If you are still asking: Why social media? Why cloud? Possibly it’s too late for you.

Watch this video to learn how smart SMEs are using technology to drive down costs and increase profits. Could it be that robots are taking over?

This collection of 6 punchy interviews from CeBit 2012 could save or make you big $.

Video & transcript below

> You can also view the video featured on CeBit’s website here

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

I’m Daniel from AR Cash Flow. I’m at CeBIT 2012 to check out what’s the
latest and greatest thing in technology. Here is a little hint. It has the
word cloud in it.

What are the biggest mistakes SMEs are making right now in technology?

University of Wollongong

That’s a really good question. I think the challenge you have got in
today’s technology environment is there are so many options that compete
for their time, whether it be a cloud based solution or your more
traditional client server environment. I’m not entirely sure there’s a
platform that’s optimised for the SME. The fundamental call that we say to
members of our ICT or cluster in Wollongong is that you need to really work
out what your business requirements are and become very firm on that. Then
take a very cautious approach to assessing what solutions might be able to
suit you. But I think it’s overcoming that conundrum now that we are
inundated with cloud and the whole range of different solutions to make a
tangible and operational solution that works.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

So where should I be focusing my time with my technology?

University of Wollongong

Well, I think, again, it comes down to what your business is, who your
clients are, what your statutory and business reporting requirements are. I
think you really need to be crystal clear on that, because there are a lot
of software vendors out there who will try and make you conform to their
package rather than the other way around. I think once you’ve become
crystal clear on that element, what do you need to support your business,
then you can make a very easy decision as to what you select or build for
that matter.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Lastly, what is the next big thing in technology?

University of Wollongong

Well, that’s a tremendous idea. You are starting to see the commoditisation
of technology, whether it be cloud based storage and even cloud based
processing. I also think there is a potential for some of the pre-payment
of some of these services, including some utilities as well. So I think you
will be dialing on and dialing off storage, hardware, CPU time, and all
those things. Charging your customers in a completely different way than
what’s been done before and winning the day. I think the customer will be
the winner.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Thank you very much.

University of Wollongong

Thank you.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What are the biggest mistakes small businesses are making today with
technology?

Citrix, GoToMeeting

I would say primarily the [inaudible 02:24] coming across, ignoring, I
suppose, the consumerisation of IT. I think more and more decisions are
being taken away from IT departments and coming from various other areas.
For example, IT will say this is a product we are going to roll out across
the organisation. One of the directors will turn around and go, “Hey, I got
this iPad for Christmas. I want to use this app. How do I do it?” And
suddenly everything gets turned around. So I think ignoring that is
probably one of the biggest failings I see.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

If I am a small business, where should I be focusing my time and efforts in
technology right now?

Citrix, GoToMeeting

With collaboration of course. Look, I think particularly in a declining
market, you are going to see more and more people trying to cut costs and
things like that. I’ve got to do my plug web collab here and say it’s a
great way to save some money. If you are going out and seeing customers or internal meetings stretched out across the country or across the globe,
then it is a great way to save some money.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What is the next big thing in technology for SMEs?

Citrix, GoToMeeting

I think everybody knows it is cloud, cloud, cloud. Moving away from having
all your storage needs internal and things like that, being able to access
your work servers and all your data and everything wherever you go. I think
everything is moving towards more of a device setup. The day of the
computer and laptop is dead. P4eople are going to be walking around with
iPads and iPhones, and that’s how you are gong to be doing business.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Thanks very much.

Citrix, GoToMeeting

It was a pleasure, thanks.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What are some of the biggest mistakes SMEs are making right now in
technology?

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

I think small businesses need to adopt more efficient processes and start
automating some of their tasks. Although you see a lot of exciting stuff
around here today, a lot of businesses are still using faxes and having
individuals go out and do a lot of work by hand, when they should be using
the Internet and computers and all that kind of stuff to really improve the
efficiency of their business.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

With so many resources and rabbit holes to go down, where should I be
focusing my time?

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

Focusing your time.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

And resources.

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

I think you have to systemise your business. So instead of having
individuals knowing little bits about the business, the computers actually
get taught how your business operates, and they sort of take over running
all the day-to-day operations.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

That sounds scary. The computers take over?

