The four IT priorities that entrepreneurs should think about when starting out.

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Bringing it to the table: give your business the best chance of success.

Cloud services, productivity apps and online accounting tools are just some of the technological considerations for SMEs.

Great Britain is truly a nation of entrepreneurs. In 2015, more than 600,000 new businesses were started across the UK, a huge leap from the 525,000 start-ups registered back in 2013.
The shift towards setting out alone in the workplace rather than looking for employment in an existing organisation is down to the wealth of opportunities for those individuals brave enough to take the leap and embrace true autonomy, creativity, real and immediate rewards, flexible working practices.
For anyone considering starting up a new venture – or if you have recently gone down that path – here are the four IT priorities you should focus on to give your business the best chance of success.

Productivity

Technology offers myriad opportunities to increase productivity in even the smallest of businesses.
The cloud is key here. Gone are the days when a microbusiness or one-man shop would need to splash out on expensive IT helpdesk support every time they needed to make a change to a system or get new equipment set up. Nor would they need to waste hours of their own time trying to become a technology expert.
Cloud services mean that entrepreneurs can access the same technology as their largest rival, but without any of the traditional set-up headaches or huge upfront costs.

 

Whatever type of process or system you need to operate your business better, the chances are it already exists out there via a third-party online service.
All you need to do is sign up for a monthly or annual subscription, feed in your data and requirements, and you’re up and running.
Cloud-based applications also ensure you can access your information wherever you are and whenever you need it, whether that’s from a co-working office, your desk at home, on the train, or on the beach.
Tools including Google Drive and Apple iCloud will also sync all that information across all your devices, meaning you don’t need to copy/paste/email every new document or file you produce on your laptop in case you want to access it later on your tablet or smartphone.

Efficiency

Technology is the ideal place to look for better efficiencies in your new business, especially when it comes to communication and collaboration.
One feature many start-ups have in common is low headcount. Some will be one-man bands, others might have a small team, but these kinds of businesses do not operate with layers of management and people to spare to attend non-critical meetings.
Fortunately, technology enables entrepreneurs to take up every meeting opportunity, just in a different format to the traditional face-to-face method.

Whether you’re using web conferencing systems or collaboration apps such as chat groups, these services allow you to have instant communication with staff, customers and partners without having to leave your current location.
This cuts down on travel time and associated costs, so what used to take up three hours out of your day can now be achieved in a quick 10-minute group chat.
Taking time to try out some productivity applications can also pay dividends. From note-taking apps such as Evernote to project management apps such as Trello, these web-based tools have the double-bonus of being accessible from any device and location, while also improving your organisational skills.
And don’t forget the basic time-saver of keyboard shortcuts. Set these up and you can speed up every task you do. These small increments of time saved throughout the day all add up to a more efficient workflow.

Cost control

There are various ways to make use of technology to manage and reduce your costs when setting up a new venture.
Marketing your business via social networks including Facebook and Twitter can help you reach potential new customers and gather feedback, with no or little outlay.
Online budgeting, accounting and expenses tools such as Xero or QuickBooks are a great way for entrepreneurs to ensure they comply with any tax or VAT requirements without the need to install complex software or hire an accountant.

Security

Entrepreneurs have the advantage over their more established and larger rivals in that they are unlikely to be the target for a denial of service attack or hacktivism, such as those suffered by adultery site Ashley Madison or broadband provider TalkTalk.
However, that is not an excuse for start-ups to ignore IT security, as they are just as prone to data leaks and breaches.
One of the first things entrepreneurs should do when starting out is get a clear overview of exactly what company data they are storing – from customer and employee records, intellectual property documents, budgets and financials where this information is located and who has access to it.
If you are using cloud services, those vendors will be taking steps to protect your data stored in their systems; but if you are sharing log-ins and accounts with other staff, customers or partners, that is a security risk and measures must be taken to ensure information is protected.

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