- Increase productivity and cut costs
Small businesses need to concentrate on doing more with less. It’s about making the most of the people and capabilities you already have and investing in the necessary technology to drive further efficiencies. IT investment should be in technology that is simple to install and operate, so the broadest potential staff base will understand it and be able to use it.
- Live online
Recent statistics show that 75% of 16-24 year olds couldn’t live their lives properly without the internet1. Work is no longer a place we go but a thing we do. The computer has become our office - select your hardware and software carefully, considering products such as laptops running Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system, which helps your remote workers easily connect, access, and share all their work computer programs, files, and network resources,securely, regardless of where they’re actually working from.
- Invest for the future
‘Cutting edge IT’ may conjure up images with large price tags attached. But on the flip side the latest technology can also have a very fast payback either by cutting direct costs (such as travel and telecoms) or helping deliver revenue (through better customer management or improved productivity). Technology such as SharePoint (an integrated suite of server capabilities), is a prime cost cutting example, as it enables employees to work together more efficiently, much as Unified Communications allows employees to connect from any location – VoIP, Webmeetings/Video conferencing allow colleagues to share and collaborate remotely without losing productivity, decreasing the spend on unnecessary costs and time of travel to and from meetings.
- Ensure staff can access the company network
In a virtual office environment, it is essential that all flexible workers save their work directly on to your system, rather than locally, such as on their laptop. The Windows 7 operating system offers users an ‘Offline Folders’feature, which helps you work offline with the ability to automatically synchronise between your PC and your work network, boosting productivity whilst preventing data loss.
- Take advantage of the digital world and free capabilities online
Anyone with a mobile phone and internet connection can now start their own business - there is no longer the need for the large overheads involved in providing office space and expensive on-premise technology equipment.With the right software, provided as a subscription service across the internet SMEs can leverage new capabilities and operate at a much lower cost, work more efficiently and from any location at any time and without the need for large, upfront capital expenditure.
- Focus on your customers
It is more important than ever to ensure customer loyalty by showing the value you add to your existing customers. Focus on retaining customers as well as keeping in touch with old contacts, as when they do come back to the market you want to be first on their list. Customer Relationships Marketing (CRM) systems can help manage your existing customers and focus on the right opportunities whilst also providing some of the best information to understand your business better.
- Partner and collaborate online
It is essential for businesses to work together in tough times. We are seeing growing numbers of firms building communities online and joining forums with peers, with the intention of both accessing and providing business support to each other. Social networking sites are being used as a way of both marketing businesses and also engaging in rich conversations with customers, partners and prospects. More and more businesses are actively partnering to increase their capability and work together on bigger projects and tenders whilst maintaining their own flexibility and developing their specialisation.
1 Source: YouthNet research entitled Life Support: Young people's needs in a digital age
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