This is a selected portion of an article regarding running a small business, and there are some interesting ideas here if you want to make REI your business.
By Kneko Burney
These are three tools I’m exploring to keep me connected, capable and better rested:
Cloud Services
Regardless of your business’s size or industry, you should make sure that all of
your key business applications are Internet-accessible, or preferably,
Internet-based. I’ve found that having our key applications
Internet-accessible makes it much easier to share information and skills
among my staff. This means my people are more empowered to do things
that only I used to be able to do. This means I can either sleep more or
get more done–or both. Even applications that aren’t Web-based can be
made accessible by the Web with the right tech partner. Before you
decide on what’s right for your business, consider these:
- Starter Cloud Services: Hosted Exchange e-mail, online data backup, video calling/sharing, e-mail marketing, website building
- Advanced: Sales management, accounting, industry-specific cloud services, like online survey software, order tracking or fleet management
Mobile Applications
Like a lot of business owners, I spend more time on the road than in
my office, so being able to work, in addition to accessing my full
email/calendaring suite from a mobile device is essential. This will not
only keep you productive in moments that used be unproductive (like
waiting at the airport or while in transit), it also means that when you
are in your office you’re not playing as much catch up.
- For Trade Professionals: Fleet management and GPS
are key for knowing where your trucks and people are at any given
moment. Mobile payment processing allows field workers to take credit
cards, mobile video calling/sharing and mobile access to key data so
mobile workers can take care of “paperwork” while out in the field and
home office knows exactly what’s going on while it’s happening.
- For knowledge Professionals: Hosted
Exchange, you really shouldn’t be living without business grade email
services, calendaring and contact management, mash-up applications –
these take information from many sources and make it easy for you to
consume it via your mobile device or tablet, Web conferencing from your
mobile device and mobile file access, using your backup service (so you
can access those key files from your computer on your tablet or mobile
phone).
Online Data Security Services
Simply put, protect all your data (including client data you
collect). This includes backup, intrusion prevention, monitoring and
anti-virus. You can never be too vigilant. It’s a work in progress, but
something you should never take for granted. Work with a partner and
look to well-known brands or certifications for security services.
