Modern Information Technology for Suitable Development in Small Business with Links to Agile Methodology and Swarm Intelligence

Introduction

Information technology (IT) users apply various information systems for effective searching, processing and managing of stored information. This reality leads to the current need for implementing a volume of software in many companies, organizations and individuals. Large companies have resources leading to robust applications according to preferences with the support of specialists. The interest is oriented on communication with customers and clients, their preferences and seeking optimal offers with high adaptation value. The reason is that the best adapted entities will survive in the flood of information that is growing exponentially. (Petro, 2008) Difficult market conditions also force smaller companies to use adequate information systems for the support of realized activities. (Alleyne, 2011) This trend is standard in small and mid-sized companies, or individuals in small business activities. A good example of used systems in companies and organizations are Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Business Intelligence (BI) products with links to database and operating systems. CRM systems collect relevant information about customers, such as information on sales, shopping preferences, contact information and other data in order to provide customers with better service. (Howson, 2013) BI products are oriented on the analysis of available information with an aim to convert the stored data into knowledge. It is usually necessary to follow a trend by using a variable and searching for hidden correlations between stored data. (Gomery, 2013)

The general principle is that information systems must respect actual user needs and societal conditions. Both needs and conditions are dynamically changed via preferences and understand ways of perceiving the world. (Mahoney, 2013) The good starting point brings CRM systems with defined paradigms on changes in the environment and relationships with customers. (CRM strategy implementation, 2013) Such changes are important for every business and also for small business. This approach is visible in the:

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  Dynamic change in the thinking of small businesses that have an impact on contact with the customers, cyber-attacks and active innovations in business. (Ickert & McCracken, 2013)

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  Changing view of business through a customer experience. Long-term relationships are preferred. (Oracle customer experience, 2013)

Under the first view, there is standard focus of interest about profitable customers, activities to increase the market share of a product, and activities to increase the share of purchasing volume of a customer. These competitive conditions make well-known success criteria, but also make a hard press on small business. Small business has specific conditions that create barriers and benefits. (Benefits and Barriers of Bringing a Small Business Online, 2013) Existing restrictions are linked with limited resources, but benefits are visible in flexible reactions to ongoing changes. Small business brings the ability for better cooperation and inspirational innovation to the resolution of existing problems. There is not a restriction in cooperating with a few users, customers or people. Everybody in world needs cooperation and sustainable development; therefore, mutual cooperation across continents, countries and peoples is useful and removes existing barriers. Small business must also know about customers and repeat purchases with a link to the natural request “why.” An adequate answer to this request needs variable information from stored data in database systems via BI or CRM products; therefore, the objective of this chapter is dedicated to searching for the optimal implementation of needed software with respect to the conditions of small business and dynamic changes in global society with the support of suitable development. This development is a natural necessity for the survival of all.