It’s time to come together digitally

The 2020 word of the year is undoubtedly going to be social distancing. The conscious and necessary act of staying physically apart so that we can come together stronger and more safely in the future. But this state of affairs has also shown us just how important it is to be digitally and socially connected across all other channels. It is also creating a general awareness that new conventions are emerging, presenting us with new challenges and opportunities.

A turnaround which many parliamentary debates and demonstrations have failed to achieve has now become necessary and inevitable. The choice has now been taken away from us and it’s something we simply have to do. Something which we’ve avoided for so long will at some point feel as normal to us as our annual tax return. Those who fail to move even some aspects of their business online will lose out now – if they haven’t already – and particularly in the future. Digital technology has become the centrepiece of our lives – doing things digitally is now part of our daily reality and is the new normal for many.

We are seeing a greater understanding of the need to go digital, which in turn is bringing about new opportunities and products which are finding their way onto the market with astonishing speed. Companies are rethinking their business strategies, reinventing themselves and trying to work out how they fit into the digital marketplace.

Maintaining a physical distance from our customers means engaging with them even more closely as part of a digital network. This is the only way in which we can make our company reachable and present on a brand new level. And ensure that we can act more quickly, transparently and – with the right approach – in a way which adds more value than ever before. The digital world is creating brand new possibilities for us as individuals as well as for companies.

“Restaurants and other brick-and-mortar stores which have lost their customers due to the coronavirus crisis and are relying on delivering their products are suddenly discovering that they need an effective and trustworthy online presence – and fast.”

Digital proximity in times of social distancing also means that never before has it been so important to be together while apart. And never before has it been so important to prepare and reposition your business for this present new reality. Digital is the tool of choice and is opening up new windows of opportunity for so many sectors. In many cases, this transformation was so long overdue that it requires a completely new mindset. Every digital customer needs to be categorised differently. Reaching anonymous customers who contact you online requires a different approach to the one you take with the smiling regulars who walk through your door.

“This necessitates a professional online presence so that you can properly target your customers online. It’s not enough to just deliver your products to people in your local area. ad pepper can help by creating tailored strategies and online campaigns – even for the smallest of companies.”

Ideas which are already working on a small scale are also creating new opportunities in the business world at large. Concerts live on Instagram, performances streamed by the Vienna State Opera, the restaurant around the corner with a digital menu so you can order online, lectures on Facebook and language tutors offering online courses are just a few examples which spring to mind. What does the digital transformation mean for your company? How can you attract new customers and understand their needs and how do digital campaigns open up brand new avenues to explore? And the most important question of all: how can you turn all these fast-paced developments into THE right opportunity for your company?

Above all, you need to focus on adapting your business to current requirements and expectations. This doesn’t mean throwing tried-and-tested business models out of the window or abandoning successful market positions. Instead, you need to resolutely tackle these NEW developments head-on and be prepared to face all the digital challenges coming your way.

Remember that digital technology is not replacing everything else, but has the potential to underpin all that you do.