| A June 23, 2005 news release from the Office of | | | | business operations. |
| Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration, states | | | | New Business Opportunities: The explosion of |
| that home computer owners are slightly more likely | | | | Internet and e-commerce has opened up a plethora |
| to be business owners than non-computer owners. | | | | of opportunities for all types of businesses. New |
| This report reveals that technology and computing | | | | management methodologies, such as Six Sigma are |
| has become an inseparable ingredient in the business | | | | easier to implement due to statistical software. Also, |
| world today. | | | | companies are able to train their own employees |
| The Computer Trend - A Brief History | | | | using in-house Six Sigma software programs, and as |
| The last two decades have marked an enormous | | | | a result, save money on labor costs. |
| increase in the number of home computers. With it, | | | | It is now possible to have many business functions |
| computer owners have invariably taken to | | | | operate on autopilot. This has opened up new |
| entrepreneurship in many varied fields. Thanks to the | | | | opportunities for software development companies |
| growth of technology, computers and the Internet, | | | | and business consultants. Another business trend that |
| new methods have been developed for processing | | | | has opened up as a result of advancing technology is |
| everyday business activities easily. Without the | | | | outsourcing. It is now possible for a company in |
| advent of technology, routine tasks would otherwise | | | | America to have its data entry and customer service |
| have taken and enormous amount of time and | | | | centers in overseas countries such as the UK. In this |
| specialization. Undoubtedly, the computer represents | | | | way, companies can service their customers 24/7. |
| the top technology development in the last century | | | | Indispensable Components of Small Businesses |
| as it relates to businesses today, both large and small. | | | | It is difficult to think of a situation where businesses |
| Advances in the field of technology have created a | | | | can do without technology and computers today. It |
| vast number of business opportunities. | | | | is extremely difficult to say whether businesses |
| Some Statistics | | | | depend on computers or computers created business |
| In 2003, the U.S. Small Business Administration | | | | opportunities. |
| produced a report/survey that established | | | | Software Specific To Small Businesses |
| conclusively that more than 75% of small businesses | | | | Certain powerful, yet simple software has come to |
| owned computers and had heavily invested in new | | | | the rescue of small businesses in reducing their tasks |
| technology. Let us try to understand what the | | | | and opening up new channels. Simple applications like |
| computers mean to businesses and how they | | | | spreadsheets and word processing helps them |
| contribute to increase their productivity. | | | | maintain accounts, finances and keep track of |
| USE OF COMPUTERS IN BUSINESSES | | | | correspondence. These applications allow the users to |
| The fundamental reasons for the popularity of | | | | customize reports and other functions to suit their |
| computers with small businesses are their efficiency, | | | | particular business. |
| speed, low procurement cost and more than anything | | | | Drawbacks |
| else, capability to handle multiple tasks with little | | | | Both men and women in business have adapted |
| chance for error. | | | | successfully to new technology. But the SBA report |
| Office Routines: Almost invariably, businesses loaded | | | | cites the general decline in skill levels of people, which |
| with the burden of increasing workloads and the | | | | may eventually result in an overall reduction of |
| pressures of being lean and mean, fall back upon | | | | income levels. It seems that people get used to |
| technology for most of their administrative tasks. | | | | technology doing all the work and tend to neglect |
| This work includes, among others, bookkeeping, | | | | their skill development. It is up to individual companies |
| inventory managing and email. The advent of the | | | | to make sure that their employees are still able to do |
| Internet has also substantially contributed in bringing | | | | crucial tasks without the assistance of computers, if |
| down the costs of communication and marketing. In | | | | necessary. |
| a nutshell, technology has reduced the overall cost of | | | | |