Game-Changing Technology for Small & Medium Businesses: 6 Recommendations

GVL is the trusted partner for small and medium businesses. We provide professional services and help SMEs adopt game-changing business best practices

One of the five game-changing business best practices GVL advocates for is leveraging technology. 

There are businesses in Kenya that serve clients scattered across the world. Other businesses operate successfully without a physical store and deliver goods and services across the country without owning a single delivery vehicle. 

Still, businesses that can’t afford traditional advertising media like billboards and television ads showcase their offerings to thousands of potential customers in a hyper-targeted, more effective way. 

The above advantages, and countless more, are made possible by technology. 

This article will give you a glimpse of what is possible with technology. We’ll also share technologies that have massively benefitted the SMEs we work with and that will serve as a good starting point as you figure out how to fully leverage tech for your business. 

An Overview of How Businesses Can Benefit from Technology 

The impact of technology on businesses can be looked at from two angles.

First, technology can make your business sustainably profitable by helping you boost efficiency, lower costs, increase productivity, and raise sales. 

But it can be significantly more impactful. 

Leveraging technology can help you redefine your business model to achieve exponential growth. Through technology, you can drive revenue through new revenue models like subscriptions and ecommerce. 

You can disrupt the entire supply chain to offer new value, like Netflix and Spotify did; or revolutionize your customer engagement strategy and access new global markets. 

There are numerous potential applications of technology in business and fully leveraging technology is a journey. Regardless, you just have to start somewhere. 

Below, we share the technologies we’ve found most impactful for small and medium enterprises. 

Technologies Transforming SMEs: A Deep Dive into Six Game-Changers 

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have historically faced challenges such as limited budgets, constrained resources, and difficulty competing with larger companies. 

However, technological advancements are leveling the playing field, enabling SMEs to innovate, optimize operations, and connect with customers in ways previously unimaginable.

1. Canva: Redefining Design for Non-Designers

Creating compelling visuals used to be an expensive and time-consuming process, often requiring SMEs to hire professional designers or invest in costly software. 

Canva revolutionizes this by providing an easy-to-use platform that empowers anyone, regardless of skill level, to produce professional-grade designs. 

Its intuitive interface, extensive template library, and drag-and-drop functionality make it a must-have for businesses of any size.

Value Proposition:

• Eliminate reliance on third-party designers, saving time and money.
• Access thousands of design templates tailored for marketing, branding, and internal use.
• Easily customize graphics with your brand’s colors, fonts, and imagery to ensure consistency.

Potential Application in SMEs:

• Retailers: Use Canva to create visually stunning product catalogs for online and in-store distribution.
• Professional Services: Design branded proposals, invoices, and client-facing reports.
• Example: A local bakery can quickly design weekly specials posters for display and social media to boost customer engagement and foot traffic.

The Cost

You can use Canva for free and get access to over a million templates. However, to unlock the best value for your business, we advise getting at least one pro license, which costs $12.99 a month. 

With a pro license, you can edit any of the millions of designs on Canva, use their royalty-free images and audio for your content, and easily maintain a consistent brand across your designs. 

If you need help setting up Canva for your business, contact us. We’ll ensure you’re up and running within no time. 

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Brainpower Behind Smarter Businesses

AI tools are helping reduce costs, boost productivity, enhance competitiveness, and improve profitability for SMEs. 

In a survey done by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, 41% of businesses were using AI to redirect the time of employees from manual, repetitive work to more meaningful and strategic work. 

At GVL, we’ve used AI to generate written content for our digital marketing clients. Whether it’s a website article or a social media caption, AI significantly reduces the time and effort taken. 

AI helps a great deal with research, which can take hours if you’re doing it manually. It’s also great for structuring an outline and generating ideas. 

Value Proposition:

• Effortlessly generate high-quality written and visual content through AI technology like Chat-GPT and ideogram.ai. 
• Save time and increase the effectiveness of your meetings with Otter AI, which takes minutes, generates summaries, and highlights action items. 
• Slash the time and effort taken to generate videos with AI tools like Lumen5 and HeyGen. 
• Spend less time on repetitive tasks by automating answers to common customer queries on social media through software like Meta Business Suite 

Potential Applications in SMEs:

• E-commerce: Implement AI-driven recommendation systems to suggest products based on customer browsing history.
• Hospitality: Use AI chatbots to handle common inquiries, from bookings to FAQs, without needing constant staff input.
• Example: A small travel agency could use AI to offer tailored trip recommendations based on a customer’s preferences, increasing conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

3. ClickUp: Digitize Your Work and Streamline Your Workflows 

Managing multiple projects, teams, and deadlines often overwhelms SMEs, especially when using outdated tools or manual methods. 

