As the first business week of 2011 comes to a close, many small businesses are beginning to reflect on the year that was. By most standards, 2010 was a year of tech innovations such as the iPad, cloud-computing and the growing dominance of mobile technology.
However, as 2010 saw innovation, 2011 is expected to the year of widespread adoption and implementation. Accordingly, small businesses should note a number of key developments that are likely to unfold over the coming year.
Writing in itBusiness.ca, Brian Jackson predicts Google's dominance in the search marketplace will be challenged with the growth of social media search from networks such as Facebook and Twitter. While Google is undoubtedly expected to remain the leader in search, the fact that Facebook passed Google as the most-visited site on the internet last year may threaten the search giant's reign.
The development of cloud computing technologies and applications may also decentralize the workplace, says Jeff Jedras.
"With the increasing presence of the cloud, the end point is becoming largely irrelevant," he wrote in itBusiness.ca. "I might access my virtual environment from work, at home, from my laptop. The IT department will be managing the endpoint, not the software."
Finally, the website predicts that smaller firms will pop up offering mobile and social consulting or marketing services - a trend that has already begun in many places and is also expected to help boost Canada's small business sector.
