Operating a competitive business in today’s world is seemingly more complicated than ever. New processes are constantly being developed and integrated, hourly insights and analytics are available for analysis, and even your current method of keeping track of stock is becoming obsolete. But how effective are all these new methods and processes?

The global pandemic in 2020 has caused a global shift to remote and hybrid work as well as a transition to online or cloud-based solutions, forcing companies to quickly pivot the way they operate without the luxury of careful preparation. Where most companies saw crises, cybercriminals saw opportunities and cybersecurity startups saw growth potentials.

Textbooks can only give the bare bones of a successful business strategy. Whether you’re a global corporate or solo freelancer building a brand, accounting, budgets and forecasts will make or break a venture but not faster than a deficit of passion to make an idea a reality. Above all else, it’s the execution that separates what’s ‘just’ a good idea and the startups which will become category winners.

The environment and sustainability are hot topics; after last year’s COP26, these issues have been supercharged to the front of government and almost every business agenda. Employees, customers and the supply chain now expect companies they work for and with to consider their impact on the environment.  So, can the way we use IT and technology in general help businesses become more environmentally friendly? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’.

The last couple of years have been tough for businesses. But those that have been able to demonstrate resilience have been best placed to survive, and in many cases even grow, despite the challenging circumstances. Here Alison Watson, Head of the School of Leadership and Management at Arden University, explores how SMEs can ensure resilience drives them towards success throughout 2022.

When starting a business, the culture you want to create is likely to be one of the first things you talk about; it’s an essential ingredient in building a team of people who hold the same principles and will work to achieve common goals. But it’s all too easy to let that culture slip down the priority list as your business grows. Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital, explains why it should always be top of the agenda.

An understandable lack of confidence has gripped most sectors across markets globally over the past two years, given the combined weight of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the pressure this applied to an already-strained global supply chain. More than ever, businesses have been challenged to perform even their critical operations, in the face of rising costs and uncertain reliability of their modes of supply.

The dust has settled on the new year. Employees are over the January slump and everyone is caught up on any work that had fallen by the wayside ahead of the festive break. Businesses are in a position to think clearly about how they want to succeed in 2022 and with the worst of the pandemic well behind us, organisations are now beginning to invest in technology solutions that can help them remain innovative and agile.

Welcome to a new series of articles aimed at helping entrepreneurs and founders to start and scale a business. In this series we will be going back to basics and examining some of the questions and areas of concern that many founders or would be founders have. Whilst ‘basic’, nevertheless these topics can be fundamental to setting an early-stage business on the right track for success.

All across Britain, the self-starter movement is gathering momentum with people starting side hustles, their own small business or turning their passion project into an income. Research done by OnePoll in collaboration with Mettle last year found that passion (35%), ambition (34%) and hobbies (33%) are the most popular reasons for starting a side hustle. In fact, almost two thirds (64%) say they regret not starting their side hustle sooner.

Whether the offering of your startup is an eco-friendly product or range of products or whether, as a new business, you are all too well-aware that potential customers will be expecting your eco credentials to be sound, it might be that you feel baffled and confused by all the eco-friendly and environmental terminology you see being bandied about. And you are not alone.

The well-being of employees is crucial. Improper care for staff can impact their performance and can have harmful effects within a company.

Talent is a vital resource for the success of any business. Today, in any successful growth strategy, technology must be at the forefront. However, the reality is, attracting, developing and retaining talent that can support this growth is one the biggest issues facing any business due to the simple fact that technology is always evolving and there will always be a gap between demand for the latest technology and the skills to fulfill it.

Starting a business can be difficult at the best of times, but creating a hardware product often adds a level of difficulty in, especially when it comes to manufacturing this product. There is a lot riding on the stage when you take your product from design to production and it can be one of the most difficult transitions.

A constant challenge for IT leaders is ensuring they see an appropriate return on investment from their Software Asset Management (SAM) programme. So, what can businesses do to ensure their SAM spend is providing adequate value as a result of improved decision making, cost savings and software licence compliance? Furthermore, when is it best to outsource SAM and licensing tasks, and what tasks should be maintained by automated SAM technology or an in-house team?

The BBC recently reported that, as of the end of November 2021, more than six million people were waiting for routine operations in the UK.  This was the first time this figure had been hit in the history of the NHS and demonstrated the scale of the backlog in routine operations caused by the COVID-19 health crisis and its knock-on effect on the wellbeing of the nation.

When you're starting a new business, there are many things to think about. You have to create a product that people want, market it effectively, and establish partnerships with other companies. But one thing that's often overlooked is the importance of cybersecurity. 

Having decided whether to start your entrepreneurial journey as a sole founder or as a co-founder you will then be able to properly develop your idea and your business.  Whatever your business plans and structure, and whatever your ultimate aims are with regard to scaling your business, there will always be many different tasks to be attended to and the smaller the business and the fewer the resources the harder this can be.

Establishing your startup online is an exciting time. You’re proud of what you’ve accomplished and you want to share your business with the world. However, sometimes the reality of doing so can feel a little bit overwhelming - particularly if you’re tech-savvy.

Gone are the days of simple case studies presented with before and after stats, and just a quote from a client. Digital marketing has improved in leaps and bounds, and so have the ways case studies are created and presented to prospects in order to convert them into customers.