How to Future Proof Your Global Small Business on Technology

©iStock/designer491

Around half of small business owners find today’s biggest tech trends – such as cloud computing, AI and data analytics – complicated. But there are actionable steps you can take to better understand your options and position your business to take on the changes on the horizon.

Read more about how to future proof your global small business on technology.

Today in Global Small Business: Mid-Market Companies Can Make a Global Impact

©iStock/Faysal Ahamed

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• American Express to offer credit cards to small businesses (about time); it will be co-branded with Amazon.com.
• Big global brands such as Nestle, Qatar Airways, and Microsoft, are recruiting Irish suppliers to win war for talent.
• Seven (7) keys to global e-commerce success.
• Globalization for the little guy -- there is such a thing.
• To accelerate your growth via cloud computing and at the same time find out key growth lessons from more than 50 startup owners using cloud computing, join the WEGGinar™ 7/11 with IBM experts.  It's free of charge and you can register here. 
• Where (and how) mid-market companies can make a global impact.

Today in Global Small Business: Accelerate Your Growth Via Cloud Computing

©iStock/cybrain

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Google plans global e-commerce debut from India market.
• Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are saving Facebook.  No surprises here. 
• Why SMEs should double down on exporting.
• Tough trade love with China, to the tune of tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods.
• None of us ever grows [global] successfully by working alone.
• Join the next WEGGinar™ on 7/11 to accelerate your growth via cloud computing and at the same time find out key growth lessons from more than 50 startup owners using cloud computing.  It's free of charge and you can register here. 

Today in Global Small Business: Show Respect and Do Business Across Borders

©iStock/Greg Bulla

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Just the fear of a trade war is straining the global economy.
• Join the next WEGGinar™ on 7/11 to learn how to harness cloud computing and at the same time find out key growth lessons from more than 50 startup owners using cloud computing.  It's free of charge and you can register here. 
• How to show respect and do business across borders.
• The Trump trade war effect on certain US cities.
• eBay go global platform attracts a lot of Malaysian businesses.
• Don't be vulnerable to big companies -- learn to scale.

Today in Global Small Business: From Startup to Global Expansion

©iStock/Choreograph

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Harness cloud computing and at the same time find out key growth lessons from more than 50 startup owners using cloud computing. 
• For future growth and prosperity, the Brits, especially Prince William, have a big push on exporting.
• States are rolling out the welcome mat for global trade.
• Where are we now on global trade for SMEs?
• How to turn website visitors into customers.
• From startup to global expansion.  A dream come true.
• Listen in on the WEGGinar™, "Grow Globally by Offering Competitive Financing Solutions" and learn how NOT to lose a sale because you don't know how to offer good terms to your overseas customer.

The Fabulous Five Small Business Cloud Service Providers

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Who's putting the needs of SMEs first and foremost and creating excellent solutions that can be implemented in small offices?  Plenty of tech companies have broken into new markets with innovative cloud-based products. Discover five companies that have successfully taken on the small business Cloud.

5 Companies That Took On the Small Business Cloud -- And Won

Related articles:

1. Why Cloud Computing Will Change The Way We Work
2. 10 Benefits of Cloud Computing
3. 10 Factors to Consider Before You Put Your Business in a Cloud
4. Cloud Computing:  The Risks and rewards of moving your data offsite

Every Thing You Need to Know About Cloud Computing

Photo credit:  Laurel Delaney, GlobeTrade.com

Three useful articles on cloud computing that cover:  why cloud computing will change the way we work, what ten factors you need to consider before you put your business into a cloud and what are the benefits to cloud computing?  Take a look. 

1.  Why Cloud Computing Will Change The Way We Work

According to Wikipedia (http://tinyurl.com/2qjapp), cloud computing is: “Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, like the electricity grid.” In simpler language: Cloud computing is a data center, controlled by a vendor, that your employees access to share, edit, store and play files over the Internet from any location in the world. Google’s Gmail, Apps, Docs and Sites ... read more.

2.  10 Factors to Consider Before You Put Your Business in a Cloud

You can choose from a wide range of service providers with varying pricing, depending on the complexity of your business needs and the amount of capacity you require. Here are 10 factors to consider before you make ... read more.

3.  10 Benefits of Cloud Computing

1.  Achieve economies of scale - increase volume output or productivity with fewer people. Your cost per unit, project or product plummets.

2.  Reduce spending on technology infrastructure.  Maintain easy access to your information with minimal upfront spending.  Pay as you go (weekly, quarterly or yearly), based on ... read more.

Full disclosure:  Verio (www.Verio.com) is a client of GlobeTrade.com and GlobeTrade.com is a customer of Verio's.

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

How It Works: Cloud Computing

iStock/Thinkstock

With cloud computing, an on demand access to virtualized IT resources that are provided as a service over the Internet, you can reduce risk and gain control. This is not new. It has been taking place in some form or fashion for years. Just a new name has been coined to define it. For example, if you have an email account with a Web-based e-mail service like Gmail, Yahoo or Earthlink, then you've had some experience with cloud computing.

Cloud computing 101: "How Cloud Computing Works"
Wikipedia definition: Cloud computing

Whatis.com definition:

Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that's often used to represent the Internet in flow charts and diagrams.

According to InfoWorld: What cloud computing really means

2010 Tipping Point for SMB Use of Cloud Computing:

Tip No. 5: SMBs use the cloud to avoid infrastructure problems faced by offering their services in different countries around the globe. The cloud will act as an equalizer in this manner and allow SMBs large and small to compete internationally.

In line with above, cloud computing has changed how companies market, sell, provision and deploy new services on a global basis.

As cloud computing goes global, you have to ask yourself: whose laws matter?

TechTip2U Powered by: Verio