The pandemic, along with the boost provided by resources such as those from the PNRR, has driven the digitalization of businesses, but critical challenges remain. Today, we will address the importance of managing customer and supplier data within companies.
The problem of data management
With the onset of the pandemic, businesses had no time to delay their entry into the digital world: enhancing their operations with innovative solutions became a must to remain competitive, allowing both existing and new customers to explore the company and its updated offerings. And what about data? Companies began addressing this issue early on, recognizing that data, as we have previously explored, are true strategic assets for any business aiming to stand out in the market.
Of course, no path is without obstacles, just as no problem exists without a solution (or almost). In this case, the solution is straightforward: digitalization and innovation are the key terms all companies must embrace today. Despite this, one issue persists: the challenge of analyzing and managing corporate data—a critical point that must be tackled and resolved.
Below, we present a list of challenges that companies face during this transitional phase:
- Digital technology can replace certain processes in internationalization, while in others, it serves as a complement. The greatest benefits are achieved by integrating internationalization strategies based on direct presence with those leveraging digital tools.
- Internationalization processes are complex, and the role of digital technology is not to create a risk of oversimplification. While it eliminates distances, digital does not erase the differences between markets. It is therefore essential to maintain the integration between online and offline approaches, as the latter generates complementary knowledge that should never be lost.
This risk of oversimplification may be exacerbated by companies establishing “virtual” branches with minimal personnel presence and centralized decision-making processes. Consequently, pursuing localized adaptation strategies becomes increasingly challenging.
That said, the benefits that digital brings to the daily operations of businesses are truly astonishing! Data collected digitally is consolidated into a single software known as CRM, as well as through social networks and other third-party apps. These tools make work within the company more seamless, efficient, and effective.
Data Management: reduced costs thanks to CRM
Just as the difficulties people face in connecting and communicating remotely have decreased, so too have (in some cases, been eliminated) the costs of managing customer and vendor data in the corporate field, thanks to the advent of digitalization and CRM software.
This is because having a system that allows tracking the activities of salespeople, for example, not only improves their performance but also provides a comprehensive overview of the deals they are managing, enabling better organization of their day. Data entry is an essential activity in any company, but using the wrong tool for it leads to wasted time and inevitably higher margins of error in the data. Tracking the journey a prospect takes in the purchasing process maximizes results.
To summarize: possessing data does not automatically equate to greater control—the matter is much deeper. The focus is on improving the lives of salespeople and significantly enhancing the quality of customers. This is one of the great advantages of CRM, its strength that positions it today as the new beacon for global business development.
