In this festival of lights, where good takes over evil, friends and family get together, a spirit of happiness, let's collaborate and make this place a happier one. Where, everyone is connected, on top of things, and there is no doubt, no confusion only transparency and simple working to make more time for ourselves, rejoice and a more efficient us.

SMEs occupy an important and strategic place in the economic growth and equitable development of our country. Looking into the challenges SMEs are facing today and finding solutions that fit them best is really something to think about.

Technology has changed a lot over the past decade. Even then, when we look at how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use technology, there has been only a limited, ad hoc adoption of it. Accessing technology and maintaining competitiveness is indeed one of the most formidable problems faced by the SMEs today.

Besides these, the reasons for the inability of SMEs to identify their technology needs are:  Low funds, poor adaptability to changing trends, avoid risk, non-availability of technically trained resources (in some places), lack of management skills, and lack of access to technological information.

In one of the blogs, it spoke of the challenges that SMEs face today, where it said to be primarily in the area of ICT and to quote specifically, ERP. The SMEs lament that whenever they approached the usual ERP firms, the first question they were faced with was that of their turn-over (they are quoted ERP package rates based on their turnover!). Further, most do not even qualify to be served by these firms since they don’t measure up in terms of turn-over. It is quite an eye-opener and a revelation to the fact that SME’s spending on IT is only 30 percent of India’s overall IT spending.

If we make available to SMEs customized solutions that they can use easily, that fits into their business their way and is available to them at a cost they can afford so that, they can focus on more productive tasks. Then, it will certainly be a game changing proposition.

TaskTrek is one such proposition to help management, managers and executives of any SME manage their day-to-day work related communication and information in a streamlined, consistent and organized manner. It’s basically a one stop solution or a complete communication suite that helps in bringing together the team of any organization to interact, share, discuss, manage, and track from one common place, thereby cutting email clutter, lapses or chaos related to business communication.

Though communication has become lot easier with the advent of technology, opening many channels to communicate, but on the hindsight it has also led to problems related to email clutter, scattered information and spam mails.

Say, a public relations specialist can send tens or thousands of press releases to a targeted group of journalists with a simple click. This practice, however, has given rise to press release spam, meaning that journalists are more likely to press the delete key before even opening the message. It is very common problem.

It’s time that we start using one collaborative platform instead of relying on multiple softwares to communicate; create project or task folders to group all related communications and information; be more human, responsive in our engagements with our key stakeholders instead of mass mail; making heavy file sharing lot easier through generating link & password to avoid clogging recipients inbox are some really simple and very useful features in TaskTrek to help you communicate better and expect more positive outcome.

The sad reality is that most of us have no clue of the cutting edge technology available to us.

Using what technology for business communication and information management, or customized ERP like solution should ideally not rest upon on IT department and business managers alone. Infact, the end users should be proactively engaged in the discussions to understand the implications of adopting a new technological solution.

SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) models, meaning the end user is free to use the service from anywhere. SaaS provider such as TaskTrek, can be accessed via a web browser (even on mobile) and is a paid on subscription basis (Quarterly or yearly). The truth is that there has been a considerable shift across the globe from traditional software models. Without internet, no business is possible these days. So basically, adopting a solution like this will not only be faster and cost effective way to getting implemented but eliminate those headaches to do with managing hardware and software, hiring IT team and upfront investment in servers or software licensing. Since the software application is delivered as a service, there is better quality and personalized customer service and experience.

The bottom line is every key stakeholder of the organization should have the basic understanding of new technology before being adopted and what it means to the organization. Moving to SaaS model is really no longer an option but has become an accepted standard of doing things.

One of the main reason why there is lack of awareness about technologies for SMEs is because the target market that comprises of small businesses is extremely difficult to reach to and to market to. This gets even more difficult when the company trying to market is a young start-up and the customers are "S" in SMB. These customers have very different kind of requirements. They look for simple solutions that are not very expensive and easy to use with local support model and not the ones that come with enterprise grade features such as Gantt charts and milestone reports, etc.

