Competition, applying the right strategies, making steady progress, investing in the right people, and adapting to events beyond your control may all put pressure on small businesses.

Lewis Carroll said it best in “Through the Looking Glass”: “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”

One can argue that companies of all sizes can feel this strain. While that may be true, small businesses are more likely to experience additional obstacles because fewer individuals work for them and have fewer resources in general.

Having said that, operating a small business does not have to be a constant struggle. There are numerous tools available to assist you in automating specific procedures, better organising your workforce, and increasing your online visibility.

One such tool is the appointment scheduling software. For small business owners, this can be a terrific asset

Let's look at some of the most pressing challenges that small businesses may experience as they grow, and then explore what solutions an appointment booking platform like Storeplay IQ might provide to alleviate some of these issues.

• Small businesses usually have a small team. As a result, the owner (usually) may want or have to perform multiple tasks at once (for example, developing a marketing strategy, contacting suppliers, keeping track of expenses, talking to clients, and planning events). The issue with relying on one person to do various tasks is that it fosters the so-called ‘founder dependence’;
• A survey done by Salesforce has found that 55% of small businesses struggle to manage their time effectively. A possible solution to that would be to automate as much of the communication as possible so that your team could focus on more hands-on tasks;
• Any market shift can have a significant impact on a company’s trajectory. Even a small adjustment can feel like starting over. For instance, if your supplier’s costs have increased, you will need to set aside more time in your schedule to renegotiate, find a new supplier, or update the prices of your services or finished products;
• On top of that, you must keep up with the latest trends in order to remain relevant to your clients.

Since launching Storeplay IQ.net in 2020, our clients, who work in retail and hospitality, have been using the platform in several ways:

✔ to adopt the use of virtual queues when their stores are at capacity;
✔ to better manage bookings on special occasions;
✔ to organise click-and-collect and other buy online pick-up in-store strategies;
✔ to provide in-store assistance to clients through online appointment booking;
✔ to make personalised offers to customers using pre- or post-shopping surveys.

Apart from the examples listed above, there are several reasons why small businesses, in particular, can profit from this powerful tool.

1. It Lends Your Team a Helping Hand

Customers can make appointments any time, even outside of business hours, using appointment scheduling software. As a result, your employees won't have to manually perform all of their tasks.

Allowing your staff to do more meaningful work with the support of proper technology is essential not just for a better workplace climate, but also to improve customer experience.

One of the most important outcomes is that you will be able to distribute work more efficiently.

2. It Streamlines Employee Communication

With online booking software, all your staff has access to customer data, allowing them to better organise among themselves.

Furthermore, by learning more about their customers, they may prepare the merchandise in advance and provide suggestions to sell other items they might be interested in.

Overall, communication and planning become less stressful, more transparent, and efficient.

3. It Can Boost Your Company’s Revenue

A booking platform is a long-term investment, and small businesses that leverage technology to make shopping easier will inevitably gain market share.

4. It Helps You Stay Relevant to Your Clients

Retail by appointment is a relatively new concept — traditionally reserved for luxury fashion stores — but it's gaining momentum because it provides a high-quality shopping experience at any store and at no extra charge.

Moreover, today's shoppers want the best of both worlds: the convenience of online shopping plus the experience of visiting a physical store. Appointment scheduling software helps connect these two types of shopping.

5. When it Comes to Delivering Orders, You Save Time, Money, and Carbon

With a small team, a buy online pick-up in-store (BOPIS) strategy might be beneficial. If you run an electronics shop, for example, you wouldn't need to hire someone to deliver the orders; instead, you'd simply notify your clients (automatically) about when they may pick them up.

Furthermore, if needed, Storeplay IQ can be configured to accept online payments for a more convenient buying experience.

6. Even on the Busiest Days, You Do Not Miss a Sale

The virtual queueing tool can easily combine online bookings and walk-in customers. You can install QR posters in front of your venue so that customers can scan the code and secure a position in the virtual queue. This way, they won't have to wait in line or change their minds about coming to your store.

7. It Enhances Your Online Presence Effortlessly

You'll have a better chance of converting your web visitors into customers if you promote the online appointment booking software on social media platforms and mapping tools that people use.

Additionally, the software can also provide you with the data to distinguish your highest converting platform (i.e. do people book more appointments on Instagram or on your website?). As such, you will know where to adjust the content or messaging.

While no single solution can solve everything, one thing is for sure: an appointment booking platform can make your job much easier and more lucrative.

Access here if you want to learn more about our best appointment scheduling software. For small business owners anywhere in the world, it can be customised to respond to the specific needs of their company.

If you’re ready to try the software yourself, get in touch with us today and tell us about your business!