Many small business owners and operators still view computers as nothing more than an unavoidable cost of doing business. This mindset is a leftover from the days when computers were used for little more than accounting.

However, today’s most successful and fastest growing companies recognize that information technology provides a myriad of opportunities to improve the bottom line. Whether through increased sales or reduced expenses, computers have become a primary means to increase profitability.

The incredibly fast evolution of the Internet and its related technologies over the last number of years has exponentially accelerated this trend, as it has extended the potential applications of computing beyond the office walls. Information technology can now be applied to all areas of business operations, from sales and marketing to production, fulfillment and after-sales service.

The Internet has spawned a whole new set of marketing-related industries, products and strategies that did not even exist ten years ago. Company web sites, search engine optimization, banner ads and pay-per-click advertising are some examples of new marketing approaches that are direct offshoots of the Internet.

The sales process has been revolutionized by CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, the most popular being salesforce.com which is now boasting over 1,000,000 users. The web-based delivery of many CRM solutions and the subscription-based payment model make these solutions affordable and available to organizations of all sizes.

While production and order fulfillment remain cost centres, companies of all sizes are now using computers to streamline operations and increase productivity. Furthermore, an increasing number of companies are starting to use the Internet to collaborate with customers during the production and order fulfillment processes. By engaging with the customer in a productive manner during the fulfillment process, companies are creating closer relationships with their customers, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

After-sales service is recognized as the area with the most potential to create satisfied, repeat customers. Service solutions, both internal and customer-facing, can be used to create a level of unparalleled after-sales service that can effectively separate an organization from its competition.

Today's successful companies are those that recognize the potential of computers and carefully select those technologies that offer the highest return on investment. Those companies that continue to ignore this potential will quickly be left in their dust.


Datapro Technology Solutions is an IT consulting firm that helps small and medium-sized businesses get the most from their investments in technology.

To find out more about the services we provide and how we might be able to help your business, visit our web site at dataproforbusiness.com or give us a call at 416-977-1991.