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

Well, we have clients that actually have computers operating the whole
business, from collecting their customers, signing them up, billing them,
making sure they are happy, and letting them service themselves. For them,
they don’t have to employ staff to do that anymore.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What is the next big tech thing?

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

We think freeing people from the office and actually allowing them to have
all the information wherever they are is really important. It’s not
necessarily the next big tech thing, but to actually be able to have the
data naturally where you actually want it is a huge advantage for
businesses.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Sort of like robots taking over everything?

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

Well, I don’t think robots as such. We’re a little bit away from that. But
actually making people and technology work better together is probably the
key for the next 5 to 10 years, and making businesses in Australia be able
to complete with all their new their competitors globally. That’s the big
challenge. Australian businesses have had this nice little space on their
own where they thought they could just operate and they didn’t have to
worry about everyone else. Now the world has opened up, and you have
competitors in every country. So you need to start looking at having more
customers, getting customers from further away, and actually working in
with lower margins and being more efficient.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

So you compete globally.

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

Exactly.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Thank you very much for your time.

Inspirasoft PTY Ltd.

Thanks.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Tell us what the biggest mistakes small businesses are making in your space at the moment?

Phocas, CRM Solutions

The biggest mistakes are probably not investing in systems to automate
things as much as possible, I think particularly where business is possibly
not as rosy as it once was. Arguably investing in your systems to increase
efficiencies is very important, and return on investment long term will be
warranted. So I think there is a [foresight] in people to not invest in
systems to do that.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

If I were a small business or a medium size business, where should I be
focusing right now?

Phocas, CRM Solutions

A big thing with focus is identifying, with the systems that we sell,
identifying where your opportunities are to sell more to existing customers
, really managing your relationships with your existing customers and
identifying where those opportunities are, whose dropping off and why, and
what can we do about it. Is it a price thing? Are they talking to
competitors? How can we differentiate our services? Is it the product we
are offering? Is it customer service? So those sorts of things.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What is the next big for SMEs in technology?

Phocas, CRM Solutions

The next big thing, look, I think we are probably already there with cloud.
It’s a word that gets buzzed around all the time, cloud technologies. But I
think we are getting to a stage where everything is just going to be
online. A computer is just going to be a piece of hardware that you log
into all of your files. Everything is interrelated. I think the cloud
technology we are already there and we are living it.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

[Tim], with Phocas, thanks very much.

Phocas, CRM Solutions

Thank you.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What are some of the biggest mistakes SMEs are making with technology
today?

Seamans

I think the main mistakes they are making, they are going for the cheapest
solution. They should look at the whole picture and find the best fit for
their market or their business.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

If I am a small business or a medium size business, what should I be
focusing on right now in technology?

Seamans

I think one thing would be efficiency. Look at your space where you are and
see what savings you can get and what efficiency you can achieve. Our phone
system integrates with mobile phones. We make life easier by integrating
with the computers. All these communications improve efficiency in the
workspace.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What is the next big thing in your space?

Seamans

Web collaboration. Effectively, we can run a web corporation. We can do web
conferences with our clients, and you can have up to 100 users that can
connect and share presentations.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Thanks very much.

Seamans

You’re welcome.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What are the big mistakes small businesses are making today with
technology?

Fujitsu

They usually under invest when it comes to considering a good mobile
purchase. Usually, the total cost of ownership is something that would be
important for them to understand. You are using a notebook, over the life
span of the notebook and all the accessories that come along with it, and
the support that is required, as well as the quality. The [inaudible 09:18] after sales basically costs are running it.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow
So if I am a small business, what should I be focusing on right now with my
technology?

Fujitsu

It depends on what kind of business application that you do. Usually, you
plan over the number of years that you think the device would be useful.
Typically, the current usage will also determine what kind of product that
you should be looking for. You don’t need to buy products with features
that you won’t be using.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

What’s the next big thing for the future for small business in technology?

Fujitsu

Currently, I think that everything is talking about ultra books and thin
and lightweight products. Bear in mind, again, that there is something of
value, but in terms of usage, you also come with some compromising of
features, things like graphics and so on.

Daniel Dunsford, AR Cash Flow

Thanks very much.

Fujitsu

You’re welcome.