Start with the basics - At Work

Staying competitive

The take-up of new internet applications has been growing significantly; however there are still many businesses that have ignored the opportunities, allowing the early adopters a chance to steal a lead over their competitors.

A major benefit is in customer support. Businesses are keeping customers up-to-date with the latest information, such as notifying new deals or price changes, as they happen, or ‘real-time’ reports on the progress of an order or delivery.

You can also promote brand values by providing relevant visual information on high-quality web cameras, such as the wave conditions beside a surfing school, or the efficiency of a well-managed tool shop. Premises-sited web security cameras can also provide peace of mind when a factory or office is empty.

Interestingly, the concept of ‘business ICT’ is beginning to shift from something you have to buy and manage, to a professional service you can rent from a specialist. A permanent internet connection can provide constant access to software and hardware that is fully backed up, updated and managed by off-site IT experts.

This business model is very competitive and, in addition, puts otherwise prohibitively expensive, software within reach of smaller businesses, levelling the playing field, to allow them to reap the benefits that larger companies take for granted.

For other businesses, staying competitive has become a question of survival, with some large businesses now insisting that their suppliers invoice over e-procurement systems.