There is no way to sugarcoat facts. Roughly 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of operations. That means all the hard work, time, money, and sleepless nights you pour into your business may still not be enough.
How often have you considered your daily company tasks and thought, "There must be a quicker way to do this"? Anyone trying to make it in the highly competitive business world must juggle multiple roles – and time is money.
Luckily, a powerful and versatile technology like Python can help you reclaim your time and make your small business a powerhouse of efficiency and innovation.
From Python for business analytics to small business automation, this versatile language is a hidden gem.
What is Python?
At its core, Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language. Unlike some of its peers, Python focuses on readability, allowing you to express complex ideas in fewer lines of code. The idea was to make programming more accessible to people who didn’t spend decades behind a screen trying to solve the challenges of integrated programming.
Originating in February 1991, Python has come a long way and today is one of the tech community's most widely adopted languages. This is because you can use it for pretty much any practical application you want and a big reason why you hear about so many companies that use Python in their scalable growth strategies.
But why should you, a small business owner, even care? Because Python is more than just a tool for programmers. It's a Swiss Army knife that can bolster operations in business, offer growth opportunities, and even facilitate small business development.
What is Python used for?
The beauty of Python is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This programming language is flexible enough to be used across a wide range of industries and applications for any SME (subject matter expert) looking to improve productivity.
That can make all the difference in the world when you are trying to maximize profits and grow at a sustainable rate.
Some of the more beneficial reasons to use Python for small business operations include:
- Intuitive Syntax - Reading Python code is almost like reading English. This readability makes the language approachable for novices and invaluable for experts. Small business owners won’t need extensive experience to understand what the language is and how it is being used.
- Easy to Learn and Debug - Due to its clean, easy-to-read syntax, Python is perfect for those new to programming. This ease also extends to debugging, making it simpler to maintain the code and run testing over new ideas for your small business’ future.
- Extensive Libraries and Modules - Python has an exhaustive range of libraries and modules that simplify complex tasks, whether data analysis, web scraping, or machine learning. A beneficial fact seeing that small business thrives on innovation.
- Community Support - With over 8.2 million Python developers worldwide, help is just a forum post away. Even those completely insane new business ideas you are considering have probably already been constructed somewhere using Python.
- Versatility - Python is a general-purpose language, meaning it can be used for anything from data analysis to web development and even robotics. Even better – Python can automate many mundane, repetitive back-office tasks.
- Free to Use - Python is open-source, making it a cost-effective solution for SMEs and startups. You don’t have much money when you are running a small business, which shouldn’t prevent your future growth.
- Advanced Calculations - Python excels at mathematical computations, making it ideal for businesses that rely on complex analytics and algorithms. Everything from accounting to inventory automation can be simplified using Python as a web application development tool.
Then there is the fun history of the language. How can you go wrong with learning a language based on the televised antics of Monty Python? I mean, come on. That is a no-brainer!
5 Practical Ways Small Businesses Can Utilize Python
#1 – Streamline Small Business Processes
Python is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to small business automation. Think about generating monthly sales reports or managing multiple email marketing campaigns by freeing up your office team through simplified automation. That saves your team time and money so they can focus on what matters the most – building customer relationships.
The online Q&A forum Quora is a perfect example of Python’s scalability factor. As this platform grew from a few thousand monthly users to millions of subscribers, the company leveraged the cost-saving advantages of Python because it is a general-purpose language that supports deep learning. The readability and efficiency make it much easier to integrate with AI/ML tools all through a simplified syntax.
#2 – Digital Transformation
Python's libraries and frameworks are invaluable for businesses looking to make a splash online or boost their existing digital footprint. Any company that wants to succeed needs to have a digital-facing aspect of operations. That may be an e-commerce branch or simply a way to streamline a library of resources, so they are available in the online space. You can use Django or Flask for web development and Python-based e-commerce solutions like Saleor or Oscar to build a robust online store.
Other potential digital transformation tools for Python include:
- CherryPy – an object-oriented web app that allows for RAD (rapid application development) so your team can create a ton of web apps through a minimalistic framework.
