Zimana had a thought provoking article about the "new math" that equals success for those businesses that are offering open-source or low-cost programs to the public and then making their true revenue from the support systems and expertise that make that program really sing.

 The end result is an increased dynamic of digital assets that were once passive tools.  Websites are an example.  Advanced techniques with programming language have changed websites from passive documents presented from a server to platforms that can provide simple services to customers.

Click through to Zimana for some case studies, examples where you'll see that "Longevity and profitability lies in creating unique business process management practices that enhance the services that serve open source programs."

One of the cases they highlight is related to website creation and hosting, but the rise of the cloud could lead to numerous similar opportunities.

Related articles

• Open Source Matters: 6 Source Code Search Engines You Can Use For Programming Projects (makeuseof.com)
• Why open source will drive the success of M2M and IoT (architects.dzone.com)
• 10 Secrets to Sustainable Open Source Communities (web2learning.net)

To cut through all the hype, confusion and uncertainty surrounding cloud computing, just focus on software as a service or SaaS. This tried and true cloud model offers a simple value proposition: Partner with a third-party service provider that manages and maintains a key software solution and delivers the capabilities via secure Internet connections to every end user who needs it.

Alan Joch at BizTech suggests a key teaming strategy that is worth reading.

Related articles

• SaaS Litmus Test | How to Pick a SaaS Solution | Domo | Blog (domo.com)
• Why the Manufacturing Industry is Shifting to SaaS Cloud Hosting (business2community.com)

As part of their "Moving Forward" series, which offers advice to small business owners on technology, mentorship, productivity, and growth, Business Insider posted an article on small business and technology where a number of small business owners shared anecdotes of the ways that technology had impacted their work. They suggested that, "For the 23 million small businesses in America, technology is key to leveling the playing field with big corporations."

In their comments section, commenter TE had this poignant thought:

It could also be that technology disadvantages small business. Which is why small business has been suffering. Technology enables economies of scale - which is the forte of big business.

Small business may not want the playing field leveled. They may only thrive because of the bumps in the field that they can hide in. Same thing with US employees who don't need the competition with someone overseas who has a cost of living 1/10 as much and can take take lower wages.

Bottom line - technology enables efficiency. Efficiency gets more so with bigness or economies of scale. Hyper efficiency leads to inequality. That is what is really happening out there.

Like most things, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle, but something about both perspectives resonated with both us here at AGi.  We'd love to hear the thoughts of our readers if you'd like to share them.

Related articles

• 25 Apps Small Businesses Need to Succeed (rasmussen.edu)
• Are you using the right technology for your small business? (hiscoxusa.com)
• How Can The Cloud Level The Playing Field For Small Businesses? (business2community.com)
• Top Woman Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter (grasshopper.com)
• How Technology Actually Saved A Paper-Based Small Business (businessinsider.com)

In this webinar, Jennifer Schaus & Associates hosts Ed DeLisle as a subject matter expert on the SDVO - VOSB - CVE (Veteran Owned Certification) in Government Contracting.

This goes without saying for AGi, but wireless technologies are essential to any small business that relies on mobility, multiple sites of operation and remote productivity.    Small Biz Trends tipped us off to the fact that AT&T took a look at wireless prevalence and put their findings into graphical form.  Here are the highlights:

Survey Highlights

• Nearly all small businesses (98%) use wireless technologies in their operations, with two-thirds (66%) indicating they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without them.

• More than half (56%) of smartphones used by small business employees for business purposes are 4G, a 70% jump in usage from last year when only 33% used 4G smartphones.

• Nine in 10 (90%) of the businesses using 4G smartphones are satisfied with the speed.

• More than two-thirds (69%) of small businesses surveyed indicate that they use tablet computers, a slight increase from last year (66%).

• Findings indicate that the larger the business, the more likely they are to use tablets, with 90% of those with 51 to 99 employees using them, compared to less than seven in 10 (69%) of those with 50 or fewer employees.

• Additionally, newer businesses are more likely to use tablets, with 80% less than 2 years old using them, compared to less than seven in 10 (69%) of those two years and older.

• 85% of small businesses reported using smartphones for their operations, more than double the usage five years ago (42%).