Posts tagged ‘business technology’
tech for business part II: try a *VIRTUAL* assistant
One of the biggest technology-driven trends for small businesses is the utilization of virtual assistants. This model of employment offers great flexibility to business owners who require specific help that can be accomplished from a remote location. What kind of help? A virtual assistant can provide administrative, technical, and/or creative (social) assistance to clients from his/her office (which is usually home-based). This truly is an innovation for a number of reasons.
So what does this mean? A virtual assistant can answer your business telephone – from anywhere. A virtual assistant can handle all of your invoicing – from anywhere. A virtual assistant can manage your information technology – from anywhere.
A primary benefit to the small business: you buy only the time you need from the virtual assistant, and the assistant generally can be paid as an independent contractor. (Side note: you should always confirm with your tax advisor how any person you pay for work should be classified – this is a case-by-case evaluation.) If you need only a certain number of hours per week devoted to a specific task, you can realize a tremendous savings through the use of a virtual assistant.
As well, combining the use of a virtual assistant with certain SaaS services (such as online accounting or a shared workspace) streamlines the work process and thus can streamline your overhead. Click HERE to learn more about virtual assistants and how to utilize one in your business.
Of course, you must treat a virtual assistant just as you would a traditional one, in terms of work-related expectations. As with any other person who performs work on behalf of your business, a virtual assistant should be provided with written parameters that set forth your expectations. Using a virtual assistant may require an update to your employee manual, as well.
NOTE: The above first appeared in the November 2010 edition of BRIGHT IDEAS, C²Law’s e-newsletter for business owners. To view the entire newsletter, click HERE. To subscribe to BRIGHT IDEAS, click HERE. We publish monthly, and promise to provide useful and timely information in a brief format. We don’t like receiving junk mail, so we don’t send it.
add some tech, save some green
Hot off the press! The November 2010 edition of BRIGHT LIGHTS, my business e-newsletter. This month I focused on how a business can leverage technology to save green (cash). In this post, I’m sharing one of the topics from this newsletter – using Software as a Service (SAAS) to take your business to *the cloud* – all the while saving time and money.
To view the entire newsletter, CLICK HERE. You can also subscribe to receive editions monthly by CLICKING HERE. Content is timely, succinct and interesting. And if, after receiving you don’t agree, you can unsubscribe anytime.
WEB-BASED SOFTWARE: take your business information to the cloud
One of my favorite internet innovations is software as a service (“SaaS”) technology. Through SaaS, a small business can set up sophisticated business software programs via the internet – the interface is user-friendly; the data is encrypted, secure, and automatically backed-up; and updates to the software are automatic (i.e., you don’t pay for an annual upgrade each year). The software lives ‘in the cloud’ – e.g. on a remote server owned by the software provider. Your business can access it from anywhere that an internet connection exists.
SaaS Options
Practically any kind of software used by a business is available in SaaS format. Following are a few of the most prevalent in use today.
- Accounting software is one of the most common and popular – and many local applications are also available in web-based form, so you don’t have to change formats to move your accounting to the cloud. Click HERE for an exhaustive list of options (both local/server installed and cloud-based). From anywhere you have internet access, you can manage your books. Options also include the ability to invoice clients and accept payments online.
Front Accounting offers a web-based (SaaS), open-source accounting product for businesses.
- Another popular example is marketing software, utilizing internet resources to target marketing campaigns to specific audiences via email, websites, etc. Click HERE for information comparing various online marketing providers.
C²Law uses Mad Mimi for all email marketing - the user interface is super-easy, customer service is excellent and our readers like our newsletters!
- If your business is project-oriented, and you often have many people working together, there are numerous options for project management SaaS. These products enable people to work jointly on common documents, projects, presentations – you name it – whether located in the same office or different countries. You also can use these products to collaborate with clients, giving them 24/7 access to the information they need. I use a SaaS client extranet to share documents and communicate securely with both my business and estate planning clients. ClickHERE for a description of numerous project management SaaS providers.
At C²Law, we use a *secure* SaaS client extranet - it serves as a workspace where we share documents, information and communication with our clients.
Regardless of the kind of SaaS you deploy in your business, the savings can be great for many reasons. Generally, SaaS options reduce cost on an ongoing basis. Such options also provide incredible flexibility to users – all you need is an internet connection, so work can happen anywhere your computer is located. Finally, SaaS can provide an increased level in both security and reliabilitythat may be lacking with locally- or server-installed software. By securing your important business information and making it redundant (e.g. having it backed up by the SaaS provider), you are keeping your information safe. This can greatly reduce the likelihood of information theft or loss, both of which create unnecessary liability for a business.
