Serve Customers Better Articles

Tools to Help Your Business

Hear how businesses like yours are using technology to improve their bottom line.

Articles Innovators Customer Stories Multimedia News and Offers NOW Van & Events Newsletter

Articles

Subscribe to Cisco Small Business Articles: RSS Icon
Get the latest information from Cisco for small businesses like yours.

Be More Productive

Connect Employees and Offices

  • How to Pick the Right Small Business Phone System

    A quick step guide to determine which small business phone system is best for your business, how to plan for future needs, and who to consult with for help

  • Six Ways to Rev Up Your Revenue Using VoIP

    Discover how to use an Internet Phone System to win customers and more sales. Five businesses tell how they handle outbound and inbound calls to increase revenues.

  • Five Tips for Improving Your Small Business Computer Networking

    Build your network with business-grade technology, plan ahead to avoid downtime, and other small business computer networking tips.

  • Build an end-to-end network

    An end-to-end Cisco network provides the security, bandwidth, upgrade flexibility and support for your business needs. Here are some key things to keep in mind when considering one.

  • A Network for Growth

    Is your business growing? You can have a new location or employee up and running in the amount of time it takes to flip open a laptop computer and connect to the Internet. You can even let your partners and customers tap into your network resources on their computers without worrying about security breaches.

  • Work Where You Want

    Where will you conduct business today? Chances are that you, your colleagues, or your employees will spend time out of the office. These days, it's not necessary to spend eight hours in the office to put in a full-day's work.

  • Unsung Heroes

    Routers and switches are the building blocks for all business communications from data to voice and video to wireless access. They can improve a company’s bottom line by enabling your company to increase productivity, cut business costs, and improve security and customer service.

  • Building a Small Office Network

    Building a small office network means starting with a foundation of switches and routers. The following guide will help you understand the difference between switches and routers and develop a clear vision for what your network foundation needs.

  • How to Prepare for an End-to-End Cisco Network

    Chances are, you already have some type of data network, but it may not support your business needs. Your network may be stitched together with products from multiple vendors—one vendor's firewall, another's wireless access point/router, and so on. The downside: A network built piecemeal can create security gaps.

  • The Truth About Building a Business: Five Reasons to Strengthen the Foundation

    Is your business connected to the rest of the world? If it is, your network can help your business pick up its pace. And surpass competitors. A Network for Growth
    Is your business growing? You can have a new location or employee up and running in the amount of time it takes to flip open a laptop computer and connect to the Internet.
    You can even let your partners and customers tap into your network resources on their computers without worrying about security breaches.
    Work Where You Want
    Where will you conduct business today? Chances are that you, your colleagues, or your employees will spend time out of the office. These days, it's not necessary to spend eight hours in the office to put in a full-day's work.

  • Buyer Beware: Don't Expect Consumer-Grade Technology to Meet Your Business-Class Needs

    When you walk into a business meeting, do you wear pajamas? Do you let your children manage the accounts receivable for your office? When you buy business technology, do you choose products designed for home use? The pricing on consumer-grade technology is tempting. But the lower price can end up costing your business dearly, in both productivity and cash.

  • Get Attached

    How Network-Attached Storage Can Save Time, Money - and Sleep
    Q: What do hard drive failures, operating system worms, and laptop thieves have in common?
    A: The potential to rob your business of important data if its storage is directly attached to user devices and servers.

  • Do More with Less: Wireless

    Three Economical Ways to Make Your Network Connect More
    A winery needed to automate its inventory process.
    A job placement agency wanted to merge its mobile and office phone systems to get calls and messages to mobile employees faster.
    A warehouse distribution center wanted to let visiting lorry drivers use the Internet.

  • Four Reasons Why Businesses Improve Their Networking

    Being smart about ways to use digital technology makes a business work better. Here some Cisco customers share why, and how, they got smarter with their data, voice, and video networking. See if their results match any goals you have for your business.

  • Top 10 Tips to Maintain and Grow your Business in a Downturn

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers today's tough economic climate.

  • Basic Networking: What You Need to Know

    Learn about routers and switches, the basic hardware of networks, and make better decisions about the network design your business needs.

  • Considering Wireless Networking?

    Understand common concerns about wireless networking and whether it's the right technology for your business.

  • Successful Technology aquistion during harsh economic times

    The fact that finances are tightening is a compelling reason to revisit the proven fundamentals and excellent business controls that can enable an organization to grow its business regardless of the state of the economy.

  • Ten Tips for Increasing Operational Efficiency

    To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive world, businesses must boost operational efficiency wherever possible.

