Even the most tech-averse people will recognize that there can be time- and cost-saving benefits to using digital tools. If you’re a business owner, here are four you may want to add to your portfolio.

Project management
No matter how big or small your team is, cloud-based project management tools can make it easier to track activities, meetings and deadlines from wherever anyone is working. There are free programs available, but it’s probably worth investing in one of the better-known platforms to take advantage of extra features such as large-file storage, messaging tools and the ability to grant limited access to freelancers or other third-party suppliers.

Digital documents
Since their introduction, documents with e-signatures have saved countless hours on the job. While in the past you had to gather all signatories together in one room or use a secure courier service to move the documents around, today you can instantly share and sign contracts and work orders from anywhere in the world. You also end up with secure, searchable digital backups without having to store banker’s boxes of paperwork that can become misfiled, damaged or lost.

Customer relationship management
Once your business has grown beyond serving your network of friends and family, a customer relationship management tool – better known as a CRM – is essential. These tools make it easy to manage and track all your customer interactions, see who is opening and reading your emails or visiting your website, and more.

Also, cold calling to drum up new business is not the most efficient approach. Instead, with a CRM containing detailed info about past clients, you can reach out to get them back on board and track new leads.

Cloud-based accounting
As a business owner you know how important it is to stay organized, keep track of payments owed and expenses made, send invoices and accept payments. With a cloud-based accounting program such as FreshBooks, you can automate many of these tasks, while storing all of these documents safely. Small business owners can also apply to receive funding toward a subscription to digital accounting platforms through the Canada Digital Adoption Program.

Learn more about how cloud-based accounting can help your small business at freshbooks.com