(NC) Amidst the year of dizzying change we’ve been living through in 2020, small businesses have had to adapt quickly to stay afloat. And with at least 70 per cent of Canada’s workforce employed by small and medium-sized businesses, small business is a big deal.  

Here are ideas to help our local shops, salons and other businesses adapt to change:

Use technology to pivot. 

It’s the most common word in business this year: no, not panic, pivot. The times are changing, and so are the needs of your customers. Ask yourself, â€œHow you can adapt to meet their changing needs?” Perhaps your product can now be delivered, and tech can allow for that delivery to be contactless. Or maybe your business transactions take place completely online —?but is your website up to snuff? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask â€” and in many cases, innovative tools are part of the answer. 

Look to the cloud. 

Operating a small business takes a lot of time and energy, especially if the nature of your business is changing before your eyes. If certain business functions can be made easier with cloud-based tools, this will help you  adapt more quickly to changes. For instance, Receipt Bank will help you manage expenses by easily scanning receipts, Wagepoint can keep your payroll flexible, automated, and accurate; and Jobber can help you streamline your relationships with your service customers. Your business is small and mighty —?tools like these can help in a maor way!