Article
by Thomas Burns
SMALL BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY:
How to Take Your Company to the Next Level through Efficient Technology
Small businesses thrive when productivity is maximized. The best
way to maximize productivity is through efficient technology. Business
success is based on having the right product or service at the right
price at the right time and in the right place. Efficient technology
for small businesses probably will not create the next great product
or service, but it will help you with everything else your company
must do to get that product or service to market and to deliver
it to the customer.
Many small businesses fail because they do not utilize technology
adequately or efficiently. Key elements of business technology must
interface, function properly and make employees more efficient in
serving customers. Critical efficiency areas for any business are
in communication, information (data) management, and product sales
and delivery. When these critical efficiencies are supported by
the right technologies, moving a company to the next level becomes
easier.
How can efficient technology help you move your company to the
next level? Let’s consider the three critical efficiency areas.
1. Communication. Communication is critical for
any business. Every company must communicate internally, with vendors
and suppliers, with sales outlets, and with customers. In this age
of instant communication, every business must know that at least
key employees and company leaders are accessible 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. The world has become accustomed to instant responses
to questions, instant access to information, and instant solutions
to problems. Communication technologies include:
- Cell phones, hand-held communication devices
- Internet visibility
- Remote access to data
- Customer service access
- Vendor/supplier access
- Access to market trends and other data
- Access to data for competitive analysis
- Web and video conferencing
- Corporate intranet
- E-commerce
2. Information (data) management. Access to information
is essential in any company. Employees require access to market
analysis, product information, customer information, and corporate
information. Technologies enable small businesses to manage information
in critical ways:
- Information gathering
- Information storage
- Information integration
- Product information, including production, inventory, specifications
- Remote access to information
- Real-time information on inventory, etc.
- Information sharing
- Reporting
3. Product sales and delivery data. The key to
financial viability is management of inventory and money. Sales
and product delivery are critical aspects of the success of a small
business. Whether your sales team is on the road or in the office,
whether your inventory manager in meeting with vendors or discussing
a large sale with a sales rep, or whether you need to know what
functions should be added to a new product, you need instant access
to product information. This information might include:
- Product descriptions and specifications
- Sales statistics
- Inventory levels
- Products in development
- Customer sales history
- Customer relationship data
- Production schedules
- Customer needs
- Shipping and delivery information
- Customer satisfaction data
Efficient use of technology to manage these issues of accessibility
and data integration will make your business operate more smoothly
and effectively. Choosing the right systems, the right programs,
the right accessibility options, and effecting optimal system integration,
will provide the communication, information, and sales information
every small business needs to succeed and grow.
About the Author
Thomas Burns, founder and CEO of Intelligent
Networks Services (INS) has been an industry expert in
computer network and technology for over 20 years. Under his careful
supervision, INS has become a leading, full service IT support company
servicing small to mid-sized businesses in Silicon Valley. INS’s
goal is to save their client’s money by focusing on preventative
maintenance and intelligent network designs. For more information
go to: www.intelligentns.com/subscribe
and receive your complimentary network evaluation.
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