  • Small Business VOIP - The Basics

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward Small business VoIP, or voice over Internet Protocol, is getting a lot of attention these days. In essence, small business VoIP combines voice and data together on a single, secure network foundation. The following is a guide to why you might want to consider a small business VoIP system.

  • Cisco Unified Communications and the Smart Business Communications Architecture.

    In today's complex and highly competitive business environment, communications and IT decision makers in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) face a number of unique challenges. How do they weave network technologies and business applications into comprehensive, integrated solutions that address key business challenges such as operational efficiency and customer responsiveness?

  • The Power of Connections.

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward making your business more efficient. And it's especially important for small and medium-sized businesses like yours.

  • Take Your Customer Service to the Next Level.

    Are you providing your customers with the satisfying experience that will keep them coming back? In a marketplace where too many products and services are chasing too little demand, businesses face a daunting challenge: do everything possible to attract and retain customers.

  • Networking made easy: read our online guide on getting the basics right.

    Networks connect your world securely, reliably and more efficiently. People in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) regularly connect with others who are vital to their success. Customers bring income. Partners, such as contractors and suppliers, provide services and products for daily operations. Prospects are vital for growth and new opportunities. And employees are the brains, hands, eyes, and ears that make a business successful.

  • Fast and Cost effective Unified Communications.

    The success of your company depends on maintaining open lines of communication with customers and between personnel. Such information sharing may take many forms - through wired and mobile telephone calls, e-mails and Instant Messaging, and video conferencing.

  • Cisco RV042 Router

    Discover an at-a-glance overview of the business benefits and features of the Cisco RV042 Router.

  • Cisco RV082 Router for the Mobile Workforce

    Discover an at-a-glance overview of the business benefits and features of the Cisco RV082 Router.

  • Small Business Communication System: Three Reasons to Consider

    Get an overview of how a small business communication system can improve day-to-day operations by providing easy access to all your applications, enhanced collaboration tools, and a flexible foundation for future growth.

  • Networking Solutions for Small Business

    Learn how Cisco networking solutions for small business can help you compete better against larger companies while lowering communications costs, boosting efficiency, and improving customer service.

  • Small Business Phone Systems from Cisco

    Collaborate in real time using a variety of applications from one easy-to-use interface. Small business phone systems from Cisco give you cost-effective and powerful communications capabilities.

  • How to Start a Relationship with a Cisco Reseller

    Not sure where to get started? Ask potential partners these five questions about small business solutions.

  • Collaboration and the Competitive Edge

    Collaboration can yield immediate and long term benefits; greater efficiency and enhanced margin and revenue.

  • Connected Businesses Win

    Networks connect your world securely, reliably and more efficiently.

  • Small Business Networking: The Basics

    Find out how a secure network foundation can change your business.

  • Preparing for an End-to-End Cisco Network

    Planning advice for those considering a Cisco end-to-end network.

  • The Five Productivity Benefits of a Secure Network

    A secure Cisco network foundation can help you continue to enhance your company's productivity in five ways.

  • Networking Basics: What You Need to Know

    Find out how switches and routers operate in a network.

  • Unsung Heroes - How Routing & Switching Keep the Business Going

    Routers and switches can improve a company's bottom line by enabling your company to increase productivity, cut business costs, and improve security and customer service.

  • Building a Small Office Network: Getting Started

    An introduction to the business benefits of routing and switching technology. Learn what it can do for you.

  • Outpace the Competition

    The benefits of a small-business computer network from Cisco can help you outpace the competition. Find out how.

  • Get Ahead with a Business Communications Network

    By combining voice, video, and data on a single network, you can cut costs and do more. Learn how.

  • All Your Communications in One Basket

    Imagine your email, voice and video communications all on one secure, easy-to-manage network. That's just the beginning of what combined voice and data can do for you.

  • Using Your Phone for Competitive Advantage

    Help your business work smarter, faster and more effectively with a small-business phone system from Cisco.

  • Use VoIP to Do More with Less

    Enjoy the speed, flexibility, and security of unified communications on your own network.

  • Communications System: Putting it All Together

    See how the elements of an IP-based communications system work together to enhance collaboration, boost productivity, and cut costs.

  • What VoIP Can Do

    Find out more about VoIP, what it's about and how it can cut your business costs.

Do Business Better

  • Service Please: 5 tips for easy, affordable tech support

    Small businesses share how they get technical support that brings them peace of mind when using advanced technologies. Their strategies also save them time and money.

