< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk IT AND COMMUNICATIONS © stock.adobe.com/Evgen3d Updating your systems Updating your systems 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:25 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link IT AND COMMUNICATIONS T he main reason why companies don’t upgrade their IT and telecoms systems is under the pretence of saving money. Not only are they allowing themselves to be beset by constant connectivity issues but, ironically, by not upgrading they risk letting costs rise as much as fifty per cent. Prices skyrocket when a company is breached by hackers, ransomware, or any other kind of malware which becomes almost an inevitability when using legacy IT. When computers reach a certain age, they become incompatible with system and security updates and fixes, making them functionally obsolete and vulnerable to data breaches. Businesses with old, out of date software are more than twice as likely to suffer a data breach. There’s no two ways around it, good cybersecurity needs to be paid for, yet it will be cheaper than the financial fallout of a ransomware attack. However, there are ways to minimise the costs of cybersecurity. It’s critical not to wait until a cyberattack. Book a consultation with a trusted, reputable provider to understand your business’s needs and what levels of protection it requires. Any company that uses a smartphone or computer is vulnerable to attacks, but different levels of protection will be required for difference companies. A builder’s merchant that uses a few computers for sales and inventory won’t need the same levels of protection as, say, a digital marketing firm. There are understandable reasons why a company would choose not to invest in modern IT and telecoms technology. Another reason is a fear of not being able to use new systems. As business becomes increasingly digital, staying relevant, being able to connect with clients and customers more easily, and gaining a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace means moving with the times and embracing digital transformation. A McKinsey Global Survey of executives found that their companies have accelerated the digitisation of their customer and supply- chain interactions and of their internal operations by three to four years in the wake of the pandemic. As for the fear of not being able to understand and operate modern technologies – everybody can be taught new skills. Often, when these systems are installed, their use will be demonstrated, while training sessions can be booked for the whole team to take part in. With any transformational action undertaken within a business – be that organisational, management or cultural – digital transformation first needs to be defined. Digital won’t mean the same for every company and nor should it. For some, this kind of transformation will simply mean going paperless, to others it will mean utilising big data, while for others it will be about deploying augmented reality or linking up the factory floor with the Internet of Things (IoT). Certain issues, like cybersecurity, should be inherent, but defining your organisation and its digital aims is going to be a critical first step. Does your company want to streamline in-house operations and processes, automate ordering and inventory, create online From robust cybersecurity measures to efficiency gains, there are many reasons to look at updating your IT systems. 42 Á 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:25 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk IT AND COMMUNICATIONS sales portals, introduce 24/7 customer service provisions etc. Over the last two years, businesses have demonstrated their ability to quickly adapt to supply chain disruptions, radical declines in stock and inventory, and changing customer expectations. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s been a trial by fire and, sadly, many businesses were forced to cease trading and admit defeat. The financial damage wrought by the pandemic will continue for years to come, so doubtless we’ve not seen the last corporate casualties. Nevertheless, for those that have survived, the burden has been eased by utilising IT and telecoms. In some cases, the pandemic was the first instance of companies embracing digital – whether that was launching websites, or, as staff were forced to work from home, utilising remote desktop and video conferencing technologies. Other examples of digital transformation since the pandemic include furthering the reach of customer support with the use of tools like chatbots, which take the pressure off customer service helplines and free up staff for other tasks, and increasing migration of assets in the cloud, among other things. Our region continues to enjoy roll out of full fibre broadband, which is proving especially advantageous for regional areas where businesses have historically suffered with patchy, unreliable internet, but without businesses also investing in digital technology, modern IT equipment and robust cybersecurity measures, they’re not going to fully benefit from the nation’s ever increasing internet infrastructure. Despite the emphasis on computers and mobile devices thus far in this article, 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:25 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link IT AND COMMUNICATIONS companies can’t afford to shirk their telecoms systems. Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) was formally standardised in 1988 and, more than thirty years later, there are still more than one million businesses with an ISDN connection in the UK. With that in mind, businesses will need out for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking which is one of the protocols you can use for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. Essentially, it’s similar to how HTTP functions with internet pages, and provides a way to convert voice signals into data that can be decoded by devices used by a caller. Switching to a modern telecom system has a myriad of benefits for businesses, including better customer service which, at a time when customer loyalty doesn’t hold the same sway it used to – will prove increasingly valuable in the months and years to come. Moreover, modern systems can lead to greater efficiencies and budget savings – for example, expensive businesses trips can be replaced by video conferencing – as well as greater collaboration and teamwork all round. On top of the efficiency and security gains afforded by digital communications technologies, they also offer more flexibility, letting businesses communicate better both internally and externally. Not enough is said on the important efficiency gains that can be made with effective, streamlined communications technologies. Not only does it empower businesses but helps to future proof them. At a time when economic uncertainty is rife, that’s incredibly valuable indeed. © stock.adobe.com/Photocreo Bednarek 40-43.