Through the years, visionaries and dreamers alike have wondered what their future may hold. Some seek out fortune tellers, tarot card readers, and mediums to guide them on their path for future success. However, those methods won't work for small or mid-sized business decision makers. When it comes to technology, it's especially important for the SMB community to make the right choices. Unlike larger enterprises, SMB organizations are unable to spend significant amounts of time and money on a "proof of concept," a practice that partially deploys a new system or series of technologies to just a small corner of the business. For an SMB with a limited budget, a proof of concept is not bottom-line friendly. Solutions need to be practical, easy to implement, and have an immediate impact on how the organization operates. This month's article will focus on the best technology trends small and mid-sized businesses should consider for 2012. When considering what to expect in the coming year, looking back to hot topics in 2011 can provide a lot of insight. Communications giant Verizon produces a yearly "top 10" list of what they anticipate will be the most adopted notions, and their November 15, 2011 report aligns with another highly recognized annual assessment commissioned by industry watcher Gartner. While both identify similar trends from 2011, the prediction for 2012 is an influx in adoption. Trends topping the lists include cloud computing, mobile technologies, social media, reputation management, powerful Wi-Fi implementations, compliance management, and energy usage responsibility.
Affording all of the different technological equipment needed to run a successful household or business can be a struggle. After the global financial problems, people and businesses are more limited that ever before. Traditional lenders are generally very wary today when it comes to lending out a lot of money for businesses wanting to expand.
SMB organizations are increasingly looking at services in the public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid of both to offset the costs of their core network. Requiring equipment like servers, firewalls, switches, routers, client end points, voice applications, and security can quickly deplete a small budget. The upside is that a cloud-based network infrastructure can provide a shelter from these large up-front investments. Doesn't it make sense to segment some or the entire portion of your business network to an outside provider that lives and breathes technology every day? In doing so you free yourself and your staff to focus on expanding the organization, not to mention the side benefit of turning you capital expenses into monthly operating expenses. As always, consult with your tax or financial professional for complete details. Cloud-based options for small and mid-sized businesses are emerging with low and in some cases no costs. Take a look at GoBook (http://gosuite.gramercyone.com) which provides a free scheduling and marketing suite for service-oriented enterprises like salons, repair shops, medical offices, health clubs, and more. Not only will GoBook integrate into the familiar Outlook interface, it also plugs into your social media endpoints like Facebook and Twitter. This is just one example of the growing list of options for the budget-conscious business.
It doesn't end there, all these commodities also need to be transported by sea, land, and air. Just to transport your commodities by land already requires the use of multiple systems to allow for fast, efficient and safe transportation of commodities.
Social media may well fuel the increase in reputation management which is a term used to describe the ever-growing trend of online feedback from your customers and clients. With the unfortunate fact that there will be those who will look to discredit your competency, it becomes critical to have a processes in place to address situations as they arise. As wireless networks become more pervasive, you'll need to re-examine your network security for potentially cracks. Don't forget the connection for free wireless Internet access for visitors, customers, and vendors who expect to have a near-LAN speed experience. The growing adoption of the 802.11N standard helps bridge the gap, but of course the wireless client must be able to traverse the improved network with the same protocol or the experience won't transcend.
The role that technology plays for the business sector cannot be taken for granted. If we were to take away that technology trade and commerce around the world will come to a standstill and the global economy would collapse. It is nearly impossible for one to conduct business without the aid of technology in one form or another. Almost every aspect of business is heavily influenced by technology. Technology has become very important that it has become a huge industry itself from computer hardware manufacturing, to software design and development, and robotics. Technology has become a billion dollar industry for a number of individuals.
The next time you browse a website to purchase or swipe a credit card to pay for something you just bought, try to imagine how that particular purchase would have happened if it were to take place without the aid of modern technology. That could prove to be a bit difficult to imagine. Without all the technology that we are enjoying now it would be like living in the 60's again. No computers, no cellular phones, no internet. That is how important technology is in business.
Affording all of the different technological equipment needed to run a successful household or business can be a struggle. After the global financial problems, people and businesses are more limited that ever before. Traditional lenders are generally very wary today when it comes to lending out a lot of money for businesses wanting to expand.
SMB organizations are increasingly looking at services in the public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid of both to offset the costs of their core network. Requiring equipment like servers, firewalls, switches, routers, client end points, voice applications, and security can quickly deplete a small budget. The upside is that a cloud-based network infrastructure can provide a shelter from these large up-front investments. Doesn't it make sense to segment some or the entire portion of your business network to an outside provider that lives and breathes technology every day? In doing so you free yourself and your staff to focus on expanding the organization, not to mention the side benefit of turning you capital expenses into monthly operating expenses. As always, consult with your tax or financial professional for complete details. Cloud-based options for small and mid-sized businesses are emerging with low and in some cases no costs. Take a look at GoBook (http://gosuite.gramercyone.com) which provides a free scheduling and marketing suite for service-oriented enterprises like salons, repair shops, medical offices, health clubs, and more. Not only will GoBook integrate into the familiar Outlook interface, it also plugs into your social media endpoints like Facebook and Twitter. This is just one example of the growing list of options for the budget-conscious business.
It doesn't end there, all these commodities also need to be transported by sea, land, and air. Just to transport your commodities by land already requires the use of multiple systems to allow for fast, efficient and safe transportation of commodities.
Social media may well fuel the increase in reputation management which is a term used to describe the ever-growing trend of online feedback from your customers and clients. With the unfortunate fact that there will be those who will look to discredit your competency, it becomes critical to have a processes in place to address situations as they arise. As wireless networks become more pervasive, you'll need to re-examine your network security for potentially cracks. Don't forget the connection for free wireless Internet access for visitors, customers, and vendors who expect to have a near-LAN speed experience. The growing adoption of the 802.11N standard helps bridge the gap, but of course the wireless client must be able to traverse the improved network with the same protocol or the experience won't transcend.
The role that technology plays for the business sector cannot be taken for granted. If we were to take away that technology trade and commerce around the world will come to a standstill and the global economy would collapse. It is nearly impossible for one to conduct business without the aid of technology in one form or another. Almost every aspect of business is heavily influenced by technology. Technology has become very important that it has become a huge industry itself from computer hardware manufacturing, to software design and development, and robotics. Technology has become a billion dollar industry for a number of individuals.
The next time you browse a website to purchase or swipe a credit card to pay for something you just bought, try to imagine how that particular purchase would have happened if it were to take place without the aid of modern technology. That could prove to be a bit difficult to imagine. Without all the technology that we are enjoying now it would be like living in the 60's again. No computers, no cellular phones, no internet. That is how important technology is in business.
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