Four Key Trends in Document Management Solutions
How Virtualization Increased IT's Value At One SMB
Five Presentation Apps to Try
Four Ways Your Website Can Be Better
Straight To Windows 8? 7 Tips For SMBs
Review: Samsung's New Phone Is Big and Speedy
Seven Must-Have Tools for Your Home Office
Many Firms Lack Formal Technology Plans - Or Any Interest in Software-as-a-Service

to the top

Four Key Trends in Document Management Solutions
CPA Practice Advisor (05/01/12); Higgins, John

There are four key trends that currently characterize document management solutions, and these trends are expected to continue playing a strong role in DMS systems of the future. Software-as-a-Service solutions will continue to serve as top accounting tools, in the form of both Web-based and Web-enabled solutions. Client portals will also remain popular among accounting practices, but more firms will adopt portals in growing numbers. As a result, more vendors will expand the number of features for portals, providing practices with greater service options. Workflow software will grow, as solutions have expanded to facilitating workflow to clients. Tablet integration is the final area of continued DMS growth, particularly as tablet devices remain a preferred device for small business computing. The ability to simply use DMS technology on the go justifies the investment in tablets for many firms.
(http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/article/10683361/four-key-trends-in-document-management-solutions)

How Virtualization Increased IT's Value At One SMB
InformationWeek (05/01/12); Casey, Kevin

At Acorda Therapeutics, virtualization has been the key to sustaining business. The SMB produces neurological medical treatments, increasing its growth four-fold in recent years. As the business' servers and infrastructure were ill-equipped to manage this load, there was a need for the deployment of new systems. Transitioning to server virtualization, Acorda accelerated new deployments at a much faster pace. With virtualization, Acorda was also able to implement more secure data backups using VMware's Site Recovery Manager and EMC's Recover Point. By using virtualization, Acorda saved $60,000, which is recurring in annual savings. Consequently, Acorda reports virtualization has provided opportunities for allocating more time in security and project management rather than to IT management.
(http://www.informationweek.com/news/smb/hardware_software/232901246?cid=nl_IW_smb_2012-05-01_html&elq=c250861e0c854bef963512dc7ebf2cd2)

Five Presentation Apps to Try
Inc.com (04/11/12); Steinberg, Scott

There are five presentation apps that small businesses can try. The first is SlideShare, which allows users to post presentations for public or private viewing, create branded channels, and receive analytics. Additionally, users can store PDF files, documents, and videos, in addition to connecting digital audio to slides to create webinars. The second app is Mighty Meeting, which allows users to upload presentation and product videos on the cloud, as well as the capability to connect mobile devices to a widescreen projector; MightyTeams provides multiple employees with a means for collaboration through file sharing and group feedback. SlideShark is another great app for multi-media presentations, with any presentations available for upload on-demand via desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. Speaker Deck is another tool for converting PDF slides into embedded files for sharing online. The last tool, SlideRocket, is compatible with Google Docs and PowerPoint and provides users with the ability to include Flickr images, YouTube videos, and live Twitter feeds in their presentations.
(http://www.inc.com/scott-steinberg/5-presentation-software-apps.html)

Four Ways Your Website Can Be Better
ZDNet (04/06/12); Clancy, Heather

There are four components that small businesses can focus on to improve user experience on their Web sites. First, focus on establishing trust, which means promoting a culture of company transparency. Next, invest in better navigation, which is the most important aspect of a user's experience on a site. Sites should be simple for users to navigate, since difficulties finding specific information will frustrate potential clients and result in them prematurely leaving a site. Consider a site's presentation and design, adding graphics to alleviate a text-heavy site, and improving the site so its display is appealing on mobile devices. Finally, remember that a good site is reflective of a company's strategic outreach; a successful site conveys a firm's mission in a clear and distinct manner, emphasizing the characteristics that set apart a competitive business from so many others on the Web.
(http://www.zdnet.com/blog/small-business-matters/4-ways-your-website-can-be-better/2082)

Straight To Windows 8? 7 Tips For SMBs
InformationWeek (04/10/12); Casey, Kevin

There are seven tips SmartDeploy CEO Aaron Suzuki recommends for small businesses considering Windows 8. Suzuki says SMBs should think beyond Windows 8, considering scalability in the future. Upgrading to Windows 7 is safe for firms, but Windows 7 can be skipped and upgraded immediately to Windows 8 once it is available. Windows 8 might be an overwhelming change for employees who are reluctant to adopt new technology, so Suzuki says consider employees' comfort levels before making the switch. Suzuki notes that firms should establish IT policies for Windows 8, particularly because bring-your-own-device has become a popular phenomenon among employees. Additionally, firms should upgrade to the latest hardware prior to running a new operating system. Suzuki says that firms should make an informed decision about an operating system transition, noting that there is no reason to leave XP if it works well for firms, notwithstanding hardware considerations.
(http://www.informationweek.com/news/smb/hardware_software/232900029)

Review: Samsung's New Phone Is Big and Speedy
NewsFactor Network (04/03/12); Evatt, Robert

The Samsung Galaxy has debuted as a sought after smartphone. The 5-inch screen is as thin as most other smartphones on the market, with an accessory stylus. The Galaxy is a kind of smartphone-tablet hybrid, receiving preference among remote workers as a top computing device. The Galaxy allows users to screenshot images, has touchscreen functionality, and allows users to draw images with its stylus. Firms will find the Galaxy's screen useful for viewing documents or videos, as the smartphone has one of the largest screens for a smartphone. Hailed as one of the leading Android devices, the Galaxy's impressive screen and computing power have small businesses considering investing in the device.
(http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=003000ARQIHC&nl=2)

Seven Must-Have Tools for Your Home Office
Entrepreneur (03/28/12); Blum, Jonathan

There are seven tools that every small business should have in their home office. The first is an Amplifi HD Media Router, starting at $150, that provides an extended wireless network for media-rich streaming. The next tool is the AT&T 3G MicroCell, costing $200, that provides up to five bars of cellular coverage throughout a home space, as well as a 3G signal that works with multiple 3G or 4G devices. The Wormhole Switch is only $25, provides users with the ability to connect and work with two computers simultaneously; a separate version of the product available for connecting smartphones and tablets. At $250, firms can purchase a wireless HP Envy Printer which includes scanning and copying capabilities. Calisto 835 will be a good investment for firms with multiple communications needs, since the $300 console connects users from smartphones, landlines, or desktop-based channels. For $30 annually, LoJack for Laptops offers data security through an app that tracks devices and enables remote data wiping or device locking. Zip Touch-no-go is a useful tool for remote workers or offices needing to reduce clutter, functioning as a multi-device charging station for only $80.
(http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223222)

Many Firms Lack Formal Technology Plans - Or Any Interest in Software-as-a-Service
Accounting Today (04/01/2012); Fineberg, Seth

According to a survey from the American Institute of CPAs, nearly 70 percent of firms do not use Software-as-a-Service or cloud-based applications. About 40 percent of firms said they did not intend to purchase SaaS products in the coming year, while 80 percent of firms stated having no formal IT plan in place. About 70 percent of firms reported only making IT decisions on an ad hoc basis, though securing the IT environment ranked as one of the most important goals firms had for 2012. Nearly one third of respondents said 10 percent of their firm's budget was allocated for IT, citing document management and data storage as priorities for software spending. Firms that use SaaS technology said client portals and bookkeeping tools were most commonly used. Other important goals firms cited for 2012 included managing risk and compliance; protecting privacy; data mining and retention; and responding to fraud.
(http://www.accountingtoday.com/ato_issues/26_4/Technology-Trends-Survey-AICPA-budget-spending-mobility-62191-1.html)