Starting up a new business venture is both exciting and a little daunting. You want to get going and start getting customers, but you have a long list of things to sort out, set up, and sign off, before you can raise those shutters. At this point you need a simple but effective IT solution that leaves you free to take care of all the other aspects of your business.
How Microsoft can help?
The following are some solutions that could be just the technology you need to get up and running on a start-up budget. However, if you're unsure about the technology solution that would best suit your business needs, you can get expert advice from Microsoft Specialist Partners. Not only are they familiar with the challenges you are facing but they can advise on the best IT solutions for you.
Get started with the right PC
A PC is probably already at the centre of your business, or is part of your immediate plans. With the right PC you can manage your books, communicate with customers, and create and store important documents. Windows 7 Professional lets you do all this fast with good security. You also get a quick-and-easy document and email search built in, safe and speedy internet browsing with Internet Explorer 9, and a host of other time-saving functions.
Always connected wherever you are
When you’re just starting up, you’re often out of the office and on the move, but you can’t afford to have business stop because of it. With the right mobile technology, time away can be just as productive as when you’re on premises. Windows Phone 7 lets you use the same software you have in the office--to access email, calendars and contacts, so you don’t miss anything important.
Back at the office, your start-up staff have a lot to do, so you need a solution that will keep them connected to the tools they need, while taking care of routine tasks. It could be as simple as connecting everyone to a printer, or as crucial as protecting them from viruses and hackers. You might also need to centrally store contact lists or financial records, and maybe even host your website. Microsoft Small Business Server could be the right "first server" for you, taking care of everyone’s files, data, printing, faxing, search, security and backup needs--so you and your staff are free to take care of business.
Be professional with the right tools
The more professional your business looks - in everything, from invoices to marketing materials - the more seriously your customers and suppliers are likely to take you. Microsoft Office 2010 Professional lets you create highly professional documents, presentations, and financial charts, without needing specialist skills. It also helps you keep track of things with the calendar, email, task, and contact features. The many shortcuts can help save valuable time over the course of a day - time that can instead be spent interacting with customers, suppliers, and staff.
For more advanced business features, consider Microsoft Office 365. You can enjoy email with your custom domain (yourname@yourcompany.com), a professional mailbox and security features, a web portal to help easily share and keep files up to date, and even a web-conferencing solution with audio, video and desktop sharing features. What’s more, it's based on a monthly subscription per user so you don’t have to make a heavy investment. And because it's in the cloud, it's easy to manage and update.
Have you also considered?
If you’re starting a business in e-commerce, website or application development, you may need to consider a strong and flexible back-end infrastructure. However, your start-up probably can't afford heavy investment in servers and IT management. That’s where
Windows Azure comes in. It enables you to build, host, and scale applications in Microsoft datacenters where you only pay for the resources you use. What's more, there's no up-front expenses or long-term commitment.
