# Startups

5 IT features small business can steal from big corporations

Red Rocket TeamOct 2, 20244 min read

Almost every entrepreneur starts out on the road to success with a small company that barely has enough money to promote itself. It's not surprising that small businesses often face a lack of money. That is why the opinion that transforming a small company into a large one is more difficult than running a large corporation may be quite correct. Success is achieved by those business owners who are willing to make dramatic changes quickly and adapt to them quickly. Today, new technologies and approaches to marketing emerge on a regular basis, so it's incumbent upon any entrepreneur to keep up with innovation to stay in the competitive landscape.

Would you like to know what are the big corporation IT tactics in small business in 2024? In this article, we will share with you five IT best practices for small businesses that will help boost your company to the next level. Moreover, you will learn about inspiring examples from real companies. This will give you the opportunity to see that everything is real. 5 IT features small business can steal from big corporations-min.jpg

5 IT features small business can steal from big corporations-min.jpg

1. Better Service Through Technology

It doesn't matter what niche and region your business operates in, because the most important thing for customers is the best experience, including service. Imagine that two similar companies offer the same product for the same price, but their level of service is significantly different. Who would you choose in such a case? Of course, your choice would fall on the side that offers a comfortable service experience. Here's what to consider:

Possibility of delivering to home
Customer loyalty program
Active interaction with customers
Online customer support 24/7

Example: Domino's Pizza

After you have already learned the theoretical aspects, we suggest that you start looking at a practical case study. As an example, we took a well-known company from the fast-food niche, Domino's Pizza, which specializes in making delicious Italian pizza almost all over the world. The problem they faced was a standard one and that was the regular drop in demand for their products. This is due to the fact that more and more similar establishments began to appear on the market, which took away some of the customers from Domino's.

What decision did the management of the company make? They realized pretty quickly that the market leader should not just offer customers delicious pizza. To be successful, you need to combine technology and cuisine. That's why they implemented a multi-channel option to order delivery of customers' favorite pizza. The ability to order came from Facebook, X (ex. Twitter) and even SmartTV users. At the same time, all requests from these different platforms are processed not by real managers but by robotic systems.

2. Implementation of Artificial Intelligence

Just recently, the world was pleasantly shocked by the introduction of a new update from OpenAI. ChatGPT 4o, which is able to process text and voice requests, was born. Today, artificial intelligence technologies are being developed at a rapid speed and few people can know what awaits mankind in a couple of years. These solutions are already being used in large corporations from various fields, including e-commerce, finance, beauty, food and even healthcare. IT automation for small businesses includes the implementation of AI-based technologies.

Example: Michelin

Let us tell you about the implementation of artificial intelligence for competitiveness using the real-life example of Michelin. Any modern motorist has heard about this company, as it has been producing high-quality tires for cars for more than 100 years. Moreover, Michelin products are used even among Formula 1 racers, which testifies to the reputation of this brand in the market. However, these companies can even experience some challenges. They have set a goal for themselves to remain market leaders in the era of artificial intelligence development.

If you think that they have decided to introduce smart robots to their tire manufacturing, that is not the case. The manufacturing department has remained unchanged. They started testing AI technologies to improve the customer experience. They were able to implement solutions that effectively know how to collect and share data for business intelligence. This allows the company to get to know their customers, their characteristics, requirements, wants and complaints better.

3. Optimization of Internal Processes

Sometimes, business owners have a poor understanding of why their business cannot grow above the «small» level. Actually, it can be due to various factors, including competitors, high prices, poor quality products, bad marketing and many more. However, there are many cases where the main reason is poor organization of internal processes. Company employees and departments need to have uninterrupted communication and interaction with each other for the company to run efficiently. For small businesses, this is an urgent problem, the solution to which will allow them to grow. Innovative IT services for small businesses include modernization of corporate software and inventory management.

Example: Walmart

The next company around which the example is built knows every resident of the USA. Walmart is the largest supermarket chain in America, which is characterized by a large selection of goods, low prices and the possibility of bulk purchases. A few years ago, they decided to implement major changes in the company that involved internal processes. Since it is a large company that sells offline, it had to modernize its inventory management system by implementing innovative technologies.

Moreover, they have not missed the trend with the implementation of artificial intelligence in the organization's operations as well. Smart assistants help them to get customer data, which helps them to calculate the supply chain of goods to the supermarkets correctly. Another point concerns data management strategies for SMBs. Recently, US-based Walmart invested in data storage and management. This was a mandatory step, as the company owns more than 20 thousand retail stores across the US.

4. Direct Interaction with Customers

Do you own a small company that manufactures a variety of products, but you still supply products to stores? Integrating big business IT features can give you the best conditions for growth. For example, you can try to create a direct channel to sell products to customers. This way, you can sell your products directly without any middlemen, thus eliminating the need to pay them commissions. A common mistake among small companies is not having their own online store on the internet or social media. If you want to generate more net profits, take care to enter the e-commerce market.

Example: Nike

It may seem surprising, but even large companies sometimes significantly change the way they sell their products. We would like to share with you the story of Nike, a company that every athlete knows. It produces quality sportswear, shoes, and accessories for both men and women. You know that Nike products can be found in almost any sports store. This means that previously, its product distribution scheme was built on wholesale sales of products to retail stores. However, the management did an analysis and realized that they could earn much more if they sold the products on their own.

This was the reason why Nike got engaged in a drastic overhaul of its product sales strategy. This was actually a difficult and risky decision since this company was making most of its profits from wholesale sales. The company already had a website and an app where users could purchase products. However, they began to implement an entire ecosystem that would reach more of their target audience and incentivize them to place an order. For example, the Nike Run Club and Nike Training Club mobile apps, which are available on both Android and iOS, allow people to train more conveniently. In them, you can track your runs, speed, distance and they can also synchronize with other devices such as smartwatches. This approach to e-commerce has helped increase the number of retail sales by over 20%.

5. Introduction of Innovative Features

It's no secret that customers like convenience. This is true not only for the buying process but also for the process of using products and further maintenance. Today, it is critical to learn how to provide your users with the best possible experience. This can well be achieved by introducing a number of innovative features. Remember that they should be focused on both improving the customer experience and optimizing processes within your company. In 2024, there is a wide range of cloud solutions for small businesses, automation capabilities, enterprise applications and more. These can all help your company become better and more visible in the eyes of the consumer.

Example: Tesla

Probably, many people were not surprised to see that this example is related to the Tesla company. This company has always been associated with innovation, and some customers have even called Tesla vehicles the cars of the future. The owner of the company, Elon Musk, strives to provide users with simple yet innovative solutions.

For example, Tesla was the first to use remote car updates. This becomes possible thanks to the software that is installed in the car and synchronized with the company's servers. Customers do not need to take their car to a dealership to connect a new feature or improve the vehicle.

Another point worth considering about Tesla is the channels for selling cars. They have made it affordable to order a car online. You do not need to fill out a lot of unnecessary information and provide a whole package of documents. It is enough to go to the online form, choose a car, enter the basic information about yourself, and everything is ready.

Elon Musk is also trying to improve the work inside the company to increase efficiency. How is this planned to be achieved in the shortest possible time? He stated that an augmented reality system will be implemented for employees in the production of cars. This will allow them to see 3D parts and how they should be assembled.

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Final thoughts

As you have already realized, today there are many IT best practices for small businesses that can be taken from large corporations. No matter what your company specializes in, it's never too late to adopt new technologies to improve your company's efficiency. These five examples of big corporation IT tactics in small business may inspire you to create something more.