Hi,

Ask yourself this question - where will your business be six months from now? According to some commentators in six months we should start seeing the "green shoots" of economic recovery.

What will your business look like then?

• Will your business be a lean man fighting machine - using the latest technology to beat your competition or will your backoffice still be paper driven, inefficient and letting customers down?
  
• Will you be working smarter - using remote working options to work from home, on the road with a new Notebook, or will you still be struggling into the office at weekends just to pick up documents?
  
• Will you still be burning the midnight oil or will you be seeing more of your friends and family?

A recent survey from Barclays Bank found that the majority of small businesses see the downturn as an opportunity to 'leapfrog' thecompetition. 60% of companies surveyed said they had transformed their businesses for the better, using the slowdown as a chance to improve their businesses from within.

There is no better time to improve how you do business than right NOW!

So what technology could you economically introduce right now, to prepare for a better business and an easier workload tomorrow?

Answer - The Humble Server

• Are you constantly swapping documents around on USB sticks (or "dongles")? With a server, you can share files easily and in a controlled fashion.
  
• A server will allow access to the office - files, programs and data - from home. A server will administer remote access safely and reliably, and give different people in your organisation just the access they should be allowed - making flexible working a reality.
  
• A server is a storage repository, saving data (and backups) fast and centrally. There will be no more grinding to a halt just because "Ian's on holiday and we can't get into his computer".
  
• A server ensures that your specialist line-of-business tools are run centrally;
  
• A server acts as a security guard for the rest of your network, keeping threats to your business out.
  
• AND A SERVER SAVES YOU MONEY!

I know from the conversations I have had, many of you already have servers installed. Bravo!

Disappointing though is the number of you who are not utilising your servers fully. For example Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS), includes Microsoft Exchange which means you host your own emails internally (no more waiting for your emails to be downloaded from your ISP and this is by far a more secure option for your business). Exchange also allows for shared calendaring and email web access (you can access your work inbox anywhere in the world securely). Collaboration is made easier - you can share files with customers or other people outside the business. SBS makes going mobile a doddle - giving sales staff on the road access to their emails, files and any CRM database you may currently use.

If you are not yet using these features of SBS you really are not getting the best from your server and as such you are not getting a full return on your investment. I can get a server health check organised for your business to see if you are utilising all of the SBS tools - we do this over the internet, it is a non intrusive test and takes a maximum of 15 minutes. Let me know if you are interested and I will arrange one for you...oh and did I mention it is free? For those of you without a server - here are more reason's why you should seriously consider installing one:

A server offers quick wins which you can enjoy straight away. Think about giving staff mobile and web access to their email and files.

Staff can also control their own desktop PCs from anywhere.

Build your business on better IT. A professionally-installed server gives you better security, an IT environment built around best practice standards, and maintenance that's more predictable.

Best of All...You can afford it. We can help arrange financing with Microsoft to spread payments across 5 years, and is available for as little as £1000 - financing can also cover all your software.

I have attached a voucher below - which gives you 12% off our server package detailed below and also 25% off our installation costs. Let me know if this is of interest to you, the offer closes on the 31st of July 2009 by the way.

You can find further information on Microsoft's Small Business Server here.

Let me know if you have any questions, until next time...

Angela Hart
Client Services Manager,

Microsoft SBS Server Package Deal

HP Server plus Microsoft Small Business Server (software) £799 plus VAT.

Installation (full install, configuration and training) £400 plus VAT

Save upto 25%

Get 12% off Server Package with this voucher. Get 25% off installation cost if purchased at the same time as Server package. Offer includes supply of hardware and SBS software only. Order must be received by the 31st of August 2009 to qualify for the discount.

Offer Expires: 31.08.2009

I am about to share a BIG business secret with you..

Last week I wrote to you extolling the virtues of IT - We discussed how when used properly IT can help you reduce your costs, increase sales and boost the productivity of your team. Now a number of you contacted me requesting further information as to how IT can indeed help them make more money - people like Jessica Faraday of Finger Foods Ltd who wanted to use the Internet as a way of increasing sales. Their new website www.fingerfoods-online.co.uk has since been launched and has already generated four new bookings in just under 2 weeks! Now that's the power of technology for you!


So back to today's subject - Off the shelf or Do It Yourself?

Carrying on from our theme of using technology to boost your business, I wanted to bring your attention a new trend in business today.

Some of you may be familiar with Goldmine, Sage, Sales Logic, Alpha Law and Eclipse Legal - If you already use these types of software you know how well they simplify otherwise tedious processes. Many of these "off the shelf" (OTS)software are designed to tackle many main stream processes such as invoicing, quotations, payroll etc. Sage for example processes your payroll, run full financial reports or pays your suppliers with just one click.

To a large extent the "one size fits all" approach of the OTS software packages meets the requirements of most businesses; but there are certain drawbacks. This includes the inability to customise the software fully to your business; licensing costs; upgrades (which need to be paid for) and lack of support. In many instances the OTS software may not tackle processes you need them to tackle. So if you do find OTS software not relevant for business what other options do you have?

BESPOKE SOFTWARE!

If you cannot find software that fits your business needs completely or you need to automate a process then why not get your own software designed?
Think about it. What processes today in your business takes up most of your time and if automated would eradicate unnecessarily human errors? It could be calculating quotes, sending sales letters, managing customer information or even logging staff competencies.

Our research into how businesses work has found that 99.9% of processes can be automated!

Let me give you some more ideas of types of software you can have developed:

• A Document Management Software - ideal for Legal Practices where all client information is stored in one central location.
  
• Print Management Software - ideal for Printing Companies. Past and present print jobs can be stored within the software allowing you and your clients to view their print jobs.
  
• Digital Asset Management Software - ideal for Marketing Agencies, web designers and Advertising Agencies to share media and brand assets across the organisation and with their clients.
  
• Staff Competency Software - ideal for Recruitment Agencies. No need to go through various CVs looking for the right applicant. Simply enter specific keywords and the software finds the right applicant for you.
  
• CRM Software - Ideal for Retail Businesses. Record your customers buying habits and spend frequency so you can target them with more tailored offers.
  

The list is endless and is limited only by your imagination.

I know what you are thinking. "Sounds good, but I bet it would cost me an arm and a leg". Look at the example I gave above for a CRM Software. We recently designed a similar software for a Beauty Salon and they paid just £149 for their own proprietary software!

The benefits of designing your own software include:

Automation reduces the time spent manually carrying out the process

Easier access to information

Get your quotes and invoices out to your customers quickly boosting cash-flow

Eradicates human errors and waste

Cost effective - you pay once for the software, no need to worry about yearly subscription or licensing costs and upgrades

The software is built around your business so it is easy for you and your team to understand and use

Better relations with your clients as you understand their requirements fully

Software Design has revolutionised the way many businesses work. If your business does not currently employ software to improve processes in all areas of the business you may be missing a trick.

A case study for you to read is at www.supremesystems.co.uk/client_law.html - this shows how we used Software Design to create a bespoke intranet site for a client.

I hope this has provided some food for thought. Why not see for yourself how easy it is to have your own software developed. Give me a call now on 0121 236 0065 or email me at angela.hart@supremesystems.co.uk and discuss your needs with me. You will be surprised at what the Techies can do.

Kind regards,


Angela Hart
Client Services Manager
Supreme Systems