The SME can be a service provider like a PR agency, an ad agency, a media agency, a law firm, a firm of a chartered accountants or an event management agency. It can also be a manufacturing or distribution company for metals, plastics, food material; a sales or direct selling agency or real estate owner / builder or corporation. Irrespective, which industry, every SME does require a solution to have more seamless communication within the organizational hierarchies, a more transparent system of working and a focused team. This demand is inevitable when the industry or segment is highly driven by communications, more so in service industry.

It is easier for service providers to reach out to the SMEs in service industry as the target audience is mostly B2C and high on communications. Where it is important to keep all communication docked in a single place for later reference.

SME Market in India is too big to be ignored for any B2B service provider today. One has to find unique ways to reach them, and cater to their unique demands.

What managers do more than anything else is communicate;
Improve communications and you improve performance.

•        What information needs to flow in and out of the project?

•        Who needs what information?

•        When is the information needed?

•        What is the format of the information?

•        Who will be responsible for transmitting and providing the information?

•        Where is the information stored?

Above are some basic guidelines managers need to follow in any business to ensure effective communication. If these are in place, then there is smooth communication flow in the organization. Most of the times, there are gaps in addressing them and therefore, leading to improper communication, lack of information and complicated crisis situations.

Improper communication management can hit any business, small or big.  Entrepreneurs of SMEs may think they have an edge over larger companies because of their small, warm and well-knit pool of resources but the impacts are daring when the situation goes out of hand. Effective communication is an essential part of a smoothly running business organization.

This realization in itself is the key to a successful business. So, a visionary thinker will really try to bridge the gap in the best possible way to allow seamless communication, marry communication with information for ace collaboration in the organization and save time spent by resources on replication.

In the modern organisation of today, there are multi-channel flows of communication. Business communication was limited to paper-work, telephone calls etc. But now with advent of technology, we have cell phones, video conferencing, emails, satellite communication to support business communication. The more channels to communicate; there are more chances of information getting scattered. No doubt it’s the fastest way to reach but with high probabilities of risk.  SMEs really need to be aware when it comes to communication through multi channels and free wares:-email accounts, social media, chat, sms and other modes.

So, the effectiveness of communication really depends on the quality medium. Grouping all internal communication and external communication in one place, to the projects or activities they belong to. All information shared in the communication also grouped into consistent folders under the projects or activities they belong. So that, there is no room for multiple communication softwares or storage places when you need the information or tracking the conversation you last had with your colleague related to client project.

When you are small, it is fairly easy to manage all communications and information at work but as you grow, it goes out of hands. More work, means more emails, more communication and messages. The effectiveness of communication also depends on any distracting 'noise' that prevent the message from effectively getting through. For example, if the recipient receives lots of e-mail messages, they may fail to give proper attention to the sender's message. Entrepreneurs should invest in solutions and that help avoid email clutter for better communication management.

As smaller companies grow into mid-sized companies and larger, the number of resources increase and so does the levels of hierarchy. Greater the number of levels, the more difficult is the job of managing the organization. Communication here plays a very important role in process of directing and controlling the people in the organization. Communication gaps should not occur in any organization. Effective communication is essential for success and growth of an organization. Having said that, at every stage of your business there is a need to get organized and work smarter by optimizing talent & technology, even when you are small and as you grow into mid-sized and then into a large outfit.

The basic functions of management (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Controlling) cannot be performed well without effective communication. Taking stock of communications and information alone is not the only challenge for any manager of a SME but managing the business in entirety. Communication and information management is the fuel to any project management and happy employees of a business ship.

The goal is really is to convey a message to another person successfully without there being any confusion about what you mean. Misunderstandings occur all of the time and some people are easily offended. It is important to be aware of issues that might arise with attitudes and the way messages need to be conveyed. When managing a host of clients, employees and other stakeholders, it is important to manage a variety of personalities before managing the work or project for an achieving high credibility, faith and enduring business relationship.

You can relate to all this and admit you know all this jazz about communication management but perhaps what you don’t know is how to effectively manage communication and information using technology to your benefit. A simple google search will drop down a list of project management tools and document management solutions to assist your business but really nothing on communication management accept books to read and courses to join. Isn’t it sad? On getting deeper into your search, at some point you’ll be made to believe that project management is synonymous to communication management and therefore, a project management tool is really what you need. Nothing wrong with it but just that all your information that you think will get collaborated, may still be floating in your emails and the email clutter issue still unresolved.

