| The economic downturn has seen many businesses | | | | partners. Sensitive information can be encrypted so |
| look for all kinds of ways to cut down costs. Some | | | | that no one can intercept and read them. Documents |
| have dismissed their workers, others have closed | | | | that can be sent on e-mail include invoices, sales |
| shop, and many more have re-negotiated salaries | | | | agreements, letters of recommendation, sales |
| while others have cut down daily operational costs to | | | | application forms as well as the usual letters with |
| minimum. | | | | various requests. |
| In my view, one of the ways in which any business | | | | It would also be advisable to set aside a room where |
| can reduce its spending is by re-evaluating the | | | | employees can access internet away from their |
| amount of money that goes into communication. As | | | | workstations. Explain to your workers the aim of |
| much as communication is important, sending physical | | | | setting aside a 'cyber cafe' in a public room so that |
| letters and traveling across continents for business | | | | they can support you in the effort to cut down |
| meetings and browsing the internet can take a lot of | | | | costs. |
| company time. Remember that time is money. | | | | As you go electronic, do not forget to invest in a |
| The first step would be to computerize office | | | | reliable storage for your data. Electronic storage will |
| communication. Instead of sending physical | | | | maintain a paperless office as much as it is helping to |
| documents through the post office, scan and email | | | | cut down costs. Remember to backup all your |
| them to your customers, suppliers as well as business | | | | communication as you go electronic. |