Can SMBs gain competitive advantage using Open Source Content Management Systems

Written on April 18, 2010 – 6:15 pm | by Ashley Johnson

In this age of globalization every business economy face intense competition and needs to have some sort of competitive edge. Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) in general find it tough to sustain the competitive advantage when they have little control on input costs as well as over macro economic conditions.

Today an SMB needs to attract and retain employees, partners and suppliers to gain and sustain competitive edge.

A key factors for building and sustaining competitive advantage is having an integrated and innovative communication framework. This framework can provide numerous advantages for internal and external communication.

The advent of Open Source Content Management Systems (CMS) can offer a foundation for attaining and maintaining this edge as well as for the growth. A flexible frame work is necessary where your organization can creatively address client, employee and partner needs.

Open source tools provide flexibility for a multi-layered functional approach and there are proven CMS frameworks, modules and templates that provide a simple environment and toolkit from which the business can create your CMS solution.

Some of the factors to be kept in mind are as follows

Client Driven Apps

A flexible CMS provides a framework for marketing and selling products with the flexibility to allow clients to search for and find the products they want and to easily obtain product manuals, and warranty information. These portal structures can also enable simple, immediate interaction with clients using chat, IM and video.

Online brochures, discount coupons and other materials can be added to the site to accommodate seasonal or special sales or update product information with the touch of a button. It is easy to manage new product announcements, promote events, trade shows, conferences and other activities.

One of the best way to create and maintain customer loyalty is to create password protected areas for registered clients who have established credit accounts or other relationships with your organization. Here, your customers can order, review the status of orders or maintain personalized preferences in how they see and review your products or other information provided by your company. This also helps your business to market new services / products to existing customers.

Employee Driven Apps

A flexible CMS allow creation of employee intranet to check benefits, enter time for payroll, schedule vacation time and communicate with HR. They can also view and apply for positions, complete periodic review and performance evaluation documents and read internal newsletters or company announcements.

Employees can also use CMS portal frameworks to register for training, book travel and accomplish critical tasks Employee portals can increase and improve company communication and ensure that your team is working with the most up-to-date information, training manuals, and policies and procedures. This will lead to better informed employees about companywide initiatives as well as creating more loyal and motivated employees.

Partner Driven Apps

A flexible CMS solution make it easy to communicate with partners and subcontractors and to assign tasks, review and edit project documents, file contracts and other shared documentation. Joint marketing collateral material like press releases, tweets, blogs can or promotional materials can be developed and edited and partners can share sales and project contacts and store detailed information about customers. APIs can also be developed which helps the business to drive in more interested customers as well as give the partners a skin in the game.

Perfect Business!