Know-How Exchange : E-Marketing

Moderately important.... Depending upon the industry, of course. Then again.....It's the people who actually make anything work.

Technology can be your biggest asset in any business, even for small scale markets. A few comments:

Think of it as a force multiplier that enables you to create time for other projects. For most organizations "data" is critical so anything that can automate/manage it, the better.

Focus on keeping things as simple as possible and avoid customization wherever possible. It's easy to bend the technology to fit you, but difficult to maintain it. Sometimes it's better to adjust your objectives and stick with "out of the box"

But as Mike said, it's really all about the people :)

"[D]ata management" is a tool. Think of it as a screwdriver. If you need to fasten parts using a screw, then a screwdriver is really important. But if you are making horseshoes in a forge, a screwdriver is much less important.

Same with "data management" -- it's a tool, not an objective. If it will help you generate more profit, or spend more time at home with your family, use it.