The SME IT future- Online Business Software

Small-medium-sized businesses (SME’s) many would say, have, for a long time had a raw deal regarding Information Technology, but not anymore. The Internet revolution means that Web based business solutions, providing anywhere, anytime online web based business applications have now become a reality. An Integrated online Business platform that delivers all the functions required to run and manage a business without all the traditional costs could be the answer for a large number of small to medium sized companies.

How a Web Based Business Solution can benefit SME's

In effect SME’s can now operate their entire business through a web based business application with nothing more than a simple web browser, already part of the operating system installed on their pc’s.  The benefits to the business are enormous including reductions in software and hardware purchases, reductions in support costs whilst improving support, less down time and improved reliability on age old problems such as backups.

The most significant improvement is however, the ability to use a single online business system designed for the new Internet Age that integrates all the business processes under one application. Quite simply this is the first time in history the SME’s have access to an affordable complete process management workflow system. The ability to access these web based Applications from any location with just an internet connection motivates staff to work more flexibly & encourages environmentally friendly practices such as working from home and gives rise to large scale improvements in work / life balance issues, which are amongst the highest in the SME business sector.

Traditionally small business have had to use cobbled together business applications from different suppliers to cover the main processes, e.g. Accounts, Contact management, Email, Web site, File storage and sharing, diaries, marketing etc. Typically these have run on a local network and been delivered through a Server and user PC’s.

The advent of the Internet during the mid 1990’s initially opened up access to a wide range of other information resources for the SME and more recently provided access to a host of business services from paying utility bills to filing company returns.

Further benefits from  Web Based Business Solutions

We are now entering the third stage of the Internet where Businesses will be able to subscribe to online business software applications on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ model. The benefits of moving the Core business platform and applications outside the four walls of a business are hard to refute. Most SME’s buy in technical resource to manage their installation anyway, so transferring it to the IT specialists location with the associated reductions in travel, time, cost and inevitable delays in providing support seems like a good move. Giving the responsibility to do the backups to the same people is also another weight off the business owners mind.

One of the key major attractions of a web based business application, has to be that the business information is now accessible by anyone with an Internet connection and the appropriate login credentials with no additional set-up, cost, configuration or technical assistance either on-site or at the remote location.

SME’s can now work easily across spatial distances, offer staff flexible working arrangements or take on part time staff with young families or who have difficulties with the normal ‘workday’ arrangement. Remote Outworkers such as Sales or Accounts staff can be ‘taken on’ as necessary, all of whom can operate the company’s business systems as if located in a central office.

The new breed of Web Based Business Applications gives yet further scope for improvements to the SME. By building an online business platform from the ground up specifically to function over the Internet, the entire workflow management of the Business Process has been re-thought and adapted to take advantage of electronic messaging and communications. This introduces new efficiences in business process management such as Invoicing and Statements which can be emailed as part of the process and can even advise when the customer has viewed the documents. These systems provide the SME with a ‘Blueprint’ for running a company and a single online web based business solution that removes much of the duplication and repetition which has for so long been a source of irritation for Business owners. Couple this with the many Business Process improvements an integrated system offers, there is no doubt that the Internet will revolutionise business management practices and how IT is used from now into the foreseeable future.

Bio Profile - Chris Ogle

Chris has worked in the Software and IT industry for 26 years and is the founder of Internet Power Systems the authors of i-Trader the Web based business solution designed to improve business process management for SME companies.

Find out if your Business could manage its Workflow and business processes more effectively by using a web based business application.

Email:Chris Ogle, founder of Internet Power Systems