Imagine the future of a struggling small business as a thriving business

The Qualified Writer
12 min readMay 24, 2021

Executive Summary

This study aimed to show a systemic considerate and vital admiration of theories and models of imagination, entrepreneurship, invention, and change management in the sense of modern organizations. According to the findings of this report, it was a difficult year for small companies. Social obstacles in the markets for long-distance travel, retail, and food facilities have been unreasonably detrimental, and this seems to be where small businesses are focusing their efforts. The House Small Business Committee declared the permanent closing of 110,000 small businesses in July, with another 7.5 million facing the same fate. Operating a small business is not an easy job, particularly in today’s changing market climate. Local businesses are still competing not only against domestic chains but also against digital startups and B2C goods flushed with funding of VC and keen to upset consumer segments. The imaginative recombination of talent and resources for the limited availability of objects has often drawn in larger players. Airbnb has now waived all fees for critical frontline health workers and affiliate providers that use the accommodation on a global scale.

1.0. Imagine the future of a struggling small business as a thriving business

For small businesses, it was a rough year. Social barriers on distance travel, shopping, and food services markets have become unreasonably detrimental, where small companies appear to focus. In May, the House Small Business Committee announced the permanent closure of 110,000 small companies and another 7.5 million faced the same destiny. Tech. co’s recent study showed that 79% of small business owners claim that COVID-19 affects their companies badly.

But trends are turning for the better as states restart gingerly and easily. Moreover, the pandemic also led to increased funding for local enterprises. At the end of May, about 63% of the small business owners estimated that under current terms they would live for over a year, compared to 34% in April, according to the most recent CNBC survey, although the degree of confidence differs according to the sector (Wells et al., 2020).

Tackling this pandemic would certainly give small companies a strong impetus, but it also offers an incentive to turn them much. Although the pandemic has created circumstances that have long been resistant to new technology, in part because of the limitation in resources and a limited scale, small businesses have made a small case of adopting digital tools and developing their business models to contend in the future after COVID. Let’s look at some of the main factors that shape the future of small firms and how B2B brands with small firms will contribute to making this transition seamless (Akkermans et al., 2020). This pandemic offers a chance for a necessary transition.

1.1. A Moment of Transformation

Operating a small business is no simple task, particularly when the consumer environment today shifts. You’ve gone long ago since Meg Ryan was trying to hold an independent bookshop afloat against a Tom Hanks-owned Barnes & Noble-style chain. Local companies are now struggling not only against domestic chains, but also digital entrepreneurs and B2C products, flushed by VC financing and willing to interrupt customer groups. Warby Parker replaces the local optometrists who are fighting for Lens Crafters, and Intuit TurboTax is disrupting small tax and accountancy firms that are previously competitive with larger firms such as the H&R Block (Akpan et al., 2020).

The disparity between traditional small companies and start-ups trying to succeed in the same segments of consumers is worthwhile. Many D2C and digital companies’ brands will choose boxes from the list of “small companies,” e.g. their scale, sales, and market share. We may not classify them as small companies here, but they do not share the same business strategy or development objectives due to the disparity between financing sources. New entrants adopt a digital, market-focused approach for most small companies worldwide with a diverse range of sizes and addressable buyers.

As the pandemic has shut down traditional offline outlets, on which the smallest businesses depend, many have been compelled to take digital resources to satisfy their customers. Late adoption locks contributed to the digital platforms being tested (and continued), thus stressing the need to expand small businesses (Papadopoulos et al., 2020).

For instance, take eCommerce in Q2 2020, total US e-commerce retail sales rose by nearly a third of the previous quarter (31.8 percent), or 44.5 percent year on year, according to the latest US Commerce Department data. In a couple of months, a decade full of supermarket transition occurred. Forced by fact, numerous shops on the platform opened fast online shops using services such as Shopify and Squarespace; Shopify reported that 62 percent of the first six weeks of lockdown created on the platform had jumped from 13 March to 24 April. 25% of small retail brick and mortar companies interviewed in June reported that this year they have added an electronic shopping outlet.

In addition to developing online platforms, certain forward-looking small companies across different markets seize the chance to update their consumer service to keep up with rapid shifts in behavior. Private medical centers have taken up telehealth facilities as well as luxury catering activities for home enjoyment in high-end restaurants. In addition to private shopping in the shop, Nava began to provide virtual shopping rates on appointments. Junzi Kitchen has launched a fresh, modern American-Chinese pop-up store, featuring an extensively digitally based menu.

Any forward-looking small companies upgrade their consumer service to meet a rapid shift in behavior. Also upgraded are back-end systems as small enterprises are gradually using SaaS platforms to cover operating requirements such as human resources, payroll, and logistics. Kabbage, an American Express-acquired digital small business loan, for instance, has implemented Checks for cobble that allow small enterprises to access resources such as electronic wallets and bill payments in digital banking services.