  • Get Attached

    How Network-Attached Storage Can Save Time, Money - and Sleep
    Q: What do hard drive failures, operating system worms, and laptop thieves have in common?
    A: The potential to rob your business of important data if its storage is directly attached to user devices and servers.

  • Four Reasons Why Businesses Improve Their Networking

    Being smart about ways to use digital technology makes a business work better. Here some Cisco customers share why, and how, they got smarter with their data, voice, and video networking. See if their results match any goals you have for your business.

  • Top 10 Tips to Maintain and Grow your Business in a Downturn

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers today's tough economic climate.

  • How to Get Ahead in a Challenging Economy

    In this economy, there are so many challenges that it's tough to know where to focus. Here are some key tactics that can help you succeed.

  • Business Communication Tools for Tough Times

    Right now, getting the most from your IT budget is critical. Find out what you should focus on to make your employees more productive and your business more competitive.

  • Successful Technology aquistion during harsh economic times

    The fact that finances are tightening is a compelling reason to revisit the proven fundamentals and excellent business controls that can enable an organization to grow its business regardless of the state of the economy.

  • Ten Tips for Increasing Operational Efficiency

    To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive world, businesses must boost operational efficiency wherever possible.

  • Small Business VOIP - The Basics

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward Small business VoIP, or voice over Internet Protocol, is getting a lot of attention these days. In essence, small business VoIP combines voice and data together on a single, secure network foundation. The following is a guide to why you might want to consider a small business VoIP system.

  • Cisco Unified Communications and the Smart Business Communications Architecture.

    In today's complex and highly competitive business environment, communications and IT decision makers in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) face a number of unique challenges. How do they weave network technologies and business applications into comprehensive, integrated solutions that address key business challenges such as operational efficiency and customer responsiveness?

  • The Power of Connections.

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward making your business more efficient. And it's especially important for small and medium-sized businesses like yours.

  • Fast and Cost effective Unified Communications.

    The success of your company depends on maintaining open lines of communication with customers and between personnel. Such information sharing may take many forms - through wired and mobile telephone calls, e-mails and Instant Messaging, and video conferencing.

  • Succeeding in a Changing Business Climate

    Peace of Mind for the Life of Your Business Cisco solutions let you focus on your business - not the network

  • Beat the recession 10 top tips

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers todays tough economic climate.

  • Take Your Customer Service to the Next Level

    Are you providing your customers with the satisfying experience that will keep them coming back? In a marketplace where too many products and services are chasing too little demand, businesses face a daunting challenge: do everything possible to attract and retain customers.

  • Get Attached for Better Performance

    Network Attached Storage centralizes data from multiple application servers and quickly pays for itself.

  • Tax Planning Tips for 2009

    Check out these tips for finding, protecting and reporting the data that your business needs to file its returns.

  • Do More with Less: Wireless

    Use your network's capabilities to increase productivity, efficiency, and connectivity. These clever tips will pay for themselves.

  • Where Are You? Search Engine Strategies That Bring Customers to Your Business

    The key is in the keywords. Find the right ones and reap the benefits of scoring top listings.

  • Who Knows You? Social Networking Brings Buzz, Cost Savings, and Customers

    Online communities make marketing to your target very efficient. Find out how to take advantage of this boon to your business.

  • Oh, What a Difference My Technology Makes

    Reap big benefits from better networking. See the four main ways that improved networking can help your business.

  • Master Doing More with Less

    Sometimes less really is more. Discover four major ways that standardizing your technology can help ensure that your business stays up and running.

  • Hands-Free Management

    Discover the ultimate solution to your IT management headaches. Managed services provide top-of-the line support while saving you thousands of dollars a month.

  • How "Green" Are Your Digits?

    Dare to transcend the eco-hype and do things differently. Take this quick quiz to see if you're a green master or just a novice--and learn how to make your IT operations more energy and cost efficient.

  • "Green" Communications: Help or Hype?

    Explore green solutions such as telecommuting and web conferencing, to boost employee productivity and cut operating costs.

  • The Global Small Business

    Learn how Cisco Unified Communications can help small and medium-sized businesses compete on a global scale.

  • How to Start a Relationship with a Cisco Reseller

    Not sure where to get started? Ask potential partners these five questions about small business solutions.

  • Go Green with Ease: Five Steps for Small IT Shops

    Five ways resource-strapped IT shops can save money and help the environment.

  • Business Loans for Women

    Find out how Cisco is supporting the Make Mine a Million $ Business program, which offers business loans for women.

