5 Free Digital Tools Every Iraqi Company Needs

The world of business is a competitive and merciless one. It’s a jungle where the strong devour the weak. In such a world you have to adapt to the environment, evolve your skills and capabilities, and keep up with the changes going on, or like the mammoth, your business is also going to get extinct.

Just like animals evolve stronger fangs, sharper claws and faster legs, your business should also evolve and adopt new tools to surpass your competition. In this age, digital tools are the fangs and claws of your business. Combined with strategy, skill, and some luck, and you can hunt the opportunity you are looking for.

Iraqi businesses are visibly behind in using new digital tools. For example, banks use legacy systems, finances are done using spreadsheets, and communication is mostly done in WhatsApp or Telegram groups. This lack of digital awareness is causing delays and deficiencies. The main issue is these systems are outdated or not used in their proper environments.

In this article, we’ll share five digital tools that every Iraqi business owner should consider using (the recommendations for these tools are based on personal experience and feedback from founders).

1. Slack

The role of communication in business cannot be emphasised enough. Without proper communication, goals tend to be blurred and things can quickly go bad.

Slack is a messaging platform that is designed for the office. The platform enjoys good popularity among companies worldwide. Slack lets you create channels for tasks, teams or projects and removes the need for having many groups on messaging platforms. It has many tools for automation and can be easily customised to your needs.

Similar Platforms: Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, and Chanty.

2. Trello

If you’re looking to get your tasks under control, a good task management tool can be a big help. Without one, it’s easy for tasks to fall through the cracks. A good tool will let you track and manage your tasks so that nothing gets forgotten. Trello is a simple and effective way to organise your thoughts and ideas into actionable items. The intuitive interface makes it easy to get started, and the flexibility of the system means you can tailor it to fit your needs. Whether you’re looking for a simple Kanban board or a more complex system for managing projects, Trello is a great option. The platform offers a wider-angle of customisation and automation options.

Similar Platforms: Asana, Clickup, and Hive.

3. Notion

Notion is a project management and note-taking software platform designed to help companies or organisations coordinate deadlines, objectives, and assignments for greater productivity. By providing users with an easy way to organise their thoughts and ideas, Notion can help team members work together more effectively and efficiently. The level of customisation that notion offers makes it suited for any type of business. You can tailor the workspace, tools and features to fit your specific needs. Whether you’re a solopreneur or a large team, Notion can help you get work done.

There is no real alternative to Notion that offers the same capabilities, but below are some worthy mentions: Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, and Coda.

4. Canva

If you’re starting a small business on a tight budget, hiring a professional graphic designer might not be an option right away. But with Canva, you have access to pre-formatted templates for everything from social media banners and marketing flyers to events and documents (presentations, letters, reports, etc.), all for free. Canva is super easy to use and the results are stunning – it’s one of the most popular free small business tools online, and for good reason!

Similar Platforms: VistaCreate, Stencil, and Easil.

5. Zipbooks

Conducting accurate accounting and tracking payments and expenses is a must for any serious business. Finding a good accountant can be difficult and expensive which most small businesses cannot afford, however, ZipBooks is a great option. With features like invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting, it has everything you need to manage your finances and grow your business. Plus, its intuitive interface makes it easy to use even if you’re not an accounting expert.

Similar Platforms: Quickbooks, Wave, and Akaunting.

Grow at No Cost

Digital tools are constantly evolving as they aim to offer a more efficient and productive way of working. There are many free digital tools available that can help companies to grow without incurring any additional costs. By redirecting funds to other areas of need, businesses can make significant savings.

Digital tools can help businesses to automate tasks, manage projects, communicate with customers and clients, and track data accurately. By taking advantage of these powerful tools, businesses can gain a competitive edge and improve their bottom line.