The SIRC Advises on the Usage of Advanced Infocomm Products

SMEs trying to get started in adopting infocomm to improve business operations may do so by first getting advice from the SME Infocomm Resource Centre (SIRC) at the Singapore Polytechnic (SP). To understand how SMEs can reap greater benefits through using more advanced infocomm products and services, SMEs should turn to SIRC as an objective source for consultation services.

Some of the ways SIRC can help SMEs through consultancy services include the following:

Minimise Risk Of Buying The Wrong System

SMEs may be aware that infocomm is potentially a solution to an existing business problem but may not know which infocomm solution to adopt. The SIRC has facilities to showcase or demonstrate the capabilities of several types of software. It also has adequate facilities to help SMEs develop smaller scale prototypes to test out and evaluate a system before the SME decides to go full scale. Once the SME is clearer about its needs and requirements, it may then engage a commercial IT consultant to develop and implement a suitable customised solution.

A beneficiary is Donaid Singapore Ltd whose vision is to increase transparency and accountability in collecting donations, while increasing the individual donor's visibility on the use of his donations. A prototype web application system that incorporates the complex tracking mechanism was designed and implemented by SIRC, which will allow Donaid to decide how to proceed.

Reach The Global Customer With Less Effort

SME owners know that maintaining an online shopfront is not easy. SIRC has a number of strategies to help the SMEs save time and resources, reaching out and keeping their online customers. These strategies include:

• Increasing exposure of products using blogs, which are readily available at no subscription cost. SMEs can find out for themselves how easy it is to set up and maintain a Blog shop.
  
  
• Reducing the effort required to maintain websites using a Content Management System (CMS). SMEs need not maintain IT staff just to change contents on their websites. SIRC's ability to help SMEs evaluate and choose between different website development options has made Daniel Yap, director of Tridan International, a satisfied client. Tridan's overseas clients are now able to view their latest cleaning and maintaining chemical products online any time at their convenience.
  
  
• Expand business opportunities through new technologies.
  
  
• SIRC also helps SMEs see how new technologies can be leveraged towards business opportunities. SMEs may be interested to know how mobile technologies can help increase revenues and SIRC can demonstrate it through examples to help SMEs appreciate the possibilities. For example, how an SME that is based in Clementi could send SMS messages to its customers in the vicinity about its sales promotions.

For further details and updates on how SMEs can leverage on SIRC, visit www.sp.edu.sg/sirc.

Infocomm Public Education for SMEs

Nearly three out of five small businesses in Singapore currently have a local area network (LAN) to share information easily and safely amongst the computers in the company. LAN boosts your operations and benefits your business, so start building one today.

Notes:

• This article is contributed by the SME Infocomm Resource Centre@Singapore Polytechnic and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
  
  
• This article first appeared in The Business Times on 15 April 2008 and information is correct at the time of publication.

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