ClickUp is a powerful project management solution designed to centralize workflows, improve collaboration, and increase productivity. With customizable dashboards, task automation, and real-time tracking, SMEs can replace fragmented systems with a single, cohesive platform.

Value Proposition:

• Keep all tasks, files, and communications in one place for better organization.
• Track progress and performance with visual tools like Gantt charts, calendars, and boards.
• Integrate with existing tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom for seamless collaboration.

Potential Application in SMEs:

• Creative Agencies: Plan content calendars, assign tasks, and monitor client feedback in one system.
• Construction Companies: Track project timelines, budgets, and deliverables across multiple sites.
• Example: A digital marketing agency can use ClickUp to streamline content creation workflows, ensuring campaigns are delivered on time and within scope.

For a deeper dive into ClickUp’s utility and how it can transform your business, read this article: Drive Business Productivity, Efficiency, and Success with ClickUp

4. Social Media: Your Direct Line to Customers

Social media platforms have redefined how businesses connect with their audiences. 

Whether through Instagram’s visual appeal, Facebook’s vast reach, or LinkedIn’s professional network, SMEs now have direct access to potential customers at scale. 

By harnessing the power of social media, businesses can build trust, generate leads, and cultivate a loyal community—all while maintaining a human touch.

Value Proposition:

• Run data-driven ad campaigns targeting specific demographics, interests, and locations.
• Create engaging and shareable content that resonates with your audience.
• Foster customer loyalty through direct interactions, from comments to private messages.

Potential Application in SMEs:

• Restaurants: Share behind-the-scenes videos, daily specials, and customer testimonials to create buzz.
• Consultants: Publish thought leadership articles and network with potential clients on LinkedIn.
• Example: A boutique clothing store could use Instagram Stories to highlight new arrivals, encouraging followers to visit their website or physical location.

One example that aptly illustrates the power of social media is the use of TikTok to generate sales. Retail businesses, like clothing stores, can leverage the impressive reach of TikTok posts and live feeds to generate hundreds of thousands in extra sales.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): The Key to Digital Discoverability

For SMEs looking to thrive in the digital space, SEO is a non-negotiable. It’s the process of optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results, making your business easier to find online. 

SEO isn’t just about keywords—it encompasses content quality, website structure, and user experience to ensure customers find your business when searching for relevant products or services.

Put simply, having good SEO for your business is like opening a shop on the most high-foot-traffic street in a city. You’ll get the most visibility when people make related searches online, and prospective clients will be calling your business a lot, as opposed to you going out in search of them.

Value Proposition:

• Increase website traffic by ranking higher in Google’s search results.
• Build credibility and authority in your industry with high-quality content.
• Leverage local SEO to dominate searches in your geographical area.

Application in SMEs:

• Gyms: Publish blogs on fitness tips to attract health-conscious locals.
• Law Firms: Optimize content around specific legal queries to drive relevant traffic.
• Example: A dentist could use local SEO to appear in “dentists near me” searches, attracting customers nearby.

Get in touch with us for help in crafting and executing a winning search engine optimization strategy for your business. 

6. E-Commerce: Selling Beyond Boundaries

E-commerce has revolutionized retail, providing SMEs with an opportunity to expand their reach beyond geographical limitations. 

Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Jumia enable businesses to set up online stores, manage inventory, and offer convenient payment options—all while gathering valuable data on customer behavior to refine offerings.

Value Proposition:

• Operate 24/7, allowing customers to shop anytime.
• Reach broader audiences, both locally and globally, with minimal overhead costs.
• Use analytics to understand sales trends and customer preferences.

Application in SMEs:

• Artisans: Sell handmade crafts globally through platforms like Etsy or an independent Shopify store.
• Food Producers: Offer subscription boxes for regular deliveries of specialty items.
• Example: A furniture maker could use an e-commerce store to showcase custom pieces, allowing customers to place orders with personalized specifications.

According to a 2023 Statista report, the following were the most popular items among online shoppers in Kenya, and you would likely benefit from setting up an e-commerce store for them: 

• Clothing
• Shoes 
• Bags and accessories 
• Consumer electronics like smartphones and televisions 
• Food and beverages (excluding restaurant delivery) 
• Cosmetics and body care 
• Household appliances 
• Drugstore and health products 
• Books, movies, music, and games (excluding downloads) 

The Takeaway: Technology is the Key to Surviving and Thriving in Modern Business

The world is changing fast. This rapid technological transformation affects the way business is done. If your business doesn’t adapt, it’s only a matter of time before you fail.

With these realization in mind, most businesses adopt some level of technology. But you can do better. By being proactive in adopting business technology, you can gain a competitive advantage and thrive when your peers are just surviving.