Time To Rethink: How To Use The Internet To Help You In The Recession

5 top tips for SMEs by Chris Stening, Managing Director, Easynet Connect

1. Encourage home/flexi working

With online services such as collaboration tools, video conferencing and remote access becoming significantly more affordable and simple-to-use in recent years, employees can be just as productive working away from the office. The workplace building is often an SME's largest monthly expense after salaries, so why not cut it down or eliminate it completely by working from home or an alternative or remote site? Flexible working is about choosing more cost effective alternatives to your central office and consolidating the number of desks you need in...

...relation to your staff.

2. Embrace SaaS/cloud computing

The internet is changing the way IT is delivered, from locally-installed programs to services delivered over the web. For small businesses, this means lower costs; both in terms of the hardware needed to run the software (a medium-spec PC with an internet connection is all you need) plus lower costs for the services themselves (low monthly subscriptions or even free, versus the high, one-off cost of a software package).

By outsourcing the responsibility of delivering these services to those that supply them, SaaS also reduces the need for expensive IT support. Switching to a web-based email programme for example means you don't have to purchase, maintain and power an email server. When you need to add more users, you just sign them up, and the provider takes care of the rest.

3. Fully utilise e-commerce

Not every company can sell their products or services online, but those who can, especially in the retail sector, simply cannot afford not to. And if your company doesn't look like a traditional e-retailer at first glance, take another look. 46% of the SMEs we spoke to were already looking to offer new services over the web in the coming months.... continued on page two >

 

 

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