For many SMEs, running their systems on Information Communications Technology (ICT) is an essential part of daily operations. But some are still unsure of how or where to integrate technology into their businesses. Here are five ways that technology can make you faster, save you money and keep you ahead of competitors.
By the myBusiness techblog team
1. Hello Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD), goodbye corporate machines
Going by Gartner’s latest research, by 2017, half of employers may have a compulsory BYOD policy in the workplace. BYOD refers to staff bringing their own gadgets to work, such as tablets and phones. The obvious benefit to this is that it can free up IT costs for the employer, while allowing employees the freedom to choose what they want to use.
But there are some caveats: Getting BYOD devices to work on the company network means you need to make sure they don’t compromise your company’s data security. This could involve costs on the IT level to ensure interoperability and security.
As such, companies will need to be prepared and to have their BYOD policies well thought out and carefully defined. Here are some points to consider when creating a BYOD policy:
- Specify which devices are allowed
- Set a security policy and ensure that the gadgets comply with them
- Make clear what level of tech support can be provided for BYOD devices
- Clarify ownership of apps and data on these devices
- Set up an exit procedure when an employee leaves, such as what happens to company data and how much needs to be removed from devices
2. Big Data gets bigger
Big Data refers to the creation of a lot of data by the systems which run enterprises. These could include customer data from forms they fill in, or even website visitor data. Companies are keen to mine this data for trends and patterns, so they can find out more about their customers for that extra edge over the competition.
That said, there’s an awful lot of data out there. Making it useful means companies need to set out a strategy to decide what they want out of it. To begin, companies should ask these questions:
- What can Big Data do for you?
- Where is your company in terms of data capabilities?
- What is a budget that you are comfortable with?
- How can you build on what you have?
- Do you have the right people and processes in place?
- What kind of data checks and security should you adopt?
3. Can you say “Hybrid Cloud”?
For companies that want to respond quickly to fluctuations in the market, a hybrid cloud approach offers the greatest flexibility. Fluctuations can come in the form of a sudden load on systems during peak hour, such as during a sale, or during Valentine’s Day for online florists, for example.
SMEs which own their own servers but also want to use new cloud technology can mix-and-match both types of set ups to benefit from both types of resources.
But how much of either do you procure? There’s no right or wrong model. As a guide, public clouds are more cost-effective for smaller companies which lack funds or a dedicated ICT workforce. Hybrid clouds may be the answer for companies that require sensitive data to be stored onsite, but with information that needs to be publicly accessible. Such data can be hosted on a public cloud. Splitting up the usage of both types of computing resources can help you decide how your hybrid cloud will look.
4. Multichannel marketing the way to go
Businesses today connect with customers through multiple touch points of communication, from emails to instant messaging, to video and mobile apps. A Time Inc study found the average digital consumer switches between media platforms as many as 27 times per hour, or every other minute.
And thanks to the myriad channels online, the barrier to entry for many SMEs has been lowered, as well. The cost of putting up an ad on Facebook or launching an email campaign is just a fraction of what it costs to put an ad on TV or on a bus.
Not surprisingly, this has become a key investment area for businesses. IDC expects social media to quickly become part of this multichannel marketing strategy. This has levelled the playing field for SMEs, and allowed them to present their services to consumers on an equal footing to large companies.
5. Staying connected
The way SMEs are doing business today is changing, thanks to the proliferation of high-speed Internet connection and the portability of devices. One such trend offering competitive advantage to companies with limited resources to maintain full-time staff is online collaboration and networking.
Virtual collaboration tools such as Skype or Google Hangouts not only help employees and stakeholders stay connected across the globe, they also help to cut down on expenses, enhance business processes and accelerate revenue growth.
Here are some things to consider when selecting your virtual collaboration tool:
- Find software that contains feature sets important to your business, which could be from file share to VoIP, to video chat and screen share.
- Check if your clients or partners are behind a firewall that blocks them from downloading the collaborative software. If so, look for software that does not require guest download.