Economic instability could cloud long-term regeneration in support of small enterprises, with demographic changes from local centers to suburbs and suburbs, having significant impacts in the regional regions for small businesses. Eventually commercial rental in the centers of towns will decline, whilst the towns will settle down in such a way that new industries in metropolitan areas will start again, as Derek Thompson explains in his reflexive work for The Atlantic, but regeneration will take time. Small companies continue to thrive, which means they need to respond to emerging customer preferences and networks (Indriastuti and Fuad, 2020).

Due to the continuous transition to digital platforms, the future of small companies is expected to follow an all-in-one approach similar to B2C products, albeit without VC financing and the accompanying fascination with scaling the business at any expense. Future developers will begin developing their business online before opening an offline location for companies with no in-human resources. The physical channel serves more than the primary customer touchpoint and distribution channel as an engagement hub or a marketing channel. Also for individuals including nail salons or independent movies, modern digital contact points would be deployed to promote a smooth cross-channel client experience at the beginning. Compared to the B2C labels, the distribution of their products would be limited and hyper-local, using localization, to hit relevant customers efficiently. Social trade can therefore be a vital means of engaging and building direct relationships with potential small enterprises. Future businesspeople can start developing online until they launch an offline site.

For B2B companies that deal with small businesses, this suggests that it is now time to tailor the technology platforms and services that are required in the digital business for small business owners. The capabilities should also be evident in their brand message and combined with easy-to-reach customer support, which can direct business owners to the appropriate solutions.

1.2. Fending Off the Aggregators or joining them

When more small companies, formerly available only on offline platforms, switch online and embrace digital infrastructure, the implementation of the aggregation principle by business analyst Ben Thompson to evaluate the future of small businesses, established and popularised, is also an important consequence.

Small companies are pre-internet enterprises, in particular those that originated offline. Their primary competitive advantage stems from their delivery power, namely their proximity to local consumers since they are geographically nearby (Contreras et al., 2020).

However, when many of them join the modern digital economy, their task would undoubtedly be identical to many publishers and retailers — how will they avoid being commoditized to undifferentiated products and services providers, at the expense of dominant networks controlling consumer access?

A clear example of the effects of aggregation is the restaurant business. As a critical part of the small business environment, non-franchise restaurant services like Yelp, which represent about 70% of all U.S. restaurants, and delivery services like Grub Hub and Postmates have become ruthlessly integrated into local discovery platforms. As online shopping continues to increase in use, particularly during locks, local restaurants lose control of the way they relate to these food delivery platforms which offer hungry users a one-stop shopping experience to explore all nearby restaurants.

2.0. Development of entrepreneurial mindset to ignite creativity and innovation

Yet over a few weeks, the “magic” behind entrepreneurial thinking has shown clearly and employers all over the world are resilient, determined, and skilled at seeing or looking for a chance of uncertainty. Compelling data has shown that several small companies, with fast-modified product and service products, have rebuilt and continued to maintain a consumer base to hold the doors “addible” and extend their employment. Unable to satisfy the increasing demand during COVID height, entrepreneurial enterprise firms have exchanged staff with organizations. Thousands of such examples abound in a weekend or a couple of weeks. The creative recombination of skill and money for limited availability items has often brought bigger players into play: Airbnb also internationally waved all payments for essential frontline health staff and associate providers using the housing. Dyson also produced a compact ventilator, Spiffy (car cleaning facility on demand) has moved onto sanitation facilities and properties, and InkSmith has moved from kids’ modeling and tech equipment to shields. InkSmith also employed many scent manufacturers to make sanitizers (Kristinae et al., 2020).

It probably has been caught one way or another in COVID-19, regardless of the scale of their business. The pandemic forced companies to their knees to struggle to retain their clients and to develop alternative approaches.

Businesses will thrive throughout the pandemic of COVID-19, but far more would be needed than government-led financial assistance. The hard job begins for business executives behind the scenes. The work businesses will now successfully move their business forward from the creation of a new financial plan to the revision of their existing business activities (de Caro et al., 2020).

2.1. Reduce costs as much as possible

In the future, companies that switch from traditional to digital environments could beat. If businesses have a physical office, overheads and other costs needed to operate their business will save their business. Workers can operate from home and large-scale suppliers of offices can no longer be needed.

National companies start opening up further, but it doesn’t mean that people do as often as they used to visit. Any families prefer to quarantine at home or do not leave as much as before COVID-19 (Kristinae et al., 2020). Data indicates that store revenues are expected to decrease by 60% by the end of 2020, although online sales are projected to increase by around 20%.

You could be hindering their company’s prospects for economic success if you’re not thinking about having their business as digital as possible — or at least physically impacted.

2.2. Take their insurance and their contracts

Can businesses want to lease their business property? What kind of payroll contracts has businesses in place? By renegotiating terms, businesses might cut any of these expenses. If they are going through something identical, other organizations might appreciate the condition.

Your landlord will be prepared to lower temporarily for many months, particularly when businesses agree to pay the favorite interest on business. A longer-term deal at a cheaper price per month could be provided by the payroll provider.

