IT and e-commerce are now an integral part of most businesses. Whether it comes to basic admin, ordering supplies or paying staff, IT skills are a must for any successful business owner. However, getting things right isn’t always easy.
What systems should you have in place? How do you know what’s right for you? Where you can you brush up on your basic knowledge to make sure you are steering your business in the right direction?
This guide will help you access the resources you need to get the basics right and to move your business forward from there.
IT and e-commerce – what does it mean?
If you are completely new to the topic of IT and e-commerce you might not know where to start. Our overview of IT and e-commerce will give you an initial insight into what it takes to set up your first IT system as well as how to manage it. It will also cover how to start up in e-commerce and how to abide by related regulations.
Using IT in your business
Many business owners have trouble deciding on the right IT products and are unsure how to access the right solution for their business. This is a common problem and our guide to making the right IT choices is here to help. It explains the different ways of acquiring both hardware and software and also runs you through IT maintenance.
When you decide to invest in IT you will want to use your new equipment or software to its full potential. Make sure you get the most from IT in your business by reading our guide covering IT strategy, efficiency and how to measure success.
If your IT system is already up and running then you need to ensure that you have the right security in place to protect both your hardware and the data it contains. The security of business IT systems has never been more important as businesses rely more and more on IT to underpin their activities which makes them increasingly vulnerable to threats from hackers or viruses. Our guide to IT security will help you understand the measures you can take to make sure that both your data and your equipment stay secure.
There may well be other IT related issues you are facing, please visit the IT and e-commerce section of our information library to view all topics covered.
Getting to grips with e-commerce
In basic terms, e-commerce means the selling or buying of goods or services over the internet. Whilst this may sound easy, there are a number of things you should be aware of before going ahead and getting started. Make sure you take a look at our guide to planning for e-commerce to ensure you know the basics and give yourself a head start.
Setting up an online shop can be a challenge. Where do you start the planning process? Which laws do you need to be aware of? What are the common pitfalls? Read our guide to creating an online shop to answer these questions and point you in the right direction.
If you are planning to sell your goods or services online one of the most important things to know about is how to accept card payments online. Our guide cuts through the jargon and explains the best online payment options as well as the processes you need to go through to set them up.
The IT and e-commerce section of our information library contains much more related information, why not take a look?
Find the right training course
Many business owners feel the need to update their own or their staff’s IT skills as their business develops and the need to use IT solutions increases. Finding out what types of training courses are available and who provides them in your area can seem like hard work but our skills brokerage service is here to help.
A skills broker can help you analyse which skills you need in your business and point you towards a training course that is right for you and your circumstances. Depending on eligibility criteria there may even be funding available to help you towards the costs.
We all know that life can get in the way of being able to commit to regular course hours. Work commitments or looking after the children can make it harder to find a course that is flexible enough to suit your needs. E-courses offer a solution to this dilemma allowing you to study at your own pace, when and where you want. Visit the learndirect website for an overview of computer and software related courses.
Further information
If you would like to find out more about any of the topics above why not give us a call?
Business Link Northwest is your free to use, independent business support and information service. Our business brokers will be able to point you in the right direction for free expert advice and guidance, call us now on 0845 00 66 888 or use our contact us form.