Business Technology Insights

‘It’s in the cloud’ - is one of those statements like ‘just ask Alexa’ that has worked its way into conversations involving day to day use of technology. Depending on how far down the path of creating a smart home you are, you may already have multiple appliances and devices using cloud storage and cloud applications. For example, when you switch from TV and turn on Netflix you are using a cloud-based video streaming service. Or maybe you have a NEST thermostat or camera system connected to a mobile app using the cloud storage and software.

Most businesses in Ontario have been disrupted in some fashion by the current lockdown, whether forced to quickly adapt to remote working or putting a pause on operations altogether, or even having to rapidly scale because of escalating demand.

While we are working from home, getting a workspace environment comfortable and productive is the foundation for successful remote working. Your office space along with the utilization of technology to connect with teams is essential to keeping the engine of your business running.

One of the key measures to flatten the curve of COVID-19 is social distancing. Ontario has enforced social distancing by limiting the number of people gathering to a maximum of five and closing all non-essential businesses.

With governments around the world introducing new measures and restrictions to slow down the spread of COVID-19, companies across Ontario, Canada, are closing their offices and encouraging workers to practice social distancing.

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in non-essential workers in Ontario self-isolating, it’s crucial that your company gives its employees the technology they need to be successful when working from home.

By providing your team with the technologies required for a long-term work-from-home (WFH) strategy, your company will realize the wide number of benefits that come with a remote workforce.

Good communication is crucial to any successful business. That’s why many companies around the world are turning to cloud-based hosted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems to improve both the efficiency of their internal and external communications at a lower cost.

Small and medium-sized businesses in today’s market operate in a highly competitive world. To ensure they delight their customers and offer a superior experience over their competitors, efficiency is key.

Security for small to medium-sized businesses has always been an incredibly important way to protect brand reputation and profits. In the past this security was physical and included locking doors, installing CCTV cameras and hiring security guards - now, however, it’s virtual and an important part of any company’s IT strategy.

According to a report, titled ‘Global Cybersecurity Market - Forecasts from 2019 to 2024’, The global cybersecurity market is expected to achieve a market size of US$244.4 billion in 2024 - up from US$132.8 billion in 2018.

This booming cybersecurity market is a fantastic sign that small and medium-sized businesses are taking the issue seriously.

Whether you are trying to cut your company’s expenses or simply looking to improve visibility into your budget, it pays to know how much your office supplies cost each month.

Did you know, however, that printing expenses from copiers and printers can be one of the largest unmanaged costs for small to medium-sized businesses? In fact, a study from Gartner estimates that organizations spend approximately 1-3 percent of annual revenue on printing - yet 90 percent of North American companies have no idea what their annual printing costs are.