What Is It?

Moving Your Business Online is a consulting package designed to:

• Help startup companies avoid significant investments in capital infrastructure by leveraging low-cost or free cloud-based technology services to run their business
• Help existing small business clients transition away from an internal, physical IT infrastructure that is costly to support, upgrade and maintain, and leverage cloud-based computing services

Who Is It For?

Moving Your Business Online is a suitable consulting package for virtually any small business regardless of its stage. Unlike other IT consulting packages offered by SBDCTAP, there is no pre-requisite with regards to business plans, marketing plans etc.

Deliverables

The Moving Your Business Online process will result in the production of a light-weight Strategic IT Plan for your business, structured to provide a platform for strategic growth, concentrating on using cloud-based IT services where appropriate. The Strategic IT Plan will make recommendations on the adoption of IT systems for your business, including timing, likely costs, strategic impacts and ultimately, expected business benefits.

Expected Business Results

Expected business results will be quantified in terms of Return On Investment.

Time Commitment

You should be prepared to give at least 20 hours of your or your staff's time to allow us to obtain the information necessary to undertake the review.

Length Of Engagement

The process will take about 6 weeks for the production of the report, with regular engagement intervals in the following 12 - 18 months to assist you in managing the change process and quantifying business results.

Follow Up Actions

It will be the client's responsibility to act on the recommendations contained in the Strategic IT Plan. SBDCTAP can provide further consulting to help clients with the process of selecting vendors/systems, and planning implementations. We can also help you measure the business impact of systems implementations.

Monitoring Schedule

Clients must agree to a regular 6 month monitoring schedule over the course of 2 years.

Consultant Profile

SBDCTAP currently has 3 IT consultants who can provide this service. Further details will be provided on request.

How Do I Get The Service?

SBDCTAP clients must be referred into the SBDCTAP program via a local Small Business Development Center. You can sign up here.