There is a whole category of tech that is geared toward online use. That still doesn’t narrow down the category very much. It can be everything from modems and networking, to SEO and social media marketing. It seems pretty obvious that the domains of retail and online business require bespoke tools. A physical retail store needs a physical OPEN sign. Such a tool would be meaningless for an online business. An online business requires the use of advanced HTML. In a physical space, HTML is nothing more than alphabet soup.

But the fact that the domains are different doesn’t mean there is no crossover in regards to the tools needed to make them successful. After all, whether physical or online, business is still business. Customers are still customers. Opening day is still exciting and profit and loss have the same impact on your bank account. If you have a retail business, you might think there is no reason for you to keep up with the side of the business that depends on internet technology. But failure to do so could leave you and your business falling behind the competition. They will be using every available tool, whether or not it was made for retail. A hammer makes just as good of a paperweight as it does a tool for pounding nails. These are some of the online technologies you can better leverage for your retail business:

HR Services

There is a new generation of HR tools and services that were born online for the online generation. Most workers seem to view them as an improvement over the traditional way HR used to be done. You no longer need to make an appointment with someone in the HR department to talk to them about insurance. You can go online and source your own short term disability insurance. It does not have to be a part of a package negotiated by your company. You can mix and match benefits that are right for you from providers that meet your needs.

That does not mean you have to get rid of your HR department. There is a lot of benefit in having someone on the premises to talk to about work issues not appropriate to discuss with your supervisor or employees. It is not about choosing one over the other, but doing what is best for you at any given time. As times change, so do your needs. Integrating online solutions will provide you with more flexibility.

Video Conferencing

One of the most ubiquitous technologies to emerge since the pandemic is video conferencing. Zoom is the clear winner of the video conferencing providers. These days, people just think of all video conferences as Zoom meetings regardless of the software being used. There is a very good chance that at some point in the previous year, you have had a video conference. Even doctors are starting to use the service to see patients.

The pandemic also taught us that sometimes, we will not be able to do business in person. Those with a good solution at hand will have the advantage. Companies that did a lot of business online knew what they were doing and didn’t have to retool. Companies unfamiliar with the tech had a much longer and rougher transition. Even if you have never had to use video conferencing to date, it is a technology that can be a valuable addition to your business, regardless of the type of business you have.

Local SEO

Foot traffic does not account for all your business. And if it does, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. You can help more people find your physical location by leveraging the strengths of local SEO. Regardless of whether your business is physical, digital, or both, people will try to find it using a search engine, likely the one on their smartphone. That is why every business needs to have some part of the budget pointed at search engine optimization.

Whether it is HR services, video conferencing, or local SEO, these online tools can make all the difference in your physical retail business.