  • Ms. Million Dollar Business

    Cisco is technology sponsor for Make Mine a Million $ Business, a program supporting women business owners with loans and technology.

  • The Building Blocks for Growth

    Find out what tools are required for a company with 20 employees to grow to 100 employees within one year.

  • Big Things from Small Companies

    Cisco's Supplier Diversity Business Development Program works to expand its network of small and diverse suppliers, both domestically and internationally.

  • The Benefits of a Cisco Partnership

    When it comes to using your network for success, it's not only what you know, it's who you know.

     

Secure My Business

Serve Customers Better

  • Five Tips for Improving Your Small Business Computer Networking

    Six Ways to Rev Up Your Revenues Using VoIP How can you raise revenues without raising prices?
    You can gain new customers. Or you can make new sales from your existing customers.
    There's a network technology that helps you do both: voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

  • Make a Match - Four Tips for Picking a VoIP Partner

    When your business wants to gain the advantages of voice over IP (VoIP) and unified communications (UC) technology, where will you find the expertise to do it?

  • Four Reasons Why Businesses Improve Their Networking

    Being smart about ways to use digital technology makes a business work better. Here some Cisco customers share why, and how, they got smarter with their data, voice, and video networking. See if their results match any goals you have for your business.

  • Top 10 Tips to Maintain and Grow your Business in a Downturn

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers today's tough economic climate.

  • Successful Technology aquistion during harsh economic times

    The fact that finances are tightening is a compelling reason to revisit the proven fundamentals and excellent business controls that can enable an organization to grow its business regardless of the state of the economy.

  • Ten Tips for Increasing Operational Efficiency

    To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive world, businesses must boost operational efficiency wherever possible.

  • Small Business VOIP - The Basics

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward Small business VoIP, or voice over Internet Protocol, is getting a lot of attention these days. In essence, small business VoIP combines voice and data together on a single, secure network foundation. The following is a guide to why you might want to consider a small business VoIP system.

  • Cisco Unified Communications and the Smart Business Communications Architecture.

    In today's complex and highly competitive business environment, communications and IT decision makers in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) face a number of unique challenges. How do they weave network technologies and business applications into comprehensive, integrated solutions that address key business challenges such as operational efficiency and customer responsiveness?

  • The Power of Connections.

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward making your business more efficient. And it's especially important for small and medium-sized businesses like yours.

  • Networking made easy: read our online guide on getting the basics right.

    Networks connect your world securely, reliably and more efficiently. People in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) regularly connect with others who are vital to their success. Customers bring income. Partners, such as contractors and suppliers, provide services and products for daily operations. Prospects are vital for growth and new opportunities. And employees are the brains, hands, eyes, and ears that make a business successful.

  • Fast and Cost effective Unified Communications.

    The success of your company depends on maintaining open lines of communication with customers and between personnel. Such information sharing may take many forms - through wired and mobile telephone calls, e-mails and Instant Messaging, and video conferencing.

  • Beat the recession 10 top tips

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers todays tough economic climate.

  • Take Your Customer Service to the Next Level

    Are you providing your customers with the satisfying experience that will keep them coming back? In a marketplace where too many products and services are chasing too little demand, businesses face a daunting challenge: do everything possible to attract and retain customers.

  • Eight Strategies for First-rate Customer Service

    These eight strategies will create relationships with your customers that will keep them coming back.

  • The Basics of Serving Customers Better

    Customer satisfaction starts when you offer both a trouble-free shopping experience and a smooth business transaction. But you also have to anticipate and meet your customers' wants, not just needs.

  • How to Start a Relationship with a Cisco Reseller

    Not sure where to get started? Ask potential partners these five questions about small business solutions.

  • Upgrading Your Network for CRM? Six Things to Consider

    Thinking about adding customer relationship management tools to your Cisco Unified Communications phone system? Here are six things to consider before you upgrade your network.

  • Serve Your Customer Better

    Find out how customer relationship management (CRM) software and wireless connectivity can help your small business improve productivity, respond to customers quickly, and generate new business.

  • Unified Communications Offers Value To Small And Medium-Size Businesses - Financial Services

    Cisco commissioned Forrester Research to survey 374 companies to quantify how unified communications (UC) affect the small and medium-size business sector.

  • Tech Solutions for Success

    By using technology to serve your business needs, you can find a small-business solution that's just your size.

  • Small Business Phones

    Hear how small business phones using VoIP, unified messaging, video and other applications can help improve your customer relationships.

  • VoIP Can Reduce Operating Expenses

    VoIP can dramatically reduce expenses and give you consistent quality of service and stronger security controls.

