If the COVID-19 pandemic hit 15 years ago, think about how many more thousands of small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) would have been forced to shut down.
Technology has made it possible for many SMBs to survive the disruption caused by the pandemic. Organizations have been able to shift to remote working, access data and applications through the cloud, use video for collaboration and business development, and offer their services virtually. The infrastructure of 15 years ago could not have handled such high demand.
Organizations that have already begun the process of digital transformation (DX) were in a better position to adapt to sudden changes brought on by the pandemic and are wisely accelerating their DX initiatives. These efforts will help SMBs remain viable in a volatile business climate. The primary reason for embracing DX, according to a 2020 Techaisle survey of SMBs, is the need to be more cost-efficient. Other top drivers include supporting innovation, optimizing operations, driving business growth and increasing productivity.
Down to the Core
Core infrastructure investments are often needed to support DX. Not only do servers, storage, networking, and security infrastructure provide a solid foundation for DX, but they also must be aligned with company goals, processes, and technology demands, now and in the future. This will ensure that infrastructure investments deliver the greatest value across the organization.
However, the Techaisle survey found that 27 percent of SMBs are delaying their DX investments and shifting those funds to immediate capital and operational expenses that they have deemed more essential. With tight budgets and ongoing challenges caused by COVID-19, SMBs need to invest their IT dollars wisely to capitalize on the short-term and long-term benefits of DX.
While cost reduction and efficiency must be factored into these decisions, organizations need to think strategically. How can you use technology to improve every customer interaction and the overall customer experience? How can you improve service delivery in an increasingly digital and mobile world? How can technology enable the development of innovative solutions and business processes? How can you overcome modern security threats and quickly adapt to unexpected crises to ensure business continuity?
HPE Small Business Solutions
HPE Small Business Solutions for Small Office Deployment can help you advance your DX initiatives with tested, validated infrastructure that’s simple to set up and manage. These solutions allow you to provide customers with fast, secure Wi-Fi and app-enabled services such as ordering, payment and account management. Microsoft Windows Server Remote Desktop Service (RDS) allows employees to remotely access data and applications on a secure, central server.
With HPE Small Business Solutions for Small Office Deployment, you essentially get an “office-in-a-box” that’s sized for your organization. For example, the medium configuration is ideal for organizations with a single site and up to 25 concurrent users with about 50 devices. The large configuration can support one or more sites with up to 100 concurrent users, offering expanded storage and HPE StoreEasy 1460 for file sharing and backup.
Both solutions feature HPE ProLiant Gen 10 Servers, Aruba switches and wireless access points, and optional HPE RDX Removable Disk Backup for backup and disaster recovery. All configurations are hybrid cloud-ready, allowing you to back up date on-premises or in the cloud.
Instead of using the pandemic as an excuse to put off DX, consider it a wakeup call that reinforces the need to incorporate technology into every business process and customer interaction. Contact Verteks to learn how HPE Small Business Solutions for Small Office Deployment can provide you with the core infrastructure you need to succeed, regardless of what lies ahead.