With this thought alone, a small percentage of SMEs who have a belief in rising to higher grounds by taking measures for better communications have actually stepped back. The icing on the cake is the need for high infrastructures, maintenance and budgets. The truth is: - a small business cannot afford ERP or communication management software at the start of the venture when it is actually needed the most.

There is one solution that you may want to try out; TaskTrek for communication and information management. It fits the bill perfectly. All communication is seamlessly integrated with the document management and also enables SMEs to monitor activities, manage resources from one place. There are features of communication management, document management, activity management and resource management threaded together into TaskTrek so that users don’t have to use multiple softwares at all. You log into TaskTrek and mange all work and communications using it from any location or at any time. The good news is that TaskTrek is extending discounts on its single and corporate user packages to all SME World readers starting this anniversary issue. Please turn to page no. XX for more information on it.

Entrepreneurs should continue their stand for effective communication management. Unearthing the need for collaboration, better accountability, and seamless communications and then investing into them. Humanly, it is a challenge and automation can help all entrepreneurs overcome it.

A demo of TaskTrek will not only show you around the multiple features and their working but emphasizes on how simple it is to use the application, that it really needs no technical training. Technology is no scarecrow but a friend to help you move ahead in your organization.

With this confidence, you can take your team a level up and gear them to win relationships, business and respect using a communication and information management solution in your organization. Nothing can be better than adopting a one stop solution for all your communication and information management needs.

What managers do more than anything else is communicate;
Improve communications and you improve performance.

•        What information needs to flow in and out of the project?

•        Who needs what information?

•        When is the information needed?

•        What is the format of the information?

•        Who will be responsible for transmitting and providing the information?

•        Where is the information stored?

Above are some basic guidelines managers need to follow in any business to ensure effective communication. If these are in place, then there is smooth communication flow in the organization. Most of the times, there are gaps in addressing them and therefore, leading to improper communication, lack of information and complicated crisis situations.

Improper communication management can hit any business, small or big.  Entrepreneurs of SMEs may think they have an edge over larger companies because of their small, warm and well-knit pool of resources but the impacts are daring when the situation goes out of hand. Effective communication is an essential part of a smoothly running business organization.

This realization in itself is the key to a successful business. So, a visionary thinker will really try to bridge the gap in the best possible way to allow seamless communication, marry communication with information for ace collaboration in the organization and save time spent by resources on replication.

In the modern organisation of today, there are multi-channel flows of communication. Business communication was limited to paper-work, telephone calls etc. But now with advent of technology, we have cell phones, video conferencing, emails, satellite communication to support business communication. The more channels to communicate; there are more chances of information getting scattered. No doubt it’s the fastest way to reach but with high probabilities of risk.  SMEs really need to be aware when it comes to communication through multi channels and free wares:-email accounts, social media, chat, sms and other modes.

So, the effectiveness of communication really depends on the quality medium. Grouping all internal communication and external communication in one place, to the projects or activities they belong to. All information shared in the communication also grouped into consistent folders under the projects or activities they belong. So that, there is no room for multiple communication softwares or storage places when you need the information or tracking the conversation you last had with your colleague related to client project.

When you are small, it is fairly easy to manage all communications and information at work but as you grow, it goes out of hands. More work, means more emails, more communication and messages. The effectiveness of communication also depends on any distracting 'noise' that prevent the message from effectively getting through. For example, if the recipient receives lots of e-mail messages, they may fail to give proper attention to the sender's message. Entrepreneurs should invest in solutions and that help avoid email clutter for better communication management.

As smaller companies grow into mid-sized companies and larger, the number of resources increase and so does the levels of hierarchy. Greater the number of levels, the more difficult is the job of managing the organization. Communication here plays a very important role in process of directing and controlling the people in the organization. Communication gaps should not occur in any organization. Effective communication is essential for success and growth of an organization. Having said that, at every stage of your business there is a need to get organized and work smarter by optimizing talent & technology, even when you are small and as you grow into mid-sized and then into a large outfit.

