Cloud based tools for startups and small businesses
Cloud based tools for startups and small businesses
Recently a friend of mine just started his very own consulting firm to provide human resources consulting services for businesses around his area.
He is an expert in HRM related matters and processes, but definitely need some help on the technical side of his business.
He doesn't deny the fact that Information Technology is crucial to complement his HRM services so that his consultants can collaborate with colleagues and clients easier.
So he asked for some recommendations on what software or tools he could use for his business.
Since he just began his business, I thought he wouldn't want to invest much on purchasing expensive servers and software as well as hiring technical staffs for maintenance purposes.
This is why I recommended that he check out cloud / web based tools where all he needs is a web browser with Internet connection to begin using the tools.
Most cloud based tools are maintained by the service provider so he doesn't have to worry about the various aspects of server and software maintenance such as those related to security, software updates, capacity management and others.
Another advantage of cloud based tools is that most would allow a 14 days to a month of free trial so all features can be tested fully prior to subscribing.
The following are a few cloud based tools that I've recommended for him to check out:
Website
The first thing that needs to be created is a website with a domain name for his business where the site should include his list of services, contact details, relevant experiences, case studies, office location and anything useful to describe and market his services to potential clients.
With a domain name (e.g. Wareprise.com), email accounts (e.g. Bob@wareprise.com) can also be created for all emailing purposes. The following are some recommended tools:
Google Sites (part of Google Apps)
Yola.com
Webs.com
Blog
A website can be really good and professional looking but if no one reaches to the site in the first place, it's really no use.
So a good way to drive targeted traffic to a website is by creating a blog about the various aspects of the business, in this case human resource management.
By sharing relevant experiences with the public, the chances of getting spotted by a potential client gets higher.
Blogging tools are created specifically to accommodate easy publishing and authoring.The following are some recommended tools:
Wordpress
Blogger
Tumblr
Intranet
Organizations deploy intranet or groupware in order to allow employees to retain information within a central location.
Common intranet functions include knowledge management, document management, wikis and process centric apps such as those related to leave and claims applications.
With an Intranet in place, consultant / employees can come and go but the information that resides in it remains and grow by the day, making it a valuable asset to the company.The following are some recommended tools:
Feng Office
HyperOffice
Google Sites
Also read10 alternatives to Sharepoint for small businesses
Collaboration
Consultant's daily tasks includes constant communication and collaboration with colleagues. clients and business partners.
With the help of collaboration tools, they can better manage projects, tasks, schedule meetings and more within a single tool.
Some common collaboration features include project management, instant messaging, document editing, blog publishing and more.The following are some recommended tools:
Huddle
TeamLab
BaseCamp
Google Apps
Also read12 free tools to manage project timeline and milestones
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Every business needs a strong customer base to survive.
It is therefore crucial to have CRM tools handy to help in managing customer information, business development and sales force automation.
CRM tools usually include features such as customer service and support, campaign management, contact management and more. The following are some recommended tools:
Salesforce
SugarCRM
LeopardCRM
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All the above recommended tools are a good way to begin laying the IT foundation for a startup or small business to begin with.
When the business grows, some other aspects of IT to look into includes business process management, business intelligence and disaster recovery.
For more tools recommendation and software related articles, check outSoftware for Enterprise - a blog about simple and usable software that just works.
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