BT launches new online tools

BT Business has launched a free online service to help small businesses manage the fundamental day-to-day elements of their business. BT Business Builder brings together a series of online tools to support basic administration processes within both start-ups and established businesses.

These tools are designed to address the core financial, legal and administrative elements of business management – helping organisations to run an effective, professional and compliant operation, with more time to concentrate on their core business strengths.

The on-demand service is the latest in a series of free services from BT Business and initially comprises of tools to support eight key elements of business management. These cover the following areas:

• Business planner – support for growing and managing the business from concept to disaster recovery.

• Bookkeeping – cash management, VAT, bill payment and invoice creation software.

• News alerts – up-to-the-minute alerts on new legislation, including what businesses need to do and by when.

• Sales and marketing – essential tools for promotion and lead management.

• Health and safety – easy production of policies, assessments and procedures.

• Employing staff – advice on basic HR and statutory employment obligations.

• HR and records – procedures and documents for complete HR compliance.

• Payroll – an end-to-end payroll management tool.

The basic service offers all of these, and customers who upgrade to the premium service will also benefit from a range of benefits including a 24-hour legal helpline, as well as more advanced HR, health and safety and employment functions.

“BT Business Builder will make life much easier for anybody who runs a small business,” said Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business. “Our customers are looking for comprehensive support and that’s just what we’re delivering.

“Whether the business has been running for a while or is just starting out, we’re giving them an all-in-one service that helps owner-managers spend less time on everyday administration and more time doing business,”

“In the early stages it is important to concentrate on as much as possible on what you’re good at to drive the organisation forward. With the huge amount of administrative responsibilities which need to be carried out, many owners and managers find themselves doing this much less than they would like. By offering the basic service for free, we are helping small businesses get off on the right foot and more established ones to make their processes much more efficient. 

“When combined with BT Tradespace, our free to join online network to help businesses partner and trade, and BT Workspace, our free service that helps businesses collaborate and share documents among colleagues and with suppliers or customers we are offering businesses a powerful suite of tools to help them succeed,” he added.

Many businesses have already seen the benefits of BT Business Builder. Freddi Stroland, owner of Zoe Cosmetics, said: “It’s an absolutely great service. I have made several employment contracts and am getting all my employees set up on the payroll system”

Michael Kyriakides, owner of Electrical Power Systems Limited, said: Being able to make health and safety policies easily saves me a great deal of time and effort.”

For more information please visit www.bt.com/btbusinessbuilder