Press release
- DellTM Small and Medium Business Solutions Center expands features and availability to help SMBs stay competitive and connected
- DellTM Stimulus Learning Center provides diverse resources for thriving in a down economy
- DellTM Live Chat provides immediate online access to Dell experts for a faster, easier and more personalized shopping experience
- Dell blogs and online forums connect SMBs worldwide
BRACKNELL, UK, April 24, 2009
Dell, long a leader in providing customers a premier online experience, is further enhancing its online offerings for small and medium businesses by expanding resources in the Small and Medium Business Solutions Center to provide SMBs the right technology, information and communities to grow their businesses. The Small and Medium Business Solutions Center is now available in ten countries [1] and features new interactive content, industry research, tag clouds and enhanced search capabilities.
According to IDC, vendor/manufacturer's websites are the second most important resource for SMBs to learn about new technologies, cited by 34.3 percent of small firms and 34.9 percent of mid-sized firms [2]. The Small and Medium Business Solutions Center, previously Small Business 360, has evolved over the past two years into a one-stop resource for industry trends, articles and research helping businesses stay competitive. It has also expanded to include the Stimulus Learning Center, which can help entrepreneurs in the United States take advantage of opportunities created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Similar websites are being established in additional countries offering economic incentives and assistance to SMBs.
The Dell Small and Medium Business Solutions Center topics include:
- Technology - from business productivity and desktops/laptops to security, networks and servers.
- Marketing - from customer relations to how to promote your business online and offline.
- Industry-specific information - from accounting and finance to construction, law and medicine.
- Business Ownership - from employee management and green business to money and office management.
Dell serves a half-billion visitors online each year and continues to build its capabilities to fit evolving customer needs. A recent survey of SMB visitors to Dell.com shows 62 percent say the primary reason they came to the Web site was to research products and pricing [3]. To better facilitate this requirement, Dell offers Live Chat, which connects customers to Dell technology experts who can offer technology consultation or simply answer questions about configurations, services or pricing. Live Chat is available to Dell customers worldwide [4].
Dell is also investing to help customers connect with each other and share opinions through its community forums, accepted customer solutions, product ratings and reviews, IdeaStorm, and the Small Business Blog, resulting in thousands of small and medium ideas, discussions, blog views and comments. Dell also helps businesses connect on leading social and sharing sites Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube.
Quotes:
"The entrepreneurial spirit of the world's SMBs will be the driving force behind any global economic recovery," said PaulHenri Ferrand, VP of Dell small and medium business global marketing. "The modern entrepreneur is looking to technology vendors for much more than a great shopping experience; they want information, best practices and to connect with the greater SMB global community. That's where Dell's resources like the Solutions Center, Live Chat and social site networks come in - providing concrete answers and advice developed, in many cases, by our best experts - our customers."
"In today's online world, it's no longer about selling a product or service. It's about having conversations in places where customers are gathering and making your brand relevant," said Ramon Ray, Editor and Technology Evangelist, Smallbiztechnology.com. "Dell is doing this for its own technology and services, but what's most impressive is the company is sharing best practices and connecting entrepreneurs so they can implement similar strategies for their own businesses."
Additional Resources:
- Dell Stimulus Learning Center helps businesses take advantage of the U.S. stimulus package
- Dell Live Chat provides instant connection to Dell technology experts for a faster, easier and more personalized shopping experience
- Dell continues to engage and share best practices with small and medium businesses worldwide:
