Technology is transforming the business scene at a fantastic pace, opening up opportunities and creating a climate for businesses of all sizes to flourish. One of the biggest developments in recent years has been the move towards Cloud Computing, which has given smaller enterprises the chance to enter the market on the same terms as bigger competitors where they can meet them head on and really make an impact.
This shift to the Cloud and cloud based Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in particular – is allowing small companies access to all the benefits of a large IT system at a fraction of the cost so they can really punch above their weight.
Not convinced that SME’s can play hardball with the big boys? Here’s how it works.
Let’s take as an example the question of matching a big competitor on price – one of the biggest problems a smaller enterprise is likely to face.
The big companies always seem to have a price advantage even though they have bigger overheads. Why is that?
One of the reasons is the fact that they have tight business management systems ( ERP systems) which provide an integrated real-time view of core business processes – which allows them to keep strict control over costs. These large IT systems give them a 360 degree view of their business – crunching huge amounts of data which tells them how to increase their operational efficiency and make cost savings. When those savings are passed on to customers – the small competitor struggles to match their prices.
But with the advent of cloud based solutions, small and medium sized enterprises can get access to the same kind of ERP systems and therefore the same advantage but at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to compete on an equal footing or even to nose ahead.
Cloud based ERP software can boost the efficiency of smaller enterprises with a dose of rocket fuel and help to reduce the bottom line. Here are the 5 ways cloud computing will turbo-charge your SME while saving you money;
1. Software as a Service allows companies to purchase and use ERP software on a monthly subscription basis.
2. Users access the system via the internet, so there is no need for servers on the premises and you don’t have to invest in lots of new hardware.
3. The outlay is modest so if it is not working then you have the option to bail out.
4. You can pick & choose the bits that are important for you – start small and bolt on bits later when you can afford it or as your business requires.
5. The responsibility for IT maintenance is in the hands of the service provider – you don’t need dedicated IT staff.
What’s more you can get the whole thing up and running very quickly – painful down time is kept to a minimum which slashes the risk of missing out on business opportunities. Choosing a system with great intuitive design will also save you money as you cut down on training costs.
So there you have it – more than 5 good reasons to investigate a move to the cloud.