Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are notoriously slow to adopt new technology ?and with good reason. After all, their goal isn't innovation, it's protecting the bottom line.
According to an April 2006 survey by Forrester Research entitled IT Spending in the SMB Sector, the adoption of emerging technologies is relatively low among SMBs. For example, only 15% planned to deploy networked storage devices this year.
The case for emerging technology
Yet, according to the same Forrester report, SMB IT budgets are actually on the rise, which presents the opportunity to make new technology investments.
What's more, SMBs are in an ideal position to adopt new technologies because they have fewer organisational barriers to stall decision-making. They can also often see the benefit of a technology more rapidly than a larger enterprise.
Emerging technologies can help SMBs stay competitive, and help to increase efficiency, enhance productivity, lower costs and improve communication. Here are a few your business may want to investigate:
Virtualization
The current industry focus on virtualization is more than just hype. When you put the complex technical talk aside, virtualization is a simple concept: it allows you to consolidate and simplify your IT infrastructure. And no one needs that more than SMBs, where IT staff and resources are often in short supply.
Virtualization can take several forms, and businesses can decide which best suits them. Databases, applications and networks are all possible targets for virtualization, but most of the buzz surrounds server virtualization, which allows multiple independent operating systems to run simultaneously on the same hardware. And the resulting benefits? Significant savings on energy and cooling, ease of management, reduced need for space and improved security.
Network-attached storage (NAS)
Virtualization also extends to storage management, where network-attached storage (NAS) has become an attractive alternative to a traditional storage area network (SAN). NAS connects storage directly to an IP network, and new solutions make it relatively easy to install.
As with other forms of virtualization, this type of system eliminates a good deal of physical complexity since no file server is involved. It also allows authorized users to directly access stored data from anywhere on the network, for fast and easy retrieval. With prices falling, NAS is becoming an inexpensive and easy-to-manage option that is increasingly appealing for smaller environments.
Videoconferencing
Once limited to large businesses flush with cash, videoconferencing is becoming a tool as useful as any in the SMB communications portfolio ?and improvements in technology have made it more affordable. Videoconferencing offers a variety of benefits, including reduced travel expenses, increased contact with customers and enhanced communication across distributed work environments.
In particular, web-based videoconferencing is an excellent choice for SMBs. It runs over LANs and WANs; so if your company already has a solid broadband network in place, the only other components you need are a camera and appropriate software.
VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol)
Strictly speaking, Internet telephony isn't a new technology, but it is only recently that it has become a viable option for businesses. Previously it had neither the quality nor the reliability required for business needs, but now it offers SMBs a feature-rich alternative to conventional multi-line phone systems ?and at a fraction of the cost.
VoIP enables you to make calls via the same network you use for your Internet access, eliminating the need for dedicated voice lines ?reducing both costs and the complexity of your IT infrastructure. Increased mobility is also a benefit: you can take a VoIP phone on your travels, work from home, and place or receive calls from anywhere in the world just as easily as if you were sitting at your desk in the office ?and with no 'roaming' charges.
The above list is far from exhaustive. Other technologies that could cause major changes and opportunities in coming years include video iPod, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) communications, UltraWide Band, the $100 laptop project, virtual keyboards, and many more. However, the technologies discussed above are at the stage of maturity where they can be effectively implemented and provide the biggest benefits for SMBs.
