Top Tips
Blog Your Way To Business Success
With new research* showing that the UK small business community is being
left behind in adopting and utilising new technologies for business, Bibby
Financial Services is urging owners and managers to review their IT
infrastructure and invest in getting it up to date, or risk losing out to
the competition.
The research reveals just 23 per cent of small businesses feel confident in
their knowledge and understanding of new tools such as blogs, podcasts and
Really Simple Syndication (RSS). In addition, a second nation-wide study**
shows over a fifth of small and medium sized businesses are missing out on
commercial opportunities because of their failure to adopt new technologies
and update their IT infrastructure.
David Robertson, chief executive of Bibby Financial Services, explains:
“With the growth of new technologies within the business environment, small
firms need to follow market trends or get left behind. Owners and managers
who conquer their fear of the unknown, and take the plunge into new
technologies, will find themselves rewarded with access to new customers,
increased market share and greater profitability.”
To help owners and managers get their IT systems in shape, Bibby Financial
Services has developed the following ‘top tips’ for business owners and
managers:
-
Budget for IT – treat technology as an important part
of your business and allocate funds accordingly. Include IT as a
separate cost in yearly budgets to ensure you are covered for any IT
upgrades or new software that may be required.
-
Broaden your horizons – broadband has revolutionised
the workplace, providing not only high-speed Internet access, but the
ability to reduce telephony costs. There are many providers offering
great introductory deals and UK coverage is almost complete.
-
Always online – having access to emails away from the
office through smart phones or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) can
be advantageous as they allow you to instantly respond to new business
enquiries or customer queries, regardless of location.
-
Get on the web – research*** shows only 55 per cent of
businesses have a website that promotes their products and services.
Having a website can be a simple, relatively cheap and effective way to
increase exposure for your business to a worldwide audience, 24 hours a
day.
-
Seek software solutions – there are many
cost-effective software packages that could save you money. For
example, inexpensive accountancy software can complete complex
calculations, simplify invoicing and give a professional appearance to
paperwork, while saving you valuable time.
-
Secure software – one area which cannot be skimped on
is IT security. Anti-virus screening and the installation of a firewall
is today considered essential to protect valuable customer and
financial data from computer hackers and virus attacks.
-
Get licenses – businesses risk prosecution and heavy
fines if they operate software without the correct licenses. Make sure
all software is original and registered and ban staff from installing
unauthorised software on computers.
-
IT support – purchasing computer equipment and
software from well-known and established suppliers is highly
recommended as after sales support will usually be available. Also
check what guarantees your supplier will provide and whether they offer
any discounts on future upgrades.
-
Essential equipment – unsuitable IT equipment costs
businesses in terms of time and productivity. Try to conduct individual
assessments for each employee to establish their technology needs and
tailor the IT you provide them accordingly. For example, it could be
far more cost-effective to supply a laptop rather than desktop PC for
an employee who spends a long periods away from the office.
Robertson concludes: “While the amount of ‘must have’ technologies can be
bewildering, finding those that suit your business model needn’t be as
daunting as you may think. There are many organisations offering free help
and advice on choosing IT solutions and implementing strategies to
streamline your business and give you the edge on the competition.”
