In his third and final article, Andrew Grill*, Telstra’s manager, emarket development, offers some predictions about the impact of the internet on small business
I thought I would share with you some predictions for the future beyond what we know today. Much of this hasn’t even happened in the US, but given what is available now, and what is just around the corner, the future is not that far away!
It is an accepted fact that Australia is about 12-18 months behind the US in the development and adoption of ecommerce. In the future we will see this gap narrow, as Australian businesses take up ecommerce services at an exponential rate, and demand more online solutions to improve their business efficiency.
The internet will no longer seem foreign, or a competitive advantage as we will all be using it – it will become a ubiquitous tool just like the telephone.
As anyone can set up on the internet – the head start that you have now may all but disappear.
One identity fits all
Individual phone numbers and email addresses will be
gone from business cards – instead a single identity
such as a photo, symbol, logo or phrase will instantly
connect us 1 on 1 or 1 to many instantly. We may
“connect” to another person – or machine via voice, send
picture or transfer information.
3G personal communicators
We will see huge advances in the area of mobility. 3G or
third generation mobiles will allow you to access many
different services, even live video from your personal
communications device (it may not be called a mobile
phone any more as it will perform many more functions
than a standard telephone). Your 3G device will become
your personal communicator through which all information
will be sent and received.
PCs will become faster, but will contain little onboard software – the majority of it being rented from an Application Service Provider.
Global broadcasting will be the norm – webcasting may replace regular TV and we will demand more detailed information on everything we see, even while being entertained.
In short we will be able to connect anyone, anywhere, anyhow.
How might a small business benefit?
I’d like to close off with a futuristic example of how a
small business might use all of the things I have spoken
about today.
For example, if your business provides a service – let’s say a plumbing service, have you considered the efficiencies in allowing your clients to book you online?
By sharing your appointment book online (not the customer names – but just your availability) this would allow you to concentrate on what you do best, and streamline the administration of your business.
Take this one step further, and imagine if you were able to take your PC into the field with you – and it was permanently connected to the online appointment book.
As the jobs came in, the system would organise the jobs in a way that makes sense, and allow travelling time to each job. As you finish a job, you would enter the details in your communicator, and the financial information (including tax invoice) would be produced on the spot and would also update your accountant’s records online.
You would also receive the next job on your communicator – in a similar way the taxis despatch jobs. Does this seem a bit far out? ….
Well right now in America, the Coca Cola drivers all have a “ruggedised” PC – this is a tablet about the size of an A4 page, a bit like a big Palm Pilot, connected via wireless technologies to the internet where they receive scheduling and job information. They can even browse the web and check email while mobile. If it is happening in America – it can’t be too far away from being a reality here.
Connecting is just the start
As the whole of the business community comes online, and
is permanently connected, the opportunities to interact,
transact and share information will increase
exponentially. Connection is just the start – like the
opening of a new road. The value will come from the
smart applications and services that are provided on the
road – in this case the internet.
So what should you be doing now to take advantage of the efficiencies that will come through eCommerce? And what does it mean for your business?
You have taken the first step - in being connected, and being open to new ideas – such as web casts like this.
You might like to earmark some of next year’s budget to test and trial some of these new ideas. How about renting an application online for a month, experiment with a web site for your business and trial some collaborative tools?
You may like to take this further and offer your goods or services online at a trading hub. Most of all, you need to be informed, be prepared for change and embrace it!
I’m online myself and I can be contacted at the web link below. I look forward to seeing you all online in the near future.
*Andrew Grill is manager, emarket development,
eWorks - Telstra Convergent Business.