The business technology landscape has changed almost immeasurably over the last 15 years. As recently as 1995 the majority of businesses around the world had not embraced simple tools such as email and internet connectivity, fax machines were hi-tech, cellular phones were still just able to make and receive calls and only a few basic options existed in choosing IT solutions, if they were actually recognized as a necessity.

Advances in business technology, or IT as it’s commonly referred to, have had an immensely positive effect on business processes and efficiency to a point that many large companies at the forefront of their industries today are almost completely different in process operation to how they were 10 or 15 years ago.

Although large corporates worldwide have and continue to effectively harness the benefits of technology to improve efficiency, the same unfortunately cannot be said for non-technology industry SME’s where, ironically, the most value can often be delivered. Bad previous experiences or lack of technological understanding contribute to most executives taking a “bare-bones” approach to business technology rather than actively seeking ways to advance their businesses productivity, cost effectiveness and efficiency.

Properly planned, strategically developed, business focused technology platforms can deliver the same lasting benefits to SME’s that larger corporates enjoy at far less cost than most executives think. Many businesses do not have an in-house CTO, technical director or other business focused technology executive to plot a solid strategic course and harness available skills to the benefit of the organisation, most SME’s struggle to find reliable, independent and relevant advisors to work with. Most SME’s end up having to rely on low level IT technicians, technology suppliers and outsource providers to render advice which is often not business relevant and almost never given with the specific nature of the business in question taken into account.

For SME’s looking to substantially improve their business processes by harnessing available technologies, the skills of an independent strategic technologies consultant should be considered as a cost option.

With both the business and technical skills required to analyze a business’s systems and procedures, staff, budgets, operations, technology usage, suppliers and other specifics an independent strategic technologies consultant can create a detailed model of how a business functions and how improvements can be made to help it function better though the implementation of appropriate technology based systems. An independent strategic technologies consultant can assist businesses to design solutions, create strategic plans for their implementation, create solid systems and procedures, select suppliers, manage

procurement processes and monitor general progress to ensure that improvements are maximised as efficiently and cost effectively as possible without disruption, mistakes or project failures.

In these difficult economic times it is becoming more and more necessary for SME’s to streamline their business, find new ways of cutting costs and instill maximum efficiency into their businesses to counter softening demand.

If your business is not leveraging technology as an efficiency improvement and cost reduction tool, consider bringing in an independent strategic technologies consultant to evaluate the options and possibilities. It may come as a pleasant surprise to see just how much can be achieved at an affordable outlay.

Article by Mr. Craig Taylor - [email protected] or call him at +66 84 732 3356.