va) oaelee =n Tiel] = HELPFUL HINTS FROM EXPERTS Technology Is Your Best New Employee by Jane Applegate (NAPSA)—Companies hesitant to increase staff to help grow a small business can consider adding a new hire that will never be late, call in sick or ask for a raise. Sound too good to be true? Not if that new hire is innovative and affordable telecommunications technology. There’s never been a better time Applegate eee. to invest in productivity-boosting telecom products and services. Perhaps best ofall, well-known companies like Sprint are focusing their efforts on helping small businesses cut costs while expanding operations. Many workers are demanding the freedom and flexibility that mobile communications technology offers. A wireless connection card, for instance, allows any employee with a laptop to set up shop virtually anywhere—from a ient’s office to an urban coffee shop. Wireless connectivity can provide rapid access to the Internet, email and company databases. Salespeople with wireless connection cards in their laptops, for example, can submit new orders from the field, speeding up delivery and improving customer service. There are also a variety of portable “smart devices,” such as palmOne’s best-selling Treo 600, that allow users to make phone calls, keep calendar and contact information, retrieve and send email messages, browse the Web andtake digital photos. Many small business owners I’ve interviewed use the digital cameras in their wireless phones to provide ients continuous progress reports from construc- tion sites. Others send colleagues digital images to share the excitement of a trade show or industry conference. Business owners now have the option to bundle their communications services together to receive significant discounts. Many companies offer attractive rates for local, long distance, high-speed Internet connection and wireless services. And there may be volume discount plans on your wireless phones. When choosing a communications provider, make sure the company provides “business ass” customer service. I mentioned earlier how big companies are now focusing on small business. Firms such as Sprint recognize how busy small business ownersare andoffer dedicated reps that can help streamline your account and billing options— look for this type of service when possible. It’s so mucheasier to deal with one provider rather than hassling with multiple companies, especially when your time is so valuable. e Jane Applegate is one of America’s most respected small business experts and author of four books, inuding The Entrepreneur’s Desk Reference, published by Bloomberg Press.
