Small Business I.T. Insider

We’re a small business in Orange County, and we face the same challenges that the small businesses we serve do. In 2010, the challenges seem more significant than ever, but no one is throwing in the towel. Instead, small businesses everywhere are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to push through 2010. StoneHill Technical Solutions is no different; in fact, we see opportunity in the downturn.

Here’s our take on the top issues of 2010:

 1.      Economic Impact on Customers

 Fewer dollars flowing through our economic system means reduced discretionary income for our customers. Less spending means leaner times. Small businesses are looking for ways to cut costs while maintaining high customer service standards. That means making tough choices in order to stay in the black.

 2.      Productivity Loss from Technology Issues

 It’s no surprise to us that small businesses face technology issues. What is surprising, though, is how many small businesses ignore major concerns only to face significant productivity losses down the road. That’s why we recommend outsourcing your IT. Small businesses experience their highest returns when they focus on their core competencies and leave technical issues to the experts. And, outsourcing is surprisingly cost effective, especially when you consider potential losses due to system crashes. Keep your small business technology infrastructure up and running by outsourcing its management to experienced professionals who care about small business success. It just so happens that StoneHill Tech is one of those options.

 3.      Computer Viruses or Hackers

 Safety and security usually isn’t a problem…until it becomes one. Losing critical information, succumbing to a hostile infrastructure attack, or just experiencing an out-of-commission PC can not only be frustrating, it can be damaging to a small business’s bottom line, especially if customer data is compromised. Make sure networks, software, and hardware remain safe and secure. Partner with an industry expert who cares (oh, yeah, and just in case you were wondering, we do).

 4.      Rising Health Insurance Costs

 Okay, we admit it; we didn’t read the Healthcare bill. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that health insurance costs continue to go up every year. Small businesses spend valuable time and money ensuring that they make wise decisions about health insurance; after all, it affects employees, a small business’ most important asset. We’ll keep our fingers crossed with all the other small businesses out there while insurance companies keep calculating new rates.

 5.      Employee Distraction or Disengagement

 We can’t remember where, but a report came out months ago stating that employees who use Facebook and Twitter periodically during work hours can actually be more productive. I know—we’re skeptical too. What we do know is that employees seem more distracted than ever. Whether it’s anxiety about the economy, a spouse getting laid off, or the rising pace of life, employees who are distracted or disengaged eat away at effectiveness at a time when all company resources need to be concentrated toward meeting objectives. Find out what motivates employees and see what can be done to provide it. The bottom line will offer its own thanks later.

 6.      Difficulty Reducing Operational Overhead

 What do small businesses cut? Look for inefficiencies, areas where extra time and/or money are being channeled. Does that extra time and/or money contribute to the bottom line? Does it create a competitive advantage? If not, consider looking for ways to do the same thing more efficiently or, if possible, cut it out altogether. The choices usually aren’t easy to make, but in the long run they make a huge difference.

 7.      Leadership Pulled in Too Many Directions

 Times like these call for focused leadership. But increased complexity, a rapid rate of change, and external market factors keep management’s attention in a constant state of flux. From what we’re seeing, 2010 won’t allow us to divert our attention from core business, but leadership needs to see that as a benefit rather than a detractor. After all, Jim Collins in Good to Great proved that sticking to a core strategy is the single most important factor to success.

 No doubt several of these issues resonate with your small business. This is the time for small businesses to band together, put our collective nose to the grindstone, and get out of 2010 without a scratch (and maybe even a decent amount of profit). If you’re looking to improve your bottom line, give us a call. We’ll do a free consultation to see if outsourcing your IT infrastructure makes good business sense. Why? Because we care about small business success.

 949.218.1258 x 129

MarkM@StoneHillTech.com

A family of IT pros committed to small business success.