Technology to make your business run more smoothly
When you’re running a business you don’t want to spend time worrying about IT hassles. You want to know that your technology is keeping your data secure, that you can find the data you need quickly, and that your software is powerful enough to give you the tools for the tasks.
Quick and secure solutions
Imagine if your laptop was stolen the day before you were due to have an important meeting with a client. Would you be able to retrieve this information easily or would you have to start writing your proposal again? While hard copies of documents offer a tried and tested way of keeping business records, it may not be as fail-safe as it seems. Filing everything you create can be time-consuming, but a lost or stolen laptop can cause a real headache.
Fortunately there is technology that can help you. A server can give you the comfort of knowing your vital documents and files are backed up automatically. It also brings other benefits such as allowing you and your colleagues to have a central place to hold core information. And if you download a free version of Security Essentials you’ll have real-time protection for your PC that protects against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. So if your laptop does get stolen your vital business documents aren’t lost for good.
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Accomplish daily tasks, quickly and easily
Make your time count and get rid of repetitive tasks thanks to simple tools and functions on your PC that make life easier. Spend less time worrying about IT and enjoy an easier, more effective PC experience.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the more employees use computers and the Internet, the more productive they are, with IT-intensive firms being twice as productive as the least. For small businesses it is important to get the right hardware and software in place to ensure they can provide a competitive advantage.
The latest software can help people in small businesses make the most of their time. For example, in Office 2010 Professional the interface has been updated with new features to streamline your experience. It’s also more useable in a number of other ways; including the Backstage view that lets you preview, print and share documents from one place and the Conversation view in Outlook 2010 that helps eliminate duplicate information and stay organised. And with Office Web Apps you’re not restricted to working just from your desktop computer. Instead you can view and edit your files on any web-connected device, such as a laptop or smartphone.
All this needs to be supported by an operating system that will get things done faster. With the faster boot-up and improved performance of Windows 7 Professional you can get things done more rapidly and it’s also now easier to use and navigate.
You can organise windows on your desktop with Snap and Peak and the built-in document and email search facility enables you to find information quickly so you can spend more time getting on with your work.
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Easy insights into your company’s financial and sales data
Imagine this: You need to make a critical business decision, but you’re unable to find the information you need to guide you in the right direction. You know the information is there, but with data stored in different files and systems, it just takes too long to find and analyse. Plus, when you compare your findings with those of your colleagues, you spot inconsistencies. You end up using gut instinct to make your decision and cross your fingers that you've made the right choice.
To give everyone in your business better insight, central reporting tools including dashboards and scorecards can consolidate information from all of your different systems and present it in a simple, at-a-glance view, so everyone has a "single version of the truth." With consolidated insights you can make decisions based on data, rather than instinct. Some basic tools can help bring this information together to help you analyse and make sense of it. With a spreadsheet application, such as Office Excel, you can pull together financial, sales, customer and other information and then use visual tools and templates to quickly spot trends and understand the data.
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Microsoft. Business tools for a job well done.
Need some advice?
If you're unsure about what technology solution would best meet your business requirements you can get expert advice from Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners. These IT experts are often small businesses themselves and they are familiar with many of the challenges small businesses face today. To find a small business specialist near you, or to search for products and services, visit our Microsoft Partner Network page and enter your postcode into our Pinpoint tool.
