Technology Solutions That Amplify Your Image

Small businesses look to technology as a primary vehicle to both appear and operate on par with larger organizations, according to market research firm Warrillow & Co. Once reserved for enterprise-grade corporations, software manufacturers and service providers are now creating affordable products specifically tailored toward small businesses. Best Buy Co., Inc.’s (NYSE:BBY) Best Buy For Business group has compiled a list of recommendations for small businesses to look like big businesses and operate with the same degree of sophistication, without breaking the bank. Accessibility, infrastructure and software can convey the professionalism of a much larger organization, where process and customer service options are an expectation. Regardless of whether it has only a few or even one employee, a business can run smoothly and efficiently by using technology to keep in touch with customers and automate business processes. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an example of a technology that combines accessibility, infrastructure and software to allow for a more professional business experience for customers. Customer-facing touch points are the most important areas a company can improve upon to provide a service experience similar to a larger company. VoIP service is the next evolution of efficient and cost-effective business communication that offers voice dialing and menu options. Ballast Realty Group, a Boston-based residential real estate brokerage with five employees, uses technology to increase its reach. The company uses Speakeasy, a Best Buy company, for VoIP for its real estate agents to keep in constant contact through a feature that enables incoming calls to ring to a primary phone and up to five additional phones, one after another simultaneously. "Real estate is a business of opportunity. If a client calls and doesn't get an answer, that's a lost opportunity for us,” said Megan Kopman, founding principal, Ballast Realty Group. "With Speakeasy VoIP, our clients always get service in real-time, whether it's during business hours or not. Our transaction volume has skyrocketed because our small staff is out selling, acting like a staff of 20, instead of sitting in their offices checking voicemail and waiting for people to call in.” Best Buy For Business’s field technology consultants, who advise businesses daily, offer several more tips to help to augment a company’s perceived size and services, allowing it to compete on a larger scale. Cellular aircards: A cellular aircard or cellular broadband gives a business user the ability to connect a notebook to a high speed Internet connection wherever a cellular connection is available. This alleviates the need to find a wireless hot spot to be able to work remotely. VoIP: Communication services such as VoIP can give a business many options such as call forwarding and automatic messaging. VoIP providers such as Speakeasy also offer features such as phone messages forwarded as e-mail attachments. Storage and backup: As computer file sizes continue to get larger, having enough storage to maintain data is important. Business data should also be backed up and secure to avoid potential catastrophes. While hardware can be replaced, data not properly backed-up can never be recovered. External hard drives are priced lower than ever with a high volume of storage available. Businesses can also add another layer of security by storing data off-site or online. Remote access: Accessibility is the cornerstone of client service. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) allow employees to connect securely and privately to the company network to access files while away from the office. Accounting software: Software packages, once the domain of large scale operations, are now available to fit within most budgets. Using software such as Intuit’s QuickBooks allow businesses to easily and efficiently manage their payroll, tax, and accounting functions. Web site: A professional Web site can be created with minimal investment using products like Microsoft Office Live that offer templates and collaboration tools. At the same time, an email address with the company’s domain rather than a free service can speak volumes about a company’s legitimacy in the eyes of a potential customer. "Our Best Buy For Business staff is working with small businesses across the country to develop strategies for using technology to compete nationally against much larger companies,” said David Hemler, president of Best Buy For Business. "With the proper technology, software and processes in place, the playing field is leveled.” Best Buy For Business brings the best of Best Buy to business, education and government customers in order to power their success through simplified and accessible technology solutions. Customers can engage Best Buy For Business by identifying themselves as a business customer with any Best Buy employee around the country, with a specialized Best Buy For Business associate in more than 200 U.S. stores, via the web at www.bbfb.com, and over the phone at 1-877-393-1038. Beginning this month, business customers can look for business-grade products in select Best Buy stores in the U.S. with the label "Professional Series” and access the Best Buy For Business™ Reward Zone® program. The Best Buy For Business Reward Zone program allows business customers the ability to earn more than twice as many reward points, depending on their level of spending, as Best Buy’s traditional Reward Zone program. This program extends across all of the Best Buy For Business sales channels, allowing customers to earn points on almost any purchase, gaining them reward certificates that they can later redeem for discounts on future purchases. About Best Buy Co., Inc. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through approximately 1,200 retail stores across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com), Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn) and Speakeasy (Speakeasy.net). Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.