- Pyramid – a highly secure progressive app building framework with some of the best versatility companies like Reddit, Mozilla, Yelp, and more used for web apps.
- Shopify/WooCommerce Python APIs – platform-specific e-commerce frameworks that allow your products, orders, and customers to interact with your online brand.
- Shuup – an open-sourced solution with flexible online store management through a modular architecture that extends your e-commerce visibility online.
The possibilities are endless. If you can think of a way to digitize your small business operations, odds are, there is a module or framework already included in the vast array of Python libraries ready to use.
#3 – Business Data Analysis and Insights
Data-driven decisions are at the heart of any successful business strategy. Python shines in this domain thanks to its advanced data analysis and visualization capabilities through easy programming. If you understand English, you will be able to use the commands that mimic that language. You can use Python libraries like Pandas for data manipulation and tools like Matplotlib and Seaborn for visual insights.
If you are a company with similar products to a competitor, you must use data to get ahead. Python uses range from learning how your customers interact with your brand to sales numbers on a specific date range informing your team about where to go next.
Put another way, you cannot make quality decisions without data-driven insights. A small business owner not equipped with how a decision will impact sales, future growth, financials, employee /team management, and the broader scope of customer relationships cannot lead. You must have these data points to foster SME growth.
#4 – Enhancing Customer Interactions
On the topic of relationship building - enhancing customer interactions is crucial in this age of high consumer expectations. Python can elevate your customer service through chatbots, automated ticketing systems, and personalized recommendations. Libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch can enable machine learning models to predict customer behavior and preferences.
Need an example? Let’s look at e-commerce. Say you own and operate a young fashion label with clothing, accessories, makeup, and similar items. To start, you build a 24/7 chatbot that directly answers customer questions any time of day or night. This increases your conversion rate while lowering your need for live human assets.
Add on top of that a decent CRM (customer relationship management) system that allows for personalization with emails, coupons, and payment options, and you have a digital store powerhouse running in the background while you soak up rays on some secluded beach.
#5 – Productivity and Efficiency Boosts
Python’s growth opportunity capabilities aren't just customer-facing. There are plenty of “behind-the-scenes” needs that Python solves, especially considering the international nature of remote work and freelancers. Python offers various tools to boost your team's productivity and streamline project management. Libraries like Airflow can help orchestrate complex workflows, while tools like PyTask can aid in task management.
When you can lower the frequency of intervention for your small business, you raise the overall efficiency of operations. That includes decreasing human error through automation and streamlined communication, leading to smoother business processes. You could build a unique Python script that efficiently manages and allocates resources within a small digital marketing agency. That way, you know all tasks are completed on time and within budget.
Overcoming Potential Challenges
Implementing a new technology like Python can seem a scary prospect. Operating a small business comes with a wealth of risks, and you spend most of your day mitigating those potential problems. Why would you want to introduce another one, right?
Let’s review some of the more common myths about integrating Python into your small business so you can get past these issues and move on to more significant growth potential.
Myth #1 – Python must be for larger companies.
Nope. Python is free to use, highly versatile, and scales easily. Many of the top companies worldwide used Python to scale up operations when they were still “business babies.” You can be a mom-and-pop furniture store in Vermont and still get plenty of use from Python for analyzing customer data, fall vs. spring sales, and even your top salesfloor team member performances.
Myth #2 – Python is way too complex to learn quickly.
Any programming language will take time and repetition to become a master. That being said, you don’t need to be the next Bill Gates. Python is very similar to English. It mimics many of the subtle nuances you already use daily – making it one of the most intuitive syntax systems with an ever-growing support community in the world.
Myth #3 – Python is going to be too expensive to use in my small business.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a dime. Yes, certain apps or libraries may cost some money as well as servers to run Python, but the vast majority of Python resources are free to use. The ROI from automating your repetitive tasks and getting actionable insights from data-driven visualizations far outweighs any minor investment you’ll make in this tech stack addition.
