White Knight

It is very interesting to note just how quickly the face of the World Wide Web is advancing. We only have to take a look at the past twenty years to realise just how much the internet has impacted our day to day lives and the way we conduct business. This advancement is quite amazing considering that internet only introduced to Australian universities in 1989.

Today, you only have to turn on your television or open a newspaper to notice the Australian government and the communication networks are in a race to create superior quality networks specifically designed to enhance the way we use the web. Likewise, there is a major shift in designs of hardware, software technologies and increased development of eCommerce Design in an attempt to maximize a businesses profits and reduce overheads.

Opportunities for Small Businesses

It is quite clear that today consumers (in particular small business owners) are looking at ways of streamlining their current practices through the use of portable devices such as laptops, mini-notebooks and wireless data devices such as the iPhone and BlackBerry. According to the research conducted by Gartner, sales of mini-notebooks in Asia Pacific increased by a massive 82% in 2008 and are predicted to continue through 2010 and 2011.

Hardware limitations of these devices are cleverly substituted though the development of online applications. Some of these include: a wide range of Online Office Suites, virtual meeting rooms such as GoToMeeting, online faxing services such as  faxmate and accounting and invoicing packages such as Freshbooks just to name a few.

The Internet makes business online a reality

The introduction of the 3G Mobile networks and the common use of WiFi technology have recently enabled business owners to alter and streamline the way they conduct business through this new range of online products, allowing them to operate their businesses from just about anywhere.

This major shift is also supported by professional web design firms, in particular through the use of cleverly developed ecommerce sites automating the ordering, dispatching and accounting processes.

Why smart business owners are embracing online applications

Online applications are becoming more frequently used as they offer business owners a large range of benefits including:

• Minimal hardware requirements – all that is required to run online applications is a basic computer, a web browser and a reliable internet connection. Simple and portable devices such as mini-notebooks can now be
  used in place of large and expensive hardware solutions.
• Platform independent – with online applications, users are no longer limited to specific operating systems such as Windows or Mac OS.
• Users can access the applications from any computer that is connected to the internet - there is no need to purchase additional licences. Users can access documents saved on the server from any computer connected to the internet. This can present a massive saving to small businesses with multi licence requirements.
• There is no need to download or install software - all software upgrades are applied to the server. Users will automatically be able to access the updated version of the application net time they log in.
• Documents are stored in a secure online location – this prevents loss of valuable information if the computer experiences hardware failure, is lost or stolen.

The Future of online applications

The only limitation to effectively utilising online applications is access to the internet. This minor hick-up is however diminishing day by day as Telco’s continue rolling out state of the art technologies. As an example Telstra exclusively offer a new range of Next G Data Cards capable of 21 Mbps downlink speeds accessible to 98.8% of Australian population, whilst K-Rudd is well and truly on the way to build a world class high speed broadband network.

Moving forward, it is important for business owners to consider and embrace some of the available solutions emerging today. Online applications are fast becoming part of our day to day lives and most certainly are already affecting the way we conduct business. Just think, the internet only became available to the Australian public 20 years ago.

At our current rate of advancement, what are the potential consequences for those that don’t embrace this type of technology and use it to their advantage?

The rapid growth and innovation of the internet is allowing many small to medium size businesses to take advantage of proven techniques used by large multi-national companies. These companies invest millions of dollars every year to create a holistic approach to sales and understand a website is another opportunity to provide Fantastic Customer Service.

Aside from the obvious cost benefits in a setting up your eCommerce Solution on the web, there are other benefits such as the automation of the sales process that make it more convenient for the average consumer to make their purchase online.

On the other end of the scale, consumers are using the internet to assist in making a more informed decision prior to entering the “Show Room” to finalize their purchase.

Chris Freithcen from  ConsumerSearch.com was recently quoted saying, ‘It is fairly common for a person looking at purchasing a product to want to fully research it prior to making a purchase.”

Online Shopping Trends

Since its inception in 1990’s online sales have increased every year by an unprecedented amount and continue to grow as consumers become more comfortable using the Internet as a tool for gathering information and making informed decisions.

A survey by Nielson Online (a service of the Nielson Company) shows people shop online during the holidays not to save money, but to save time. The online survey of 1000 consumers found 81% shop online as they can shop when they choose at any time of the day. 77% mentioned they wanted to save time and 61% use the internet to compare prices and 56% said they like to use it because they are able to find what they want easily.

Another report compiled by comScore titled “The Ascent of the Precision Shopping Machine”, explores eCommerce and discusses future shopping trends. The report states, “Online shopping spikes every year, then pulls the rest of the year up with it as people become more comfortable with their online shopping experience.” The report continues, “As experience and comfort grows, spending increases.”

These trends indicate an upward spiral of online purchases that increase with every holiday season as the web industry continues to develop with intuitive design, and consumers continue to feel more comfortable with their online experience.

Why are people becoming more comfortable using the Internet to make their purchasing decisions?

Over time the internet has evolved and its number of users has increased. In 1999 there were approximately 248 million people worldwide using the internet. Today (as of march 2009) there are approximately 1.59 Billion people worldwide, which represent over 600% increase in users in just ten years (source
Internet Growth Stats).

Although many would argue this increase is simply as a result of the convenience of the internet, one of the real reasons for the dramatic increase is the creation of newer technologies, continual development to create a more intuitive experience and the implementation of other proven techniques.

This has created a foundation for web designers and website owners to systematize components of their business and streamline the experience for the customer.

Websites streamline the process

Websites are an excellent method of streamlining the sales process for many businesses. A business can now share relevant and correct information with its customers, is available 24/7 for viewing, and if used correctly, will complete the transaction or lead the customer along a path to make a final purchase.

Unlike many other older conventional sales techniques the increased usage of the Internet indicates this component of the sales process will continue grow and more people will use the internet to complete or assist in their future purchases.

The key to the successful use of a website is in the implementation of proven processes that lead the potential client along a path and essentially holds their hand to guide them through each step. This will gain trust and show your customers your website is a Fantastic Customer Service tool.