Cheap Web Hosting Plans Are a Great Alternative to Intranet Communication for Small Companies

Cheap web hosting plans aren’t just for ecommerce sites anymore. Many small companies are using them to reduce costs by increasing communication between locations via the Internet. With the cost of cheap web hosting going down to less than $7 per month, small businesses are finding it cost effect to have an internal web site strictly for their own communication between locations.  Large companies that have multiple offices generally already do this. They use what is called an intranet communication system to communicate between offices. This is usually a system on the web that also incorporates hand held devices so that offices and sales people in remote locations can report in to the main office. Parts of the system may include a schedule of meetings, to do lists, vacation time, status reports, sales figures and client information. This can be a costly way to communicate, but is the most effective way to keep a large company running.

With the budget web hosting services available now, however, small businesses can take also advantage of this cost saving innovation. Let’s say for example, that you own a small chain of restaurants. Instead of always using the phone to check on how things are going, you can check them on your very own website. As the owner or manager of the restaurants, you could look at separate screens for employee scheduling, dinner reservations, inventory, shipments, sales figures, and supplier information – twenty four hours a day.

Company management software to accomplish this used to be expensive. Along with the cost of the hosting service, it was definitely cost prohibitive. Now, though, small companies can enjoy the low cost of cheap hosting companies along with free Joomla software. Joomla is free software that comes with a lot of low cost web hosting plans. If it doesn’t come with yours, it can be downloaded for free. Joomla is real time management software that is easy to install and easy to use and will help you enter and update company information from anywhere that you have Internet access.

Joomla comes with an installation wizard, so all you need to set it up is a web site with an open FTP account and an open MySQL database. The wizard will ask you questions about what you want the software to do and will set up the system for you on your web site. That’s all there is too it.

So let’s go back to our restaurant example and see how the combination of Joomla and your web site will help your small chain of restaurants run more efficiently. First off, everyone will have an access code to get into the system, which you can change as often as you wish. As well, you can allow certain people into one screen and not into other areas of the site. During the day, the host can enter reservations into the computer in real time, so the kitchen can check the reservations to immediately know how many diners to expect for the evening. The manager can check the inventory and place orders through your email account for any supplies that are low. They can also schedule employees on the system and publish things like special of the day or menu changes so that everyone (including you) stays on top of the daily operations of the restaurant, without making phone calls from any location. You can even have a separate screen for large parties or banquets where you can take reservations and post the menu. If you want, you can give a separate code for the client so they can look at and update the information themselves.

Joomla and a cheap web hosting site can work for any type of business including retail stores, medical clinics, hotels, garages, and any service industry. Another great aspect of this communication system is the customer service aspect. Customers can use a generic code to access dinner reservations, updates on car repairs, and doctor’s appointments. They can even use the system to get directions or cancel appointments or reservations. If managed correctly, these functions can take a lot off work off of the receptionist or whoever answers the phone. You can also use this website for traditional advertising and internet marketing. It really does do everything at the fraction of the cost of traditional management software. As well, because Joomla is General Public License software it will always be free and is constantly updated.

Setting up a cheap web hosting account and installing Joomla doesn’t require much money or computer experience. You don’t need an IT tech, a big financial investment, or a lot of time to get started with this cost saving intercompany communication system.