10 Trends that an SME should incorporate to stay competitive

This project-based plan will allow these businesses that projects are aligned to business strategy.

Directing an SME is not a simple task and achieve a balance between revenue and operational efficiency is one of the biggest challenges to be faced by an entrepreneur. Technology innovation and open a range of possibilities to ease the way for new businesses.

10 Trends that an SME should incorporate to stay competitive

Then we leave some tips Mercedes Morera, director responsible for the SMB (small and medium business) market.

1. Cloud: This new model allows all hosted services and consume resources from the "cloud". This not only allows you to manage information from anywhere, but also access to highly sophisticated technology at low cost. In addition, this new trend is accessible to SMEs, as it is a collaboration service and can always access the "latest version" no cost, since it is always current.

2. Design and implement "Projects": Plan project-based SMEs will allow these projects are aligned to business strategy, and provide greater control over the budget, making it more viable.

3. Produce and analyze large volumes of data at low cost: Previously, when a company thought to analyze large volumes of data, had to consider how much space would occupy and how these were composed. Today, thanks to certain technologies (Big Data, Analytic, etc.) the companies even small and medium companies can analyze, extract information and knowledge, and make decisions on unstructured data and large volumes, without having to worry or by space or the cost.

4. Mobile First: Coming to establish the idea of developing an application thinking first implementation on mobile devices. Thus, developing applications is much more accessible, even for companies that do not have large resources.

5. Social: This is to integrate and learn in communities socially, which may well be suppliers, customers, consumers or users. This trend allows the "inside" of customers, using technologies that are available virtually premium (free).

6. Process Automation: The term refers to the ability to create a product that can be quickly exposed online for others to integrate and add functionality. This is a huge opportunity for small businesses because it allows them access to a level of competitiveness that did not have before.

Moreover, process automation is a decision of organizational transformation, moving the company from a functional management to a successful process management business, which reduces costs by automating processes.

7. Manage the technology: Do not think of technology as a cost but as a strategic business area. It is important to find the axis on which the company will focus on technology, to align its strategy.

8. To incorporate management tools: Adopting technologies will help your company to differentiate itself in the market. The management tools are indicators to help you understand how your business is the financial numbers, and the integration of different areas.

9. Adopt a technology partner: The technology is complex, as the market in general and for a company to be consolidated, they must understand the importance of it. This requires that businesses have a strategic technology partner that has a global vision to direct the company towards the best IT decisions.

10. Appear in Internet: It is important to position your company in the digital world, with online marketing channel. We must seize the exponential potential customers that provides Internet and choose a good strategy to attract customers through this medium (E-commerce, social networking, positioning in google, etc.).