The basic functions of management (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Controlling) cannot be performed well without effective communication. Taking stock of communications and information alone is not the only challenge for any manager of a SME but managing the business in entirety. Communication and information management is the fuel to any project management and happy employees of a business ship.

The goal is really is to convey a message to another person successfully without there being any confusion about what you mean. Misunderstandings occur all of the time and some people are easily offended. It is important to be aware of issues that might arise with attitudes and the way messages need to be conveyed. When managing a host of clients, employees and other stakeholders, it is important to manage a variety of personalities before managing the work or project for an achieving high credibility, faith and enduring business relationship.

You can relate to all this and admit you know all this jazz about communication management but perhaps what you don’t know is how to effectively manage communication and information using technology to your benefit. A simple google search will drop down a list of project management tools and document management solutions to assist your business but really nothing on communication management accept books to read and courses to join. Isn’t it sad? On getting deeper into your search, at some point you’ll be made to believe that project management is synonymous to communication management and therefore, a project management tool is really what you need. Nothing wrong with it but just that all your information that you think will get collaborated, may still be floating in your emails and the email clutter issue still unresolved.

With this thought alone, a small percentage of SMEs who have a belief in rising to higher grounds by taking measures for better communications have actually stepped back. The icing on the cake is the need for high infrastructures, maintenance and budgets. The truth is: - a small business cannot afford ERP or communication management software at the start of the venture when it is actually needed the most.

There is one solution that you may want to try out; TaskTrek for communication and information management. It fits the bill perfectly. All communication is seamlessly integrated with the document management and also enables SMEs to monitor activities, manage resources from one place. There are features of communication management, document management, activity management and resource management threaded together into TaskTrek so that users don’t have to use multiple softwares at all. You log into TaskTrek and mange all work and communications using it from any location or at any time. The good news is that TaskTrek is extending discounts on its single and corporate user packages to all SME World readers starting this anniversary issue. Please turn to page no. XX for more information on it.

Entrepreneurs should continue their stand for effective communication management. Unearthing the need for collaboration, better accountability, and seamless communications and then investing into them. Humanly, it is a challenge and automation can help all entrepreneurs overcome it.

A demo of TaskTrek will not only show you around the multiple features and their working but emphasizes on how simple it is to use the application, that it really needs no technical training. Technology is no scarecrow but a friend to help you move ahead in your organization.

With this confidence, you can take your team a level up and gear them to win relationships, business and respect using a communication and information management solution in your organization. Nothing can be better than adopting a one stop solution for all your communication and information management needs.

In any business, there is a team, there are clients and there are other stakeholders. A successful collaboration of these will result in enduring business relations. Collaboration of all communication and information in a manner well understood, and organized and documented in one place so that there is no need to look beyond. Just by doing this, life will be very easy and business will run smoothly.

A reporting system that is not just a number game or a conglomeration of many graphs but means something substantial to your business, something that is easy to understand and helps you plan better. The data that you can put to use efficiently, track team performance against the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) in a fast and simple way, rely on accurate results.

Today’s workplace is no longer just about desks etc. but it is about doing business online. Without internet, there is no business. Equipped with smartphones and tablet devices, workers are “always on” and have become reliant on mobile technology to manage their personal and professional lives. The flexibility of working from anywhere and anytime is really the key. Without losing travel time, one is always connected, updated and on the call.

These are business essentials for any enterprise, small or big. To own them, you don’t need any expensive ERP solutions, intensive project management tools or multiple softwares to meet your specific needs.

That’s where we fit in, providing you with a one stop solution to manage all communication and information from one place. The reporting system is customizable to adjust as per your business needs and free of cost. It is very reasonable priced and easy to use by anyone. Especially, designed keeping in mind young entrepreneurs, startups, small and mid –sized businesses, TaskTrek is your suite of business essentials.

With confidence, you can approach new business, counter your competition and rule your domain, when you are knowledgeable, empowered with TaskTrek by your side. Look your best, act your best and deliver, not having to worry about basic communication challenges at work.