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:25 Page 4 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS A s the World Cup is now over (certainly by the time you read this) and with apologies to the greatest manager that the England football team never had, I thought I might provide a little update on the awards I was up for recently. Which awards you may well ask (if you are not paying attention at the back). They were the Enterprise Nation Awards, created to “celebrate the best and brightest advisers from across the UK and Ireland, whose support and expertise has shaped some of the most making a final or a shortlist ahead of the big event in case people “find out we didn’t win.” Take a look at The East Midlands Bricks Awards this year. I was a judge of one of the categories so I always take a close interest in what the entrants get up to pre and post awards. Being harsh, most of them don’t get up to a lot! Why? Fear of failure? Lack of confidence? Lack of resource? All of the above? NEWSFLASH Most people don’t follow your every move and also…you made the final! Take a look at my case. There are thousands “I wouldn’t say I was the best PR manager in the business. But I was in the top 5” Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, discusses awards and taking advantage of them even if you lose. successful small businesses.” They invited small business owners from across the UK to nominate their favourite advisers across 10 categories and by the end of November, I got a little note to say I’d made the final. The NATIONAL final. Spoiler alert…I DIDN’T win! Now why would I tell you that? Why would I “admit” that I lost? Because I know that there will be plenty of people reading this that would have hidden this “failure.” That’s how a lot of people see awards. It is a risk/reward question to some. Some won’t even blog about 44-45.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:26 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PUBLIC RELATIONS of PR consultants out there in the UK and I made the top 5. In the country. Does that mean there are people better than me? Yep. Does it mean I’m better than most? Yep! On the way to the final, I posted on social media, blogged and ran webinars mentioning the fact that I was in the final. Do you think that some of that might have been noticed? You betcha. I’m “confessing” to my failure here right now. More awareness of my loss. Am I a masochist? No, I’m a marketer. Often mistaken! Now, will SOME people go “oh well, Greg’s only in the Top 5 in the UK, probably not worth speaking to.” Well, SOME might. In fact, you might (boo hiss!). Or, you and many more people might think “I’ve been meaning to speak to him” or “our PR is pants, this guy must be half decent.” So loathe as I am to say that it is the taking part that counts, sometimes, it is. So long as you do something with it. Yours inconsolably better than most, Top 5 PR consultant in the UK. A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective. 44-45.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:26 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK As the world emerged from lockdowns and restrictions, fuel prices – which had been at their lowest for many years – surged following a massive increase in demand. T he Ukraine war has exacerbated this, with prices touching £2.00 per litre in places – and they’re still not much below that now in some parts of the UK. In addition, the war has caused electricity prices to soar dramatically, which may be enough to put off potential electric car owners. But even in the middle of these exceptional times, EV recharging is still less expensive than filling up with fossil fuel. Sure, it can work out more costly to recharge your vehicle than refuelling with diesel or petrol when using a super-fast charger at motorway services. But charging at a leisurely AC charger, particularly with a subscription, will cost only a small proportion of what you shell out at the pumps. It is also worth taking into consideration that many electric vehicles are recharged at private charging stations – i.e., at work or home. And this method of electric charging is, by and large, the most economical of all. So, without further ado, here are some of the cheapest cars to run. All of the ones to make our list are electric – and, interestingly, not one is a Tesla. Ford Mustang Mach-E The Mach-E is a good car with a sizeable 379-mile range if you opt for the biggest 88kWh battery. Plus, it’s well- equipped and terrific to drive. But admittedly, the Mustang badge is more of an excuse to justify the price tag as, other than the power of the dual-motor 46-49.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:27 Page 1Ford Mustang Mach-E Kia EV6 www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link AUTOLINK all-wheel drive version, it isn’t like a traditional Mustang in any comparable way. Kia EV6 A joy to drive with credible sporting prowess and poke, the EV6 is set to become a thorn in the side of performance production cars, with 226 and 321PS versions offered. Built on the same platform as Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, it offers a 328-mile range from its 77.4kWh battery, virtually unrivalled charging speeds and a seven-year warranty. 48 Á 46-49.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:28 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk AUTOLINK Vauxhall Mokka-e The newly overhauled Mokka was the first car to be given the new Vauxhall style, complete with a heavily revised front end with the latest design signature panel grille, the Vauxhall Vizor. It comes well equipped with a 45kWh battery and a 209-mile range. It is a justly desirable option for those wanting a small SUV. BMW iX1 BMW’s iX1 is an X1 with the engine replaced by an electric motor. But that means it’s based on a proven recipe: fast, good to drive and well-refined with a pleasing interior. The Bimmer claims a range of 270 miles from its 64.7kWh battery, while dual electric motors have an impressive 317PS. Porsche Taycan If you can make do without one obvious thrill in a Porsche – the engine note – then the Taycan is an excellent option, with lightning acceleration, superb handling, and a high level Vauxhall Mokka-e BMW iX1 46-49.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:28 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link AUTOLINK of refinement. Options include a 750PS variant with a 0-60mph time of 2.7 seconds with a 93kWh battery while retaining a range of 291 miles. You will need to make do with the tiniest of boots, though. Volvo XC40 Recharge The all-electric Volvo XC40 is an admirable all-rounder, offering outstanding performance, superb practicality for a small SUV, and a choice of 67kWh and 75kWh batteries with a range of around 260 miles. Volvo is a premium brand nowadays – it’s capable of giving the German giants like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz a run for their money. But sadly, that’s reflected in the price. So, the list of electric cars continues to grow – and it’s clear they are cheaper to run, despite the rising cost of electricity. The main downside is the additional purchase price, but servicing costs should be meagre, too. And if you’re a long-distance driver, you’ll recoup that extra investment quickly. Porsche Taycan Volvo XC40 Recharge 46-49.qxp_Layout 1 06/01/2023 10:28 Page 4Next >