By Natalia Olson-Urtecho
Using digital tools, small businesses today can offer customized delivery options for customers and manage employee payroll with a swipe of a screen or click of a button. “Smart” tools are helping small employers compete with big firms, churning up dollars that stay on Main Street and spurring local economies.
Whether small firms are selling quilts or cloud solutions, businesses need access to digital tools and capabilities to be competitive. Integrating the right technology for your small business in today’s modern economy can be challenging, but it is also increasingly essential. The good news is you don’t need to go it alone.
Recently, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will make digital tools and resources available to America’s entrepreneurs through a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with tech giants like Amazon, Box, Facebook, LegalZoom, Microsoft, Salesforce and Zenefits. We at SBA understand the importance of providing streamlined systems and platforms to small firms to navigate the digital landscape to innovate and propel the economy forward. Through SBA’s “Small Business Tech Coalition small firms now have access to explore and rethink online commerce and payment platforms, efficiency of back-office operations, productivity solutions, cybersecurity protection and improvements in customer service and shopping experiences.
This coalition will also cover topics important to entrepreneurs through educational offerings and sharing sessions. These sessions will address timely small business topics like cyber security, social media marketing, brand awareness, mobile content management, productivity solutions, online/ecommerce, mobility and field operations and payments in a digital and sharing economy.
This is just a small sampling of what’s to come. The bottom line is that America’s small businesses now have a streamlined interface to connect to innovative technology platforms, digital education, and enterprise training. Now it’s easier than ever to join the movement and go digital!
Natalia Olson
About the Author
Natalia Olson-Urtecho is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. She oversees the delivery and management of the SBA’s services to small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
