By Doug Cooper

Canadian companies spend 42 per cent of what their American counterparts spend on technology. Why is that relevant? Because according to the Institute of Competitiveness and Prosperity, viewing technology as a cost instead of an investment is contributing to the widening prosperity gap between Canada and the U.S.
    While many small- to medium-sized Canadian businesses (SMBs) are implementing technologies that can help them cut costs and increase efficiencies, many still haven’t made the leap. For many SMBs, choosing the right technology to meet their business needs can seem challenging, if not overwhelming. 
    Following are three fundamental technology concepts every Canadian SMB should consider.

Anytime, anywhere computing is now becoming the norm with the growing popularity of notebook PCs. A notebook costs about the same as a desktop computer, but provides a higher return on investment—employees can stay productive anywhere, finish work faster and respond to customers anytime.

Implementing a local area network (LAN) allows businesses to run more efficiently by enabling PCs and printers to communicate with each other. This allows employees to access files and applications from any PC connected to the network. Instead of relying on the Internet and e-mail to send documents among the group, teams can share access to a common drive and access files directly. 
    Implementing a LAN will inexpensively enable employees to reduce the time they spend trying to collaborate and share information.

A wireless LAN, or WLAN, allows employees to stay connected with a wireless notebook from anywhere in the office—employees can move from their desks to a conference room with their laptops while still connected to Internet and e-mail. 
    A WLAN also eliminates the need to re-wire the network as new employees are added or subtracted. New employees can easily connect to the network using the WLAN without the hassle of rearranging workspaces or having to wire and re-wire desktop stations.