The latest Small Business Success Index cage small businesses what amounts to a C when it come to computer technology. That’s unchanged from a year ago, and there may be a simple reason why: with the economy adding uncertainty to many small business’ bottom lines, there are fewer business owners that are willing to spend money on improving technology, especially when it’s hard to see the return. However, when it comes to technology, small businesses do have incredible opportunities right now.
Improving Operations
The SBSI’s calculations in determining a technology score for small businesses specifically tracks the adoption of fifteen online business solutions that help small businesses with marketing, customer service and operations. The numbers point to a whole list of opportunities for small businesses to become more efficient, win over more clients and even save a little money.
The most commonly used technology, as far as small businesses go, is a disaster recovery / backup system. As of December, 2009, 61 percent of small businesses had implemented a backup system of some sort. What’s surprising is that nearly 40 percent haven’t. The expense of data recovery when you don’t have a backup system in place can easily reach four figures, without any guarantee of getting your information restored. Paying a few dollars per month to back up data is a much lower price to pay.
Website Ownership
Right now, website ownership is sitting at 46 percent — less than half of small businesses have a website. When you consider that you can set up and maintain a business website for under $10 a month, that number seems incredibly low. But it is also an opportunity. The benefits of having a website when your competitors aren’t even online allows you to tap into markets that those competitors don’t even have access to.
Email Customer Service
Offering customer service via email can translate into some significant savings. While you may have to have an additional email address, you don’t need anyone manning a customer service line. That can free you or an employee up to do work, only processing customer service questions a few times a day.
Other Technologies
There are plenty of other technologies that can provide big wins for your business. Making use of tools that allow you to communicate and share information internally allow your employees to work more efficiently, no matter whether they’re in the office or not. You can reduce expenses like printing, just by choosing the right tool. Similarly, marketing technologies, such as the ability to list ads in online directories, allow you to improve your reach for new customers. The benefits of improving marketing technologies go beyond price: you can often more clearly see how a customer found your business and made the decision to buy — allowing you to more clearly understand the ROI of a particular ad buy — than with traditional television or newspaper advertising.
Looking at the tools and technologies your business uses can help you find opportunities to become more efficient, save money and even land some new customers.
Image by Flickr user Jose C Silva
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