I ran across an excellent article this morning over at Entrepreneur Magazine discussing some of the great benefits of incorporating Software as a Service (SaaS for short) in your small business technology strategy.
Here’s a snippet:
You probably have overheard these words: software as a service. You may even have nodded knowingly despite not knowing much more than that they’re more easily digestible as the acronym SaaS (rhymes with the thing that holds your evening martini).
It’s pretty easy to get swept up in technology debates about what constitutes SaaS–is it the same as cloud computing or different? But you know what? You don’t need to know what it is; you just need to know what it does for your growing business. As for what it does, we’ll answer that question with another: What if you no longer had to spend thousands of dollars a year on communications gear, computer software and overall internal IT management?
“SaaS can have the same effect that car leasing had in the auto industry,” says Siamak Farah, CEO of InfoStreet, which offers SaaS solutions to small businesses. InfoStreet offers SaaS in the form of a business management software platform, StreetSmart, that supports a variety of functions, including e-mail, conference calling, file sharing, customer relationship management, calendar tools, portal access, data synchronization, site administration and more. It’s a hosted platform requiring no new hardware or software.
If you would like to find out more on how to leverage some of the great benefits of SaaS into your small business, give BoldTech Solutions a call today and schedule an assessment. We’ll be glad to work with you to figure out how to save you money and increase your technology efficiency and bottom-line.
Ah, those pesky passwords. If you work in the corporate world or in an office, you have one for your PC/Network and, unless there is a password synchronization application that combines them, you probably have more than one for other applications. Add those to the ones that you have for your home Internet, your banking and other websites that require passwords, and before you know it you have a nightmare on your hands in trying to manage them.
Part of the frustration has to do with the different requirements for password formatting. Some systems only require four characters, some require eight. Some need a combination of alpha and numeric characters and others do the same with the addition of a few capital letters thrown in for extra security. It can be positively maddening.
The worst thing you can do with your passwords is to place them in a text document which can be accessed on the hard drive of your computer. Your files are vulnerable – even if you think they are not. If someone is intent on finding them, they can. Even if you place them into a password protected document, those can be cracked, too.
Writing them down has its own vulnerabilities, too, and there are varying opinions on this practice. If you do write them down on a piece of paper, put the document in a locked location whether it is in your home or at work.
Here are 6 tips on how to handle your passwords: read more
Most small business owners handle all aspects of their businesses, including acting as the information technology department. This will work for as long as you remain a small business without employees. When you grow and start hiring staff, will it make sense to use your business-building time on IT issues?
Unless you are an information technology service provider yourself, chances are your time will be much better spent marketing your products and/or services, establishing relationships with your clients, providing exceptional customer service and just otherwise growing your business.
How do you know when it’s time to get IT help? If the information technology demands are affecting your day and negatively impacting your actual business related activities – it’s definitely time to consider finding an IT resource. If you start adding new employees and computers, it’s probably a good time to look into adding IT help, as well. read more
During times of economic struggle, most small businesses end up making cuts and changes to keep their businesses in the green. From laying off staff to decreasing business travel, reducing marketing efforts and ending bonuses and raises temporarily – there are a variety of ways small businesses look to cut their expenses. At the same time, they look for ways to increase profitability – especially when operating with reduced staff. Technology becomes even more useful as small businesses strive to increase productivity and efficiency.
There are so many gadgets and technology solutions out there that it can be easy to buy more than you need, or to buy the wrong types of products that just don’t deliver the solutions your business needs. When deciding what types of technologies can help your business reach its goals, here are a few things to look for:
Communications – technology is well known for its capability to improve the ability for people to communicate with one another. Whether you’ve got employees on the road or down the hall, virtual phone systems can route calls to cell phones and keep everyone in touch regardless of location. Instant messaging and email provide quick ways to communicate with the written word and keep documentation of these conversations for future reference. Social media and networking sites provide a way to keep in touch with co-workers, customers, and the competition at a glance. read more
You hear the term every day, but most people I talk to are unsure exactly what “The Cloud” is or how they can use it to further their business bottom line. Shoot, even for many of us that work with cloud computing on a daily basis find it difficult sometimes to explain exactly what the cloud is and how it can benefit your small business.
Cloud Computing is something every small business should be giving serious consideration to at this point. Many business apps once out of the reach of the smaller SMB shops can now be utilized cheaply and easily with little cash outlay, and no hardware/software purchasing or support headaches. Best of all, it is easily scalable as your business needs grow (or shrink).
SaaS (Software As A Service) is one of the easiest and most important areas small business can jump into cloud computing. Examples of SaaS include such critical business tools as unified messaging (Hosted Exchange, Google Apps), CRM systems such as SalesForce, and many others.
BoldTech Solutions is now a 3CX partner! 3CX Phone System is a leading software-based IP PBX for Windows which replaces traditional PBX hardware. It is based on the SIP standard and supports many standard SIP software / hardware phones. It allows calls to be made via a VOIP service provider or via the regular PSTN. Easy to install and configure, it includes a web-based configuration interface, voice mail, auto attendant, call hunting and other features. Both commercial and a free edition are available.
Call us today to find out more about this leading software-based IP PBX.
Boldtech Solutions is now a NGT Digital Voice Authorized Partner! Call us today to find out how we can simplify your phone system and add new features, all while saving you money on your monthly phone costs with a hosted Voice over IP solution for your business.
Welcome to the new BoldTech Solutions blog. Over the coming weeks and months we will be talking about the latest technology solutions for small business.
cloud computing or different? But you know what? You don’t need to know what it is; you just need to know what it does for your growing business. As for what it does, we’ll answer that question with another: What if you no longer had to spend thousands of dollars a year on communications gear, computer software and overall internal IT management?
Unless you are an information technology service provider yourself, chances are your time will be much better spent marketing your products and/or services, establishing relationships with your clients, providing exceptional customer service and just otherwise growing your business.
Communications – technology is well known for its capability to improve the ability for people to communicate with one another. Whether you’ve got employees on the road or down the hall, virtual phone systems can route calls to cell phones and keep everyone in touch regardless of location. Instant messaging and email provide quick ways to communicate with the written word and keep documentation of these conversations for future reference. Social media and networking sites provide a way to keep in touch with co-workers, customers, and the competition at a glance. 
Boldtech Solutions is now a NGT Digital Voice Authorized Partner!