Tips for SMB's: Better Network Technology Increases Competitive Advantage
In order for SMB’s to compete with their larger counter-parts, they need to increase their operational efficiency. CISCO interviewed Laurie McCabe, vice president of small and medium-sized business (SMB) insights and solutions for research firm AMI-Partners, and came up with some suggestions to enhance SMB’s ability to compete using network technology. Here is what they’ve come up with:
1. Give employees access to information: SMB’s need to react quickly. Slow and unsecured networks erode competitive advantage.
2. Mobile employees need access anytime and anywhere: Virtual Private Networks (“VPN’s”) and wireless networks allow mobile employees to stay connected to the network.
3. Develop business processes with partners: Operational efficiency is enhanced when you can meet your partner’s requirements.
4. Collaborate, Collaborate, And Collaborate: With partners, employees, suppliers, and customers. Use integrated voice, video, data, wireless, and other technologies.
5. Your phone system should go where you go: Missed calls mean missed opportunities. Solutions exist making one phone call ring multiple devices.
6. Modernize customer communication: Link your IP communication system to a Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) solution. Before your employee answers the phone a pop-up appears on their screen with customer information including recent orders and returns.
7. Travel time kills operational efficiency: Use video conferencing whenever possible to reduce travel to offsite meetings and training sessions.
8. Outsource IT tasks to a Managed Service Provider: Employee’s time is better spent on supporting the enterprise’s core competencies rather than on managing network security.
9. Employee retention is key: Frustrated employees affect customer’s confidence in the enterprise. Burned out employees leave and time & money is spent rehiring. A reliable network alleviates this frustration.
10. Develop a long-term technology plan: Eliminate disruptions from replacements of massive obsolete hardware by devising a mapping of solutions to objectives.
To read the full details see Ten Tips for Increasing Operational Efficiency.
