Insights

Practical thinking, plainly put.

Short, useful articles on AI, software and cloud for owners and managers of small businesses. No jargon, no hype, just sensible next steps.

An owner in a navy cardigan placing a plain archive box on a tidy shelf of blank folders, smiling at a younger colleague seated at a laptop in a bright modern studio
Practical AI

Getting your business information ready for AI

What good data means for a small business using AI, and the ordinary housekeeping that gets your files ready and pays off with or without AI.

· 6 min read
A business owner and her operations manager planning together over a single sheet of paper in a modern office overlooking their warehouse
Good technology decisions

A one-page technology plan for the year ahead

How to write a simple one-page technology plan: where you are, what matters this year, a few priorities, a rough budget and a named owner.

· 5 min read
Three colleagues in a glass-walled meeting room on a landscaped business park, one turning a laptop to show the other two, with closed notebooks and mugs on the table
Practical AI

Microsoft 365 Copilot for a small team: is it worth paying for?

What Microsoft 365 Copilot does, how it differs from the free Copilot Chat, what it needs to work well, and how to trial it sensibly in a small team.

· 6 min read
A business owner writing a short list in a notebook at a wooden table beside her laptop, in a converted barn office overlooking fields
Practical AI

AI for small businesses: a sensible place to start

A practical, low-risk way to begin using AI in a small business, starting with everyday tasks, the tools you already have and a few simple guardrails.

· 5 min read
A business owner in a navy jumper working cheerfully at his laptop in a bright modern office on a business park, with a mug of tea and a neat pile of papers on the desk
Practical AI

Five everyday tasks AI can take off your plate this month

Five practical, low-risk ways to use an AI assistant in a small business, with how to try each one, what to check and where the time goes back.

· 6 min read
A business director shakes hands with the lead of a software partner team in a bright meeting room
Software that fits

When to Outsource Software Development

Outsourcing software development can be a strategic decision for many businesses, providing access to expertise and resources that might not be available...

· 4 min read
Two developers pair-programme at one desk, one pointing at the monitor
Software developmentFor technical readers

The Essential Role of Test-Driven Development (TDD) in Software Engineering

Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a software development process that relies on the repetition of a very short development cycle. Developers write an...

· 2 min read
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Digital business

Developing and Testing a Value Proposition

In today's competitive market, defining and refining a strong value proposition is essential for any business aiming to succeed and grow. A value...

· 3 min read
A team lays blank cards face down on a table during a planning session
Software developmentFor technical readers

Story Points in Agile Development: what, why and how?

Story points are a unit of measure for expressing an estimate of the overall effort that will be required to fully implement a product backlog item or any...

· 2 min read
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Digital business

Freemium strategy and examples

The freemium model is a popular business strategy used by many startups, particularly in the digital and software sectors. This approach offers a basic...

· 3 min read
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Software developmentFor technical readers

Twelve-Factor Apps: Deep Dive

In our chosen realm of software development, the Twelve-Factor App methodology has gained attention for its comprehensive approach to building scalable...

· 2 min read
Two founders watch a customer try an early prototype at a table in a co-working space
Digital business

What is the Lean Startup?

The Lean Startup has emerged as a transformative philosophy, shaping how new companies are built and how new products are launched. Pioneered by Eric Ries...

· 2 min read
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