Businesses always face challenges whenever there is a major technological advancement and the need arises for them to implement the changes in their systems. While the changes are projected to increase efficiency and compatibility in the long-term, most SMEs are unable to keep up with new technologies simply due to high costs involved in the short-term. Most SME’s rely on short-term cash flow and are unable to utilise latest technology simply due to costs and no proper IT consultation.

Can SMEs continue to follow this trend and slowly fall more behind in technology especially in the IT world? Answer is NO. This is simply because we are now in an era where IT technology is beginning to really come of age. IT technology has advanced to a point that it is everywhere in our lives and this is true with the arrival of smart phones and tablets in the market.

Then enter Cloud Technology. This is another game changing advancement we have all heard of or even using it by now. Big software companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, MYOB and Oracle quickly adopted this and started offering their cloud-based product variants. Cloud technology is not a passing cloud and is here to stay.

The best part of IT technology in this era is availability of powerful, capable and flexible software solutions at realistic affordable prices. SMEs now more than ever must utilise available technology to move forward in this digital world to stay competitive and at the same time improving business efficiency. Countries like Singapore where Fibre Optic and 4G LTE internet is widely available at affordable rates, it makes even a stronger business case for SMEs to get into the Cloud Technology now.

Most SME owners do not have the time or expertise to always analyse latest available solutions for their business. IT consultants from cloud service providers are very crucial here in bringing across the message to SMEs. The biggest problem for SMEs to adopt new technologies is that they are unable to visualise the promised increased business efficiency merely through words in a brochure or website. They need to be shown a real-life case study demo in person. To go one step further in achieving total confidence in SMEs to use Cloud Technology, a cloud-based solution needs to be simulated with the SME’s current operational data and the differences explained. Without the above, SMEs will find it very hard to visualise the concept of how cloud technology will benefit them in the real-world.

If you compare two SMEs of equal size and in similar industry, the SME that utilises cloud technology will be over take the SME that does not utilise cloud technology over time. This is because, the SME using cloud technology will save on costs, save time, manage their clients more effectively on-time with latest data and more. When clients are managed effectively and services rendered to them are impeccable, the SME can focus on growing its clients while maintaining their service standards. Cloud technology will also enable the SME to reach out to their clients in many innovative ways and to be able to provide personalised services.

It is like comparing a SME that uses email technology to communicate with their clients and another SME that uses fax and letter to do the same. With email technology, communication between SME and their client is always fast and accessible even when out of the office. Faster communications results in closing sales and support cases. SME that uses email will continue to grow rapidly simply because they can get their jobs done quicker using email than fax and letter.

The above is only a very simple example but think of email technology as cloud technology where it offers a lot more! If SMEs do not try to understand cloud technology and utilise it soon, they will be eventually left behind and overtaken by their competitors who uses cloud technology.

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