Okay, how about some tips for training my team or running my business?
- Begin with Online Courses: Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer comprehensive Python courses. Some are explicitly geared towards Python for business analytics and other specialized fields. One of my favorite Python schools is Real Python, they make learning Python fun and intuitive and have tons of resources for specific projects and questions.
- Leverage Community Support: With over 8.2 million Python developers worldwide, a robust community exists. Engaging with forums like Stack Overflow or subscribing to Python-specific newsletters can provide valuable tips and solutions for Python coding issues.
- Hire External Experts: If in-house training isn't feasible or you need specialized Python programming skills quickly, consider hiring a Python consultant or developer for a specific project. I would be happy to help you with your Python projects as well at Jon Crosby Consulting.
- Regularly Update Skills: The world of Python is ever evolving. Schedule regular training sessions for your team to keep them up to date with the latest Python libraries and tools that can benefit your business operations.
What Companies Use Python?
You're in good company if you choose Python. All the businesses on our list started in a garage or backroom office space before becoming industry leaders. Companies that use Python focus on finding solutions to automate, gain insights, or scale their operations.
Here are some giants who leverage Python in various capacities:
- Industrial Light & Magic: This company (better known as ILM and founded in 1975 by George Lucas) uses Python to create some of the most iconic visual effects in film history. Everything from Star Wars to Indiana Jones is created with Python-backed processes. For example, ILM uses Python by embedding it into custom applications already prepared in C or C++ (like the in-house lighting tool that places unique lighting in 3D scenes).
- Instagram: With over 2.35 billion monthly active users, Instagram relies on Python for its scalability and performance. No, I’m not talking about the latest hashtags to grow your dropshipping business. “The Gram” relies on Python for business logic. It takes all that customer data and crams it into digestible chunks the leadership team can use to direct the future of the social media behemoth.
- Spotify: This music streaming giant, expected to have 517.69 million monthly active users worldwide by 2023, employs Python for data analysis and backend services. Spotify is a mix of hundreds of interconnected services around music management and licensing rights that require a ton of automation (most of which are written in Python).
- Netflix: With shows accumulating billions of viewing hours, such as Squid Game season 1 with 2.2 billion hours, Netflix uses Python for data analytics and recommendation algorithms. In addition, Python is leveraged for classifying certain risks and security automation. When the news talks about sharing passwords across families is so critical, it’s Python leading the charge to detect that usage.
- Dropbox: A cloud storage giant with over 700 million registered users, Dropbox uses Python to manage its intricate backend infrastructure and create “normalized” language platforms for multiple developers to integrate other languages. That way, you can use the Dropbox API for different business applications.
What’s Next? Ready to Use Python for Your Small Business?
So, how can Python elevate your small business? Have you considered integrating Python coding into your business model to optimize your operations?
It's not just for the tech giants. This is a tool that's accessible to all, especially to small and medium enterprises looking for cost-effective yet robust solutions. Being a small business will always come with unique challenges, but leveraging Python's power could overcome them faster.
Any time you are considering growth through automation, data analysis, digital transformation, or more, take a look at integrating Python into your innovative and efficient tech stack.
Additional Resources
Here are some of the best Python libraries, courses, and resources to start your small business development.
- Best for E-commerce: Saleor or Oscar
- Best for Digital Transformation: Django or Flask
- Best for Business Analytics and Data Visualization: Pandas, Matplotlib, or Seaborn:
- Best for Machine Learning and AI: TensorFlow or Scikit-learn
- Best for API Development: FastAPI or Tornado
- Best for Learning Python
Bonus: Use ChatGPT to fill the gaps in your Python skills
If you're looking for an interactive and engaging way to enhance your Python skills, look no further than ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model that can assist you in learning Python by answering questions, providing code examples, and offering helpful explanations.
ChatGPT can be your virtual coding buddy, helping you overcome challenges. I use it daily to help me bolster my Python knowledge and quickly develop solutions and solve errors in my scripts.
