Since the late 1990s and early 2000s technological advances in computing and investments in communications and infrastructure have allowed smalls businesses to create a presence comparative to national brands. These advancements in small business technology allow owners to do more with less. Small businesses are now able to attract customers away for there more large counterparts. One of the areas where the competitive advantage is nonexistent for a national brand is in the area of software. Packages are available from software providers at affordable cost that provide the same functionality and reporting that large corporations pay huge amounts for.
Certain software applications are provided at no cost to the user such as Stockpile, our online inventory system. Application such as Stockpile manage the same business operations while business owners are investing a lost less in service cost and maintenance fees. The ability to allow these applications to be provided to small businesses would not be available without the investment by communications providers in infrastructure which was much needed since the technology boom had put a strain on the existing communications network. As more breakthroughs in technology occur the gap that existed between small businesses and large corporations is becoming more and more obsolete.
