Working away from the office is a fact of life for many small business owners. In fact, Telstra’s recent Out of Office National survey found that many Australian small business owners work away from their base for 20 hours or more a week. While it’s concerning that of the over 1,000 Australian small business owners surveyed:
- 76% were unable to access business critical files and data while traveling;
- 36% believed they could run their business more efficiently if they had access to better technology;
- Over 40% said their business’ ability to expand was hampered while they were on the road, as there was no-one to replace them; and
- 37 % were so focused on the day-to-day running of their business that at times they felt frustrated by the amount of time they spend in the office,
there is good news. It’s intrinsic to the nature of small and micro businesses that they’ll always have key person issues, but even if you spend a substantial amount of time out of the office, it’s not only possible to manage your business, but to continue to grow it remotely.
The key is to use current and emerging technology, such as cloud-based solutions, to work smarter – not harder.
The overarching benefit of using cloud-based solutions is that they enable you to take your files and data with you, wherever and whenever you travel. Any software that runs on a computer can be run on the cloud; and as HerBusiness Advisory Board Member Julie Wise explains, the advantages of cloud computing for small businesses include reduced costs, easy servicing and the latest technology. According to John Boniciolli, Telstra’s Executive Director for Small Business, using the right technology to work remotely is now an essential tool of the trade for small businesses in Australia.
“Mobility is no longer a preference for any business,” he said. “It is a key requirement to remain competitive.”
With a national reach of over 20,000 businesswomen and female entrepreneurs located in urban, regional and remote areas across Australia, the ABN is well aware of the issues and opportunities associated with running a small or micro business remotely. With the right devices and right connections, you can work anytime, anywhere and never miss a business opportunity, so in partnership with Telstra, we’ve launched our “I’m Inspiringly Productive” photo contest for community members. We would love you to upload a photo of your “anytime/anywhere” workplace, to be in the running to win a Samsung Galaxy Note tablet and a Telstra Mobile Wi-Fi 4G Device (with 12 GB of data to use across a 12 month period), valued at $1,300. “Happy snapping” and good luck!