You should also consider renegotiating business lending and loan cards. Request lower interest based on the payments in time to date. To pay the account for less than the maximum cost, give a lump sum payment. If businesses make them a fixed payout, credit companies will bite.

Business insurance rates may also provide flexibility for modifications to costs. Businesses should also check into the policies to see if it covers disrupted business activities, called interruption policy, to limit the loss of business as a result of the pandemic (Zahra, 2021).

2.3. Plan new strategy for business

Any business must change or adjust its business model to ever-evolving consumers and expand its business. During the pandemic, maintaining their business flexibly is more critical than ever. This would change the very basis on which the business was based, but in those extraordinary times, it would hold its head above water.

2.4. Pay attention to their Business online

Right now, a gold web appearance is. It’s time to shift the business into the modern realm if you’re still physically active to date. Consumers have generally gone beyond physical shops and facilities to online shopping and streaming services as well as lockout orders lift. Their web activity will be something their business is aware of.

An online portal is the center of their business. Make one if you’ve not yet made their latest one as user-friendly or focused on it. And, ensure that businesses have a forum on their account. Blog firms have a monthly advantage of 67 percent more than those lacking blogs on their Websites.

2.5. Build social networking accounts as well

Place industry data on their networks every day, pose thoughtful questions and connect on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms with their existing and future customers.

• Day in day posts about what the team has to do with

• Staff reports

• Industry humor

• Quote illustrations

• Industrial questions about what buyers expect or want

• Tutorials

• New product or service ads

• Live videos

• Case studies

• Tutorials

• Material in high-performance social networking for many companies. Share labels, things, articles that businesses love about the business, etc.

2.6. Think About the Now to Grow Later

Just as enticing as it is to get through the moment businesses struggle, it is important to think past their business in the short run. Their aim is not only to pass the pandemic; it is also to understand how businesses will flourish outside the pandemic.

Now, what modifications will businesses make that can support businesses later? For instance, to reduce customer budgets, businesses could lower some goods or services costs. Or, reconfigure their services and allow a free edition with restricted features to trial. These individuals will become paying clients if they have more capital to spend.

You may also recommend investing resources or systems such as Consumer Relation Management (CRM) tools if the budget so permits. Businesses could already still be stuck in cheaper rates that will save businesses money in the future.

Conclusion

This research has been conducted to demonstrate the systemic interpretation and critical understanding of ideas and models in the form of current organizations, growth, innovation, and organizational change. This study concluded that for small businesses, it was a rough year. Social barriers on distance travel, shopping, and food services markets have become unreasonably detrimental, where small companies appear to focus. In July, the House Small Business Committee announced the permanent closure of 110,000 small companies and another 7.5 million faced the same destiny. Running a small business is no simple task, especially when the consumer environment today shifts. Local companies are now struggling not only against domestic chains, but also digital entrepreneurs and B2C products, flushed by VC financing and willing to interrupt customer groups. The creative recombination of skill and money for limited availability items has often brought bigger players into play. Airbnb also internationally waved all payments for essential frontline health staff and associate providers using the housing

References

Akkermans, J., Richardson, J. and Kraemer, M. 2020. The Covid-19 crisis as a career shock: Implications for careers and vocational behavior. Elsevier.

Akpan, I. J., Udoh, E. A. P. and Adebisi, B. (2020) ‘Small business awareness and adoption of state-of-the-art technologies in emerging and developing markets, and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic’, Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, pp. 1–18. DOI:

Contreras, L. E. V., Perkins, K. M., Ellenbecker, M., Moure-Eraso, R. and Vega, N. E. M. (2020) ‘COVID-19 pandemic lessons to facilitate future engagement in the global climate crisis’, Journal of Cleaner Production, pp. 125178. DOI:

de Caro, F., Hirschmann, T. M. and Verdonk, P. (2020) ‘Returning to orthopedic business as usual after COVID-19: strategies and options’, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 28(6), pp. 1699–1704. DOI:

Indriastuti, M. and Fuad, K. ‘Impact of covid-19 on digital transformation and sustainability in small and medium enterprises (SMEs): A conceptual framework’. Conference on Complex, Intelligent, and Software Intensive Systems: Springer, 471–476.

Kristinae, V., Wardana, I., Giantari, I. and Rahyuda, A. (2020) ‘The role of powerful business strategy on value innovation capabilities to improve marketing performance during the COVID-19 pandemic’, Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 8(4), pp. 675–684. DOI:

Papadopoulos, T., Baltas, K. N. and Balta, M. E. (2020) ‘The use of digital technologies by small and medium enterprises during COVID-19: Implications for theory and practice’, International Journal of Information Management, 55, pp. 102192. DOI:

Wells, P., Abouarghoub, W., Pettit, S. and Beresford, A. (2020) ‘A socio-technical transitions perspective for assessing future sustainability following the COVID-19 pandemic’, Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 16(1), pp. 29–36. DOI:

Zahra, S. A. (2021) ‘International entrepreneurship in the post-Covid world’, Journal of World Business, 56(1), pp. 101143. DOI:

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