SMART Blog

Every small business owner has to overcome the problems that come with having a lack of capital. Owners and managers of a small or medium-sized manufacturing company are often presented with many other problems as well, such as procurement cost increases, shipping cost increases, and resource management. Whether an enterprise manufactures goods directly to end-users, or to larger manufacturers as components for use in the assembly of other goods, they require the highest degree of efficiency possible. To do this, many small manufacturers are looking for affordable software solutions.

What are your business' biggest pain points? Some pain points are obvious, like the issue keeping you up at night. Other pain points are smaller; you may not worry about them as much, but they still negatively affect your bottom line. Here are three ways we can help identify and find solutions for your company's pain points.

Most people believe that the internet, cellphones, smartphones, and other mobile devices are today's technology. What they may not know is that the very concept of wireless communication and data transmission was being experimented with in the late 1800's to the early 1900's by Nikola Tesla.

If websites are the new front door to your business, then what does that make your web hosting service? Your hosting service would theoretically be the neighborhood your business is located in. Therefore, even if your door is polished and your website content is good, a poor hosting service will detract customers like being located in the wrong part of town.

You can't do everything yourself. Often times, you spend too much of your day dealing with unforeseen situations that arise. This makes completing all the tasks you've laid out for yourself extremely difficult. Implementing best practices will help you manage your time better, have fewer surprises, and allow you to focus more on making your business profitable.

BYOD is a popular business trend where employees are bringing their personal devices to work, and using them to be more productive. There are many benefits to BYOD, but it's not without risks to company security. A good compromise that keeps employees productive and networks secure is Select Your Own Device (SYOD).

Do you have a plan to deal with your old technology, or do you have a closet full of used equipment? Are you aware of your equipment's refresh dates, or do you just replace components after they break? Knowing the condition of your technology, and having a plan to deal with old equipment, will save your business money.

If you are a business that doesn't have an IT support plan, then you're running on borrowed time. It's the nature of technology to eventually break, and when it does, it can disrupt the entire flow of your business. A reliable IT support plan is crucial to your business continuity plan. Without a plan, you will have a big mess on your hands.

When tech support is done right, it can be a beautiful service. When tech support is done poorly, it will only add stress to an already frustrating problem. You know that we provide excellent tech support, but if you are seeking support for a technology that we don't cover, then you may think you'll run into obstacles.

Do you have a plan to deal with your old technology, or do you have a closet full of used equipment? Are you aware of your equipment's refresh dates, or do you just replace components after they break? Knowing the condition of your technology, and having a plan to deal with old equipment, will save your business money.

BYOD is a popular business trend where employees are bringing their personal devices to work, and using them to be more productive. There are many benefits to BYOD, but it's not without risks to company security. A good compromise that keeps employees productive and networks secure is Select Your Own Device (SYOD).

You can't do everything yourself. Often times, you spend too much of your day dealing with unforeseen situations that arise. This makes completing all the tasks you've laid out for yourself extremely difficult. Implementing best practices will help you manage your time better, have fewer surprises, and allow you to focus more on making your business profitable.

If websites are the new front door to your business, then what does that make your web hosting service? Your hosting service would theoretically be the neighborhood your business is located in. Therefore, even if your door is polished and your website content is good, a poor hosting service will detract customers like being located in the wrong part of town.

Much has been made of the cloud recently and you see more and more that companies of all sizes are beginning to utilize cloud computing services in some fashion. Whether it's simply the incorporation of web-based social networking interfaces as inexpensive (and seemingly valuable) marketing tools, or the complex hosting of your company's entire computing infrastructure, the cloud has several options that can work for your business. Below are three ways in which the cloud can present your organization reasonably valuable solutions.

In a recent economics survey of small to medium-sized businesses by Oxford University, it was discovered that two-thirds of companies believe that technology is the key to transforming their business in order to "achieve longevity and sustainable growth." This survey reveals a lot about how businesses worldwide feel about technology. Does your business identify with any these trends?

It wasn't too long ago when a person could go to his or her local supermarket and rent a copy of their favorite movie on VHS. When that novelty fell off, you could still get the movies at your local video store. Every town had one. Whether it was a chain such as Blockbuster or a locally owned store, millions of people relied on the video store in their town for entertainment for the better part of a quarter of a century.

Servers are one of most powerful pieces of equipment in the office, but that does mean they are the toughest. The hard drives in servers are made up of ridiculously fast moving parts. One day, these small parts will fail and end the server's life with a sudden crash. Here are a few steps you can take to prepare for server doomsday.

Desktop Virtualization is a great solution that lets you run two operating systems simultaneously on one computer. This allows users to no longer be tied down by one machine, and it can save your company money by cutting back hardware expenses. Local and Client/Server are the two models of Desktop Virtualization; here's how they compare.

Have you ever gone shopping for new printer ink, paid the retail price, only to walk away feeling like you've been ripped off? With ink jet printers especially, buying the three new ink cartridges needed for photo printing will end up costing more than the printer itself! Why is ink so pricy and what can be done about it?

We often view hackers as creeps who are bent on spreading viruses to disrupt everyone's lives, perhaps for the sake of anarchy or some extreme ideology. But when it comes down to it, most hackers are in it for the money and are just trying to make a quick buck. In fact, hacking groups may even be more organized than your business!