  • How Voice over IP Works

    How Voice over IP works for your business is simple: By adding voice to a data network, you'll reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance collaboration.

  • Get an Edge with Cisco IP Phones

    When you join video, voice, and data together on your own easy-to-manage network, you can be much more productive.

     

Work from Anywhere

  • Do More with Less: Wireless

    Three Economical Ways to Make Your Network Connect More
    A winery needed to automate its inventory process.
    A job placement agency wanted to merge its mobile and office phone systems to get calls and messages to mobile employees faster.
    A warehouse distribution center wanted to let visiting lorry drivers use the Internet.

  • Four Reasons Why Businesses Improve Their Networking

    Being smart about ways to use digital technology makes a business work better. Here some Cisco customers share why, and how, they got smarter with their data, voice, and video networking. See if their results match any goals you have for your business.

  • Top 10 Tips to Maintain and Grow your Business in a Downturn

    For SMEs, keeping a eye on the core business, maintaining a healthy cash position, reducing operating expenses, increasing efficiency and strengthening existing supplier and customer relationships will all go a fair way to help ensure your business weathers today's tough economic climate.

  • What Is a Wireless Local Area Network (LAN): WLAN FAQ

    Learn what a wireless LAN is, the equipment you'll need, and the benefits you can expect.

  • Successful Technology aquistion during harsh economic times

    The fact that finances are tightening is a compelling reason to revisit the proven fundamentals and excellent business controls that can enable an organization to grow its business regardless of the state of the economy.

  • The Virtual Office Checklist

    Here are some things to consider when choosing Cisco SMB Solutions that enable you and your colleagues to work from anywhere. Adding a VPN and firewall enables the security you need.

  • Ten Tips for Increasing Operational Efficiency

    To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive world, businesses must boost operational efficiency wherever possible.

  • Small Business VOIP - The Basics

    Keeping your employees connected to people and information anytime, anywhere is a big step toward Small business VoIP, or voice over Internet Protocol, is getting a lot of attention these days. In essence, small business VoIP combines voice and data together on a single, secure network foundation. The following is a guide to why you might want to consider a small business VoIP system.

  • Cisco Unified Communications and the Smart Business Communications Architecture.

    In today’s complex and highly competitive business environment, communications and IT decision makers in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) face a number of unique challenges. How do they weave network technologies and business applications into comprehensive, integrated solutions that address key business challenges such as operational efficiency and customer responsiveness?

  • Fast and Cost effective Unified Communications.

    The success of your company depends on maintaining open lines of communication with customers and between personnel. Such information sharing may take many forms - through wired and mobile telephone calls, e-mails and Instant Messaging, and video conferencing.

  • The VPN Router that is Affordable and Wireless

    The Cisco WRV200, part of Cisco Small Business Routers, is a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) router that is easy to install and maintain, and grows with your small business.

  • Small Office Phones: The Benefits

    Get an overview of the benefits that small office phones can deliver when connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

  • Small Business VoIP: The Basics

    See how combining voice and data on a single, secure network foundation with a small business voice over IP (VoIP) system can help you meet your biggest business challenges.

  • Your Small Business Network from Cisco

    Learn more about how a small business network can give you the secure, flexible, and cost-effective foundation you need to be productive and competitive.

  • Work Wherever You Want

    Today's network lets you stay connected, access data, and make business decisions regardless of where you are. Learn about these and other benefits to working from anywhere.

  • The Virtual Office Checklist

    Begin by covering access, security and flexibility.

  • Building Your Network for Growth and Innovation

    Some tips to make sure your network will grow alongside your business.

  • What is a Wireless Network?

    Find out how small businesses are using both wireless networks and WiFi hotspots to stay in touch with co-workers, customers, and partners, regardless of where they are.

  • How to Start a Relationship with a Cisco Reseller

    Not sure where to get started? Ask potential partners these five questions about small business solutions.

  • Five Reasons to Go Wireless

    Learn five reasons businesses are taking advantage of wireless LANs.

  • Wireless Networking: Five Questions to Start With

    Once it's clear how a wireless LAN can help your business, these five considerations will help you get the project off the ground.

  • The Network Effect: Productivity

    Find out how a small-business network from Cisco Systems can help you increase productivity without increasing your workforce.

     

Find a Local Reseller

City/State/Zip:

Country:

Follow us
London 2012

Business Heroes

Get innovative business insights and share your ideas, visit the business advice blog, "Business Heroes".

Visit blog
Ad Banner