but the shift isn’t as drastic as you may think.
The overall process involves moving data online, usually on to a cloud server so it can be accessed from anywhere. As this data will include sensitive and private customer information, there can be worries about security and potential breaches. This is where a good company will install a robust and reliable security infrastructure, to ensure data is protected, even when it’s online.
When it comes to online security, there is a range of measures that can be implemented in order to ensure data is protected. Examples of such measures include multi-step user authentication, data encryption, firewalls and most importantly, a vigilant security team who will monitor the system in real-time and react to any security threats as they happen.
Ironically, although there tends to be some trepidation when moving customer data online, often it’s a much safer alternative to paper files. Paper can be misplaced, lost or stolen and worse of all, there is no way to track where it ends up. Whereas when using an online security system, there is a digital trail attached to every file.
Whilst this move online has been brought to the forefront due to the pandemic, there are benefits which are built into the digital experience. For example, being able to access important data, instantly, from any computer, increases speed, productivity and efficiency. This gives you more time to focus on the services that you offer.
The move to digital is also environmentally friendly- reducing paper, reducing travel and therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint of the business. It’s also worth noting that digital working is becoming much more popular as it allows employees to work from home, around a much more flexible schedule. As we have discovered during the pandemic, it’s likely many employees will want to continue working from home, even after the world opens back up.
We at Salhan Accountants offer a wide variety of services, including business and consultancy advice. Whether you are a company that is nervous about making the jump into digital or you just need some help along the way, we can provide expert solutions. If you have any questions or you’d like to employ our help, feel free to get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, you can find much more information about Salhan Accountants by visiting the website.
