Top SMB challenges for 2009: Cisco

BANGALORE, INDIA: Here, R. Dhamodaran, Senior Vice President, Channel Operations and Commercial Strategy, Cisco India & SAARC, shares his views on the top challenges that SMBs are likely to face during 2009.

Technology awareness: Although, SMBs in India view technology as a driver for increasing efficiencies and global competitiveness, its role as a strategic business tool is still undervalued and there exists an awareness gap in terms of how IT can  be leveraged as a strategic business tool.

Financing options: SMBs are more value conscious than price conscious as they focus on getting ROI over a shorter period of time. They are also constrained by not having enough resources to invest upfront. 

Obsolete technology: Most SMBs cannot regularly afford to upgrade their existing systems and continue using obsolete technology. 

Owner led: Several small businesses are owner led and usually do not have the ability to hire the right staff with appropriate training to manage their technology infrastructure

Speedy access to data: Having constant, secure access to customer information helps workers better serve customers. And satisfied customers often result in increased revenues.

Effective communication: With enhanced communications, a company can more easily expand globally. A secure voice/data network foundation helps check e-mail, voice mail, and faxes from one inbox. Employees can hold impromptu meetings online with colleagues, partners, suppliers, and customers with a single phone number.

Ensuring competitive quality: In comparison to larger players with larger operational scale.

Lack of standardized processes: For businesses that aspire to be global, they have to have the right kind of process standardization that their global partners would require; this would include ensuring that their IT infrastructure is open standards based.