Now more than ever, Springfield, Missouri is a great place to be in business. Not only is it set in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks, but it also has a booming economy. If you plan to own a business in Springfield, or already do, using I.T. can help you be a thriving part of the boom.
Springfield by the Numbers
The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) called Springfield an “economic engine of Missouri.” You can see it in the gross metro product, which has grown more than 23% in the last ten years. It’s obvious in the unemployment rate of 3.1% compare to 4.1% nationwide, as of July 2018. At 24/7 Wall Street, they say Springfield is third in the top five American cities for job growth, with a rate of future job growth at 42.9%.
Springfield’s Booming Industries
Which are the industries that are driving the growth in Springfield? Healthcare tops the list. Mercy Hospital Springfield is the city’s largest employer. They’ve recently expanded with Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield and Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield facilities. Other healthcare companies CoxHealth and Citizens Memorial Healthcare are also growing quickly.
The Springfield location of Reckitt Benckiser has increased its employee roll by 71.5 percent. SRC Holdings increased employees by 45.6 percent. Ozarks Technical Community College is growing rapidly, too, with a 26.4 percent increase. In the financial industry, BKD has grown by 24.4 percent more employees.
The Role of I.T. In Business Growth
In the 21st century, information technology paves the way for better business growth. Without I.T., the companies that are leading the way in Springfield would have a very hard time doing business at all. Here are some of the ways these companies use I.T., and how you can use it, too, to build the business success you want.
Communications
The internet has changed the way businesses communicate. Mobile devices allow employees to communicate on the go, with talk, text, and email at their fingertips. Customer service portals make it easier to communicate with customers, meet their needs, and protect your company’s reputation. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, allows you to make voice calls from anywhere without having to deal with an aging legacy phone system.
Data Storage
Businesses these days run on data. With the right information, they can serve their customers better and expand their own reach. Yet all this data must be stored somewhere. You certainly don’t want to keep it all in paper files, but what’s the best way to store it digitally? Cloud storage is a great option because you can store as much or as little as you need at any given time.
Data Analysis
You not only need to store data, but you also need to use it effectively. That’s why data analysis is so important to growing businesses. Data analytics helps you make better business decisions based on what is happening with your target market right now. It helps you find new markets for your products/services. You can discover where your weaknesses lie so that you can move beyond them to greater success.
Security Management
Businesses that don’t keep their data secure run the risk of losing everything. You need to keep your customers’ data secure to comply with industry standards and regulations. You also need to do it, so you can avoid scandals and lawsuits that could happen if customer data was stolen. With the right cyber security in place, you can protect not only customer data, but your own proprietary data.
Network Management
Big businesses have robust networks that give them the tools they need to serve a huge customer base. Growing companies need access to the same level of technology as they expand their businesses. With outsourced network management and support, you have access to cutting-edge technology without overinvesting at any stage of the game.
Server Management
Modern businesses rely on their servers to keep their networks up and running. Yet you want them operating smoothly in the background without having to pay them constant attention. With outsourced server management and support, your productivity increases, allowing your business to expand as rapidly as is practical for you without security risks or excessive downtime.
Cloud Computing
The cloud is great for storage, but it can do so much more. With cloud computing, you can use a wider range of software solutions. You can also improve collaboration inside your business and beyond. Everyone in your company can work from wherever they are in the world as they contribute to your business success. A managed services provider can help you determine the best time to move to the cloud and help you make that transition when the time comes.
Springfield is an up-and-coming city for business growth. You can be a part of the boom if you use information technology wisely. Use reliable VoIP communications to stay in touch with your customers, employees, and business associates. Store as much data as you need to with flexible cloud storage. Then, use data analysis to get the most from that data. Keep the information you collect secure to protect your customers as well as your own business. Count on outsourced network management so that you can access the best and latest technology out there. Keep your servers running in top form with server management services. When you’re ready, you can make the move to cloud computing to facilitate even greater expansion.
Learn more about how you can be a part of the business growth in Springfield with managed I.T. services from JMARK. JMARK is proud to have been a part of the Springfield business community for thirty years. We are a managed services provider that can help you manage your data, network, and servers to grow your Missouri business at the rate that’s right for you. Contact JMARK at jmarkit@jmark.com to find out more. Or, you can call us at (844) 44-JMARK or use our easy Contact Us form to leave us a message and have us get back to you promptly. With JMARK at your side, expansion is the most natural thing in the world!
