Tech trends: the year of the cloud

There’s an awful lot of hype around about cloud computing, but so far very little take-up. Research by Optus shows that only four per cent of small businesses use cloud solutions in their business.

But experts say 2012 will be the year small businesses truly embrace this new technology model.

Rhys Evans from IT consultancy Thomas Duryea says one of the reasons why 2012 will be the year of the cloud for small businesses is because computer hardware increasingly comes with cloud-based applications installed.

“These days when you buy a laptop or a phone, cloud-based applications like Google Apps and Dropbox are already installed,” says Evans.

Another trend Evans thinks will characterise 2012 is the adoption of mobile payment systems by small businesses.
“We will start to see an increasing nu ... Read More

Better get a lawyer for your Facebook page

There are many grey areas around the legal risks attached to social media use in business. But, say experts, the key to reducing these risks is a robust social media policy and thorough staff training.

Adam Franklin, marketing manager of web strategy company Bluewire Media, says social media risk mitigation starts with training staff about appropriate use of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

“It’s also essential as the business owner, you have access to the enterprise’s social media accounts and all the passwords that relate to them so you can change them and access the accounts if you need to,” he says.

Franklin says it’s also important to have a plan in place so that if something does go wrong, for example if a blogger posts negative informat ... Read More

Do research before buying property in a mining town

Property prices in mining towns across the country have skyrocketed as demand outstrips supply. But it pays to do thorough research before exchanging contracts to make sure you’re not left holding a worthless asset when the boom goes off the boil.

Terry Ryder, founder of the property research web site hotspotting.com.au says when it comes to investing in mining towns, it’s all about acknowledging the risks involved.

“There are opportunities and people have made money. But the risk factor is high. Often you’re talking about single industry and sometimes single company towns. When bad economic times hit, it can devastate small mining communities,” he says.

Ryder cites the twin towns of Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe in Western Australia as an example. BHP Billiton opened a $2 billion nickel mine ou ... Read More

Snag Stand cooking up a storm

Snag Stand is a new busiess that sells gourmet sausages in buns to stressed out shoppers and business-types. It’s a business that provokes a ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ response.

Philip Blanco, who came to Australia in 1996 from the US after rolling out Gloria Jeans stores around the world, including the first Middle Eastern store in Dubai in 1995, came up with the idea for Snag Stand after observing the great Aussie barbie.

He says “when I first came here people would invite me to barbecues and a mandatory item was the sausage. I couldn’t understand the attraction to what seemed to me to be a bland, greasy ordinary sausage. But they were everywhere, at school fetes, at Bunnings, and any time sausages were being grilled people were Zombi-like in their emotional reaction – they just had to ... Read More

Navigating Sino business practices

As an exporter, it’s easy to think that successfully entering the Chinese market is a one-way ticket to millionaire status. But there is a range of hoops to jump through before a business can sell its products and services into the Chinese market. It pays to have access to in-country expert resources and advice to pave the way.

A veteran of the increasingly well-trodden trade route between Australia and China is BioProspect’s chief operating officer, Peter May. BioProspect develops and distributes natural products for humans and animals, including cosmetics, animal health products and natural pesticides.

May says when distributing products throughout Asia it’s important to understand that “every country is different. The Chinese market is very heavily regulated and you need t ... Read More