In yesterday’s post, this author asked, “With so much new technology being introduced every day, how are you using it to help your business be more competitive?” I now would like to offer a little more detail relative to the following four areas you’re your consideration.
The Cloud – There have literally been thousands of articles, an equal numbers of blogs, including ones on this site like this one about the benefits of cloud computing. Cloud computing allows companies to have all of the advantages of an IT data infrastructure just like the Fortune 100 companies without the overhead of staff to support, equipment to run, software to manage it and worries of assuring it is always available. These are all of the financial reasons why cloud computing makes sense for companies but the feature advantages are equally important as companies with resources all over the world can more easily collaborate on projects through the virtual environment clouds create.
IP Phone Systems – On the heals of discussing what can be done with a “cloud” network structure it makes sense to bring up IP phone service companies. Tens of thousands if not millions of dollars were typically required for a company to install a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) for their company. The complexity of maintaining such a system either required a fulltime expert employee or high-priced consultants in the past. Now companies can have all of the features of those PBXs at hugely reduced prices through companies like RingCentral and Windstream who tailor plans for businesses based on their needs and budgets to give them everything they want.
Dashboard Communication– The days of HR departments running around answering phones and letters about benefits, providing forms, and printing expensive newsletters is quickly becoming a thing of the past as companies are beginning to understand how cost-effective internal portals and dashboards can be to handle all of this traffic. Third party companies that offer HR portal solutions allow employees to service many of their own needs which frees up a typically overloaded HR staff to concentrate on the things that matter most to the business.
Virtual Staff– All three of the above mentioned items are useful tools that aide in companies being able to employ more and more virtual employees. The financial benefits of virtual employees have long been documented as have the added benefits of increased and quality work done by virtual employees who are allowed to better control the flow of their work day. Advances in cloud technology and video and webinar offerings make employing virtual staff even more practical to do. It is also important to note that when companies increase their virtual staff they instantly remove the geographical boundaries that sometimes prevent them from going after the best employees across the country.
As small and medium companies increase their contribution toward our Nation’s economy, their ability to compete at cost-effective levels will become increasingly more important and technology will play a huge role in them getting there. For more information on finding vendors in any of these four areas or in other areas that might help your business, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.
We look forward to your comments.
