Small businesses and start-ups can streamline their business processes and manage them efficiently by intelligently using current and up-coming virtual technologies. Today, almost the entire range of business functions could be managed online through subscription based services that SMBs can easily utilize. But how many businesses are actually leveraging these services to simplify their business? Do you also hassle yourself and spend endless time and resources on tasks like in-house data back-up, managing client records, collaborating different channels of communication, and so on?
Here are some of the major virtual technology services that every small business owner should consider:
Data Storage and Backup Management Are you still relying on weekly data back-up manually done on hard disks or zip drives? Data is the pulse of your business and you must build an efficient data management process to meet the growing needs and comply with government regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley. Increasing external threats like viruses, spyware, hackers, and other disasters has made it even more important to preserve backups in a systematic way. With online remote back-up solutions you can solve this problem cost-effectively. Websites like www.mozypro.com www.carbonite.com and www.ibackup.com can safely store unlimited amount of data and recover it whenever required. These applications work in the background, so you don’t have to worry at all about making manual back-ups – it will happen automatically. You may access the stored data from anywhere and share it with others too. Your date would remain absolutely safe because these service providers follow stringent data protection practices as defined by global standards organizations.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Do you still manage your client and prospect data in Excel of Access files? While these tools are alright when you have just a few clients or leads, but as the volume starts increasing, there’s a need to manage data efficiently, so that you can follow-up with the right people, at the right time, and in the right way. eCRM tools enable you to maintain complete records of prospects, leads and customers. You can sustain appropriate connection with them by scheduling calls, alerts, and sending automated emails. You can save entire history of communication with the customer, so that you are well-prepared when you make the next call. You can create multiple logins for the members of your sales team and take advantage of a lot of other in-built features like reporting. eCRM tools like www.salesforce.com www.quickbase.com and www.insidesales.com help you keep track of old prospects and existing customers while concentrating on current leads.
Web Server Management Some organizations have in-house web servers, but in that case it is essential to have a dedicated resource to manage and update it regularly while maintaining the desired uptime.
For small or growing companies it makes a great deal of sense to go for high-end web managed servers. Your website is your company’s face to the world; therefore, you must make sure that it is available at all times. Hosting your website and other web applications on reliable and managed web servers saves half the trouble as they offer 100% uptime, complete technical support, dedicated servers, customizable configurations, interoperability, and higher security. Managed web server providers like www.rackspace.com www.netnation.com www.hosting.com and www.cihost.com are some of the popular ones.
Online Collaboration Business owners are struggling with managing multiple communication channels like email, phone, voice mail, fax, SMS, etc. Added to this is the challenge of interoffice communication. When the volume is more it becomes extremely difficult to collaborate manually. You can save tremendous amount of time through unified messaging; this technology consolidates your various mailboxes (voice mail, e-mail, and fax) and gives you a single view of all your messages. www.MyBusinessAssistant.com offers unified messages services that give you anytime, anywhere access to all messages, and help you in increasing productivity and improving customer relations. For interoffice communication needs websites like www.weboffice.com and www.hyperoffice.com offer online collaboration services that help you manage your business on the web in an integrated, centralized place, while keeping everyone connected. You can share documents, calendars, data, memos, etc; have online meetings; collaborate messages; and work together in real-time.
The major advantages of these virtual technologies:
- Any size and type of company can use these services - You get expert and refined solutions at reasonable costs - The solutions are highly customizable and ready to use - You have the power to test and discontinue if the solution is unsuitable - Total cost of ownership and technology overhead is low - You can monitor and manage the service from anywhere - You get complete customer support - The solutions are easy to upgrade Most importantly, you save a lot of precious time with such solutions as they ease management tasks.
By utilizing technology to the fullest you will be able to manage your business growth more efficiently and stay in-tune with the needs of the changing times.
Simplify Your Business With Virtual Technologies - To learn more about this author, visit Gourab Nanda's Website.
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