Scandinavian business software developer Mamut has bundled together business advice with its programs to create what it calls the Small Business Concierge.
"Basically Concierge is our software with business advisory services on top of it," said Mamut UK managing director Alan Moody. "You phone Mamut and we'll give you an answer within two hours."
The concept is backed by Microsoft, which will supply much of the expertise through what is described as its "knowledge network". Mamut's in-house Concierge hotline team will approach partners within the network to get the right information back to clients on issues ranging from the audit threshold and tax queries to more typical technology challenges such as which version of Windows to install.
The cost of Concierge works out at £4 a month per user, on top of the £15 monthly software licence fee. Moody explained that Mamut was not trying to take work away from the accountancy profession, but that it was addressing a gap it recognised among its target users in companies with up to 25 employees.
"We are focused on micro businesses and we think it's an underserviced sector," he said.
Mamut devised the new service in consultation with customers and prospects in response to research from the Federation of Small Businesses, which suggested that concerns about costs and security, and the lack of IT appropriate skills, were holding back the adoption of business software in microbusinesses.
"Small Business Concierge addresses all of these concerns," said Moody. "It is low cost and comes with a host of support services which are provided by one company - ensuring maintenance and training issues are solved quickly and efficiently."
Mamut is hosing a series of seminars in the next month on the subject of 'Making IT Work 4 U'. Tailored for companies with less than 50 employees, the sessions will explore the benefits new technologies can offer the small business. The seminars are free, and each visitor will receive a free trial of Mamut's Business Software (worth £80). For more information visit Mamut's Corporate Partner page on AccountingWEB.
