Technology is a wonderful thing. It’s made working from home easier than ever before, there’s no need to get lost anymore, spell, or buy a CD, the answer to any question in the world is only one click away and last minute birthday presents can be bought from the comfort of your sofa.
If it goes wrong however, technology is far from wonderful. For SMEs, its failure can be fatal to the running of a business – at worst losing money and customers at the flick of a switch.
Virgin Digital Help recently conducted research, with 2,000 British adults, which showed how valuable technology is to consumers and how stressful it is when it stops working. According to their findings, a third of the British population say that digital products have caused them real stress, with 78% admitting to shouting at their technology, 21% throwing gadgets against the wall, and 14% even punching the offending item.
There is help available, however, and the good news is, some of it’s free:
Free tech support for everyone!
Virgin Digital Help has recently launched 30 minutes free tech help for everyone in the UK. Whether you’re working from home, or out and about, for any technology related problems – be that to your PC, iPod or printer – Virgin will endeavour to solve the issue with a free, half hour phone call.
You don’t even have to be a Virgin customer to take advantage. All you need to do is sign up before 30th April:
http://www.virgindigitalhelp.co.uk/pages/Radio_Promotion_Landing_Page.aspx. There’s no lengthy registration process, you’ll simply be emailed an e-voucher, which is valid for anytime over the next six months, from registration.
IT support with a conscience
For those of you looking to reduce your carbon footprint, the charity, Global Action Plan, http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk, is providing free, green IT support for businesses with fewer than 250 employees. The scheme is designed to provide SMEs with access to the same financial and environmental benefits available to large businesses.
An excellent opportunity for small companies, the charity will provide a minimum of 12 hours advice designed to identify where savings and improvements can be made. It will target energy costs, carbon emissions, hardware costs, minimising toxic e-waste and the marketing of environmental credentials. Each business that takes part will receive a certificate of green IT achievement and assistance with meeting further environmental standards.
To introduce SMEs to the programme, Global Action Plan is holding free workshops offering an introduction to Green IT. For more information email: greenit@globalactionplan.org.uk, call 0207 420 4444, or visit http://www.greenict.org.uk.
Because of funding restrictions, the scheme is currently only available in London, with some free support in Exeter.
A problem shared
It’s likely that any problem you’ve had has also been experienced by somebody else. Forums are a great place to share information and with experts regularly logging on to impart their views, some of the advice available would have a cost attached if you went through traditional tech support channels.
Evaluate IT, http://www.evaluateit.co.uk/, describes itself as a virtual IT department for the small business entrepreneur. The site provides online computer help, technical support and useful articles, tips and a forum.
By joining the members’ forum, you will have access to free advice and any technology related question is guaranteed an answer by an IT consultant.
Another forum offering free tech related support is Computer Juice: http://www.computer-juice.com/forums/. All technologies are covered here, including lap tops, MP3s and games consoles. Information about related issues, such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and web design is also available.
Technology should improve our lives, both working and private, so don’t tear your hair out, call in the experts.
This post has been commented once
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April 8th, 2010 at 2:14 pmKate Baldwin says:
Thanks for the tips Anita. I’m going to try the Virgin Digital Help promo. I have a few little things that I need advice on.