In today’s modern age, business owners are fortunate to have a world of technology at their fingertips. We don’t have to concern ourselves with analog techniques of the past, like hand-filing our documents or tracking expenses in a ledger. Instead, we are fortunate to be able to run our businesses from anywhere—even on our smartphones while on-the-go.
Yet, technological advancements can often feel like rapid-fire, with new programs and apps being launched every week. For the average event pro, this can become overwhelming, particularly when your hands (and mind) are deep in creative client work. Who has time to keep up with the latest platform CRM or social media scheduler on the market?
The Special Event, co-located with The Catersource Conference & Tradeshow, is heading to Miami July 19 – 22, 2021. Immerse yourself in an inspiring and safe event focused on the new trends and opportunities in events and catering. Learn more
Fortunately, you don’t need the latest, cutting-edge tech every time there is something new to offer. Instead, you simply need a few low-maintenance digital tools that are reliable and fit your business needs so you can focus on working in your business instead of on it. Here are three areas that might be lacking—and how you can harness technology to improve them.
Your sales and booking procedure
When you’re guiding prospective clients through your sales funnel, they’re looking at your sales process as a glimpse of what it will be like to work with you. They’re judging your response times, your ability to answer their questions, your attention to detail, and your processes and workflows. The modern client values efficiency and simplicity, so rest assured that they will be looking at how you employ technology to make their lives easier. Planning an event is a lot of work, and they need to feel like they can handle it, with special thanks to you and your handy digital solutions.
Luckily, it doesn’t take much to make a great first impression. Start off on the right virtual foot with an automated scheduler that makes booking appointments effortless for your prospects. Then, use CRM software to prepare and send out branded contracts for e-signing to create a fully immersive brand experience that is both easy-to-use and impressive. Once you’re all booked and ready to go, you’ll be happy to find that all of your client’s information is already stored and organized for you to get started.
Your communication with vendors and clients
We’ve seen communication evolve over the years. Some of you may have relied on a trusty pager back in the day and, today, it’s safe to say that everyone is well-versed in the age of email and text communication. However, relying on emails and phone calls as the sole means of connecting with vendors and clients is a thing of the past. Not everybody is in their inbox all the time, and younger generations are increasingly opposed to phone calls. Instant gratification is a priority, so we need to embrace new digital solutions to ensure timely and streamlined communication.
Today, many powerful CRM platforms provide real-time collaborative tools for event teams and their clients. Gone are the days of back-and-forth messages juggling client requests, vendor contracts, and upcoming invoices. Look for a program that can be shared with other vendors and clients so you can ensure that everyone is on the same page at any given time.
Your billing and payment process
Does anybody love invoicing? The answer is a resounding no. Creating and sending out invoices is a tedious task, but one of the most important as it’s what gets you paid! However, that doesn’t mean you have to worry about making sure your clients are billed on time or sending reminders when they’re past due.
Instead, consider implementing an invoicing software that handles all of these little details for you. All you have to do is set the payment schedule and amounts, add in your client’s information, and let the program do the rest for you. It will send out your invoices on time and automate follow-ups to ensure you get paid on time. Not only is this far more convenient for you, but it also simplifies the payment process and makes for a more efficient client experience.
There’s no excuse for businesses to lag behind the times with inconvenient and outdated practices. When you level up your tech, your business and your clients will thank you—and you’ll see your revenue flourish accordingly.
