Benchmark International

As we get into 2024, every business owner should think about ways to create growth, especially if you are considering exiting your business or embarking on retirement. So, let’s look at some things you can do to take your company to the next level.

Fully Embrace Technology’s Benefits

One way to scale up your business is to take advantage of everything technology, and digitalization can do for you. The ways consumers buy products and services and how they interact with companies have changed ever since the pandemic. People view value differently, and e-commerce innovations have never been more advanced. Reviewing your digitization strategy can help you ensure you’re doing all you can to serve your customers best and ensure your company doesn’t fall behind the competition. As do consumer preferences, technology continues to evolve with every step toward the future. Keeping up with these advancements can help elevate your company’s efficiency and productivity. Some tools you may want to consider include customer relationship management (CRM) software systems that help organize customer information and give valuable insights into their behaviors to personalize your strategies to serve them best. Another tech tool you might want to consider is project management software that keeps your business organized and on track regarding time management, task assignments, deadlines, and more.

Use Data to Guide Your Way

Data is more critical to businesses than ever, and it can be used to track your past performance and help you anticipate future performance based on key performance indicators (KPIs). You want to look at all quantifiable data and follow where the market is going in your industry so you know if, when, and how your company needs to pivot. Gaining more profound insights into your business includes tracking average time for conversion, inventory turnover, revenue growth, contracts, and net profits, among others. If you continue to monitor your progress regularly, you can stay on track toward meeting your goals. Several data analytics tools, such as Google Analytics or Tableau, can help you analyze large amounts of data to help guide your decision-making. Artificial intelligence (AI) also offers tools to help benefit your business and keep you ahead of the competition. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of adopting new data-driven technologies, consider hiring an expert to lead the charge or consulting with a data analyst to do the heavy lifting while you stay focused on running your business.

Get Those Expenses in Check

While you cannot control your company’s revenue because customers ultimately make the purchasing decisions, you can control what you spend on your business. Start by looking at variable expenses, such as sales commissions, labor costs, production materials, and even utilities, and see if you are making the best spending decisions. Also, if you have maintained healthy relationships with your vendors, they will be open to considering variable contracts if they value your business. The bottom line is that they will not get paid at all when times are tough if you go out of business. Strategies such as these can help you improve your cash flow and bottom line. 

Collaborate and Communicate 

Success often depends heavily on the relationships and connections you build throughout your business. Always remember that networking and collaboration can open doors to new opportunities, whether it’s via joining groups, attending conferences, or simply collaborating on projects.

Also, the pandemic changed how businesses and their employees communicate in many industries. It has become more common for more remote work and less in-person contact. In these situations, maintaining clear communication remains vital to the success of any company. Some team members will still seek reassurance; for some, routine communication is needed to keep up morale. All employees are different, but you should always communicate openly to keep people from feeling disconnected or in the dark. Having a company Intranet is one example of an easy way to maintain a daily and consistent connection with your staff, especially if you are a larger company.

Have a Current Marketing Plan

When was the last time you reviewed or updated your marketing strategy? It would help if you were marketing to consumers in a way that is still relevant in today’s digital age. Your digital strategy should be optimized for the new normal. It would help if you were tracking performance metrics so you know what areas need attention and what things are working so that you can do more of it. It would be best if you also were evaluating your marketing strategies, how they correlate to spending, and how they measure up regarding your return on investment. Consider doing regular market research (focus groups, surveys, etc.) to track customer needs and preferences changes. Stay on top of social media trends to understand real-time customer behavior. By monitoring what’s trending, you can guide conversations around your company in relevant ways. Additionally, it would be best to always look at customer feedback to understand what they truly need and want and how your brand can deliver it.

M&A

Mergers and acquisitions are another proven, effective path you can pursue for the growth of your business. M&A strategies can accomplish a wealth of goals, including: 

• Increasing market share
• Expand into new markets
• Gaining additional facilities
• Shoring up your talent pool and accessing the best talent
• Filling in gaps in service offerings
• Gaining intellectual property
• Creating cost synergies or revenue synergies
• Adding a new business model
• Diversifying your investments
• Making R&D more efficient
• Widening your existing service offering

If you are a business owner who would like to delve deeper into how a merger or acquisition can benefit your company, our M&A experts at Benchmark International would love to hear from you. You would be surprised by how one simple conversation can lead to a game-changing outcome for your business’s success and your family’s future.

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Lawrie@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL:

Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $11 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network as well as the #1 Sell-side Exclusive M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook’s Global League Tables.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com