I’m a small business, what’s Web2.0 and Open Source ever done for me?

Over the next few weeks I’ll be working my way through the basis of what has Web2.0 and Open Source ever done for small business. The start off will be the seven generic points I make below. For each of the points I’ll write another piece giving specifics examples. I’d like to present this in some fancy way but to be honest at the moment I’m having a hard time controlling Drupal (as you can probably see from the different text editing).

A quick note on why I grouped together web2.0 and Open source (WOS), I’ve included them both because I believe they go hand in glove, without open source I don’t ever think we’d have seen web2.0 flourish as quickly and in such a large fashion.

So to begin in good old Monty Python fashion, ‘what has web2.0 and open source ever done for us…’:

1 – Before WOS if you wanted an IT application you had to pay significant money for it, normally with an upfront payment that could be several hundred pounds/dollars per user and then you normally have to pay to upgrade and maintain software licences. WOS can provide all the software your business needs and often many applications are provided free of charge, WOS at the moment removes the days of stinging software fees and licences.

2 – And then if you wanted to start using the software in more than just a basic way you normally had to pay a skilled programmer to write bespoke software and then pay retainers to maintain support. WOS is built on usability, and there are many examples of applications built for non technical people to utilise.

3 – WOS greatly expands the ability of business to communicate directly with its customers and suppliers, whether that be through email, voip, video, chat forums, RSS. WOS also reduces the cost of communicating with customers and suppliers.

4 – Want to employ the best talent? Before WOS, business was significantly constricted to employing people within a short travelling distance of an office. Today a business can easily employ and operate on a global basis.

5 – And not only can a business recruit and operate globally it can sell to a global market as well. Your business can phone, send videos, create contacts, use adwords and advertise via blogs to whole new markets.

6 – Given the online nature of WOS your business no longer has to worry so much about IT infrastructure. You don’t have to buy big servers or dedicated Internet pipes into your building. You shouldn’t have to worry so much either about email SPAM or possibly even security.

7 – In summary, given the number of free or low cost applications available today there is no excuse for a small business not to have internal processes supported by the latest IT technology. In fact I’d go as far to say that within a month your business could be using IT more efficiently and effectively than most Fortune 500 companies, best of all without paying the multi-million bills.