Competing in a 21st century global marketplace

The process of globalisation may have been underway before the internet revolution really kicked into gear, but day-by-day the web is helping to break down geographical boundaries. Without doubt, high-speed broadband has accelerated the pace of change, leaving few businesses and consumers in the developed world unaffected. And slowly but surely, the rest of the world is catching up. Broadband networks are gradually connecting region to region, enabling businesses and consumers – wherever they are located – to plug into the global economy.

Global citizens now have far more than just access to the world wide web. They can use their PCs, laptops and mobile devices for 24/7 communication, networking, e-commerce and media streaming, amongst a multitude of other functions. They can browse goods and services over the internet and then select from a full range of providers, irrespective of their location. Businesses no longer serve just the people based in their immediate vicinity – they can connect with customers all over the world. This has created significant opportunities for companies willing to embrace 21st century business, but also major risks for those unable to come to terms with the technological revolution.

The reward for outward looking businesses, with an eye on international markets, is greater market share and increased profits. But in order to tap into the limitless potential of overseas consumers, they need to start thinking and behaving like a global corporation. This means freeing the business of traditional time and space constraints. Companies need to be ultra-flexible, agile and evolutionary – but most of all, they need to be available and accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. The world of business has changed, and UK enterprises need to move with the times.

The world of business never sleeps

Whether a company is exporting goods and services from a single UK base, or has established fully-fledged international arms, they are subject to the same level of expectation. Businesses need to be borderless and fully accessible wherever a consumer is based, and whatever time of the day or night they wish to establish contact. If they are buying goods and services online, the e-commerce function can handle transactions around the clock – but there is more to business than simply selling goods over the internet or phone.

Business leaders and employees must also be constantly available, whether they are working in key decision making roles, in customer services or operating within the supply chain. Very often, key individuals will be based in different parts of the world across different time zones, and it is vital for them to remain in regular contact. This is where IT – and in particular, productivity suites - can offer assistance.

The emergence of cloud computing has made a big difference to large businesses, in terms of supporting more effective communication and collaboration company-wide. Individuals must be able to share work, files and documents with others located in a different office, and do so in real time. Hosted services this possible, helping to speed up work processes and ensure the different arms of a global business effectively function as part of the collective. Even a small rise in productivity across each individual segment can result in a major stride forward for the organisation as a whole.

Raising productivity with Office 365

If businesses are to maximise the value of their people resources, they need to be willing to engage with IT. Microsoft Office 365 is a valuable tool for businesses as it helps support collaboration in the cloud without compromising business flexibility and agility. This because there is no need for major capital expenditure – as with other hosted services, Office 365 is available on a subscription basis.

End users gain access to familiar productivity and collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Lync, Exchange, and Office Professional Plus, helping to equip business leaders and employees with the tools they need to make a difference, wherever in the world they may be. Users gain anywhere-access to email, documents, contacts, meetings and calendar on nearly any device – a major benefit in the globalised business world of today.

Office 365 also offers a familiar user interface for fast adoption, seamless integration between cloud and on-premises IT, instant messaging integrated with online meetings with audio and video conferencing, and team sites to share documents, task lists, and schedules to keep workgroups in sync. What's more, the service is backed by 24/7, IT-level support over the phone, web or email – meaning any issues can be resolved quickly.

Conclusion

It is often said that time equals money in the world of business, and on most levels, this is true. IT solutions help free people – the thinkers of the organisation – from menial tasks which occupy much of their time. This enables them to concentrate on other more important considerations, such as business strategy, product development and external communication. People remain one of the most valuable resources for companies of all sizes, and how they are deployed is often a key determinant between success and failure.

If businesses want to experience continued success in the 21st century, they simply must maximise the value of their own workforce – and only by utilising IT to its full potential can this be achieved. Computers can do so many things that humans, with the best will in the world, simply cannot – especially in the same time scale. Companies are free to stick to traditional ways of working and communicating, but this approach shuts too many doors. If all your rivals are driving efficiencies and attracting new custom using IT, they will quickly steal a march.