Issue #124 - Another Tech Issue? 🌧️
Could your small business survive without US tech? 🦅 | How to get renewable energy for business 🌞 | What is the digital switchover? 📞 | Dip 'n' Clip Dog Groomers | Words | Tunes | More
🦾 GO
Could your small business survive without US tech? 🦅
Welcome to Issue #124 of The Backbone. The fortnightly newsletter from Bionic 🦾
It’s been almost exactly two years since our last tech issue, and we’ve just stumbled across another potential problem where tech is concerned, courtesy of an unlikely source - the French government.
In case you haven’t heard, the French government is moving away from US platforms, including Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, in favour of Visio, a French-made and hosted videoconferencing software.
The news comes amid rising sensitivity in Europe about the reliance on US services. And it got us thinking, could your small business hack it without US tech?
If your business uses Google for emails, Zoom for video calls, Slack for project management, Amazon for ecommerce, Stripe for payments, and Microsoft for anything, that definitely suggests a reliance on US tech.
While there’s no single official figure for the total number of UK small businesses using US technology, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that AI was adopted by 9% of firms, while cloud-based computing systems and applications were adopted by 69% of firms in the UK.
The US holds a dominant, near-monopolistic position in AI and cloud computing, which is more evidence that UK businesses are heavily reliant on US tech.
For reference, three US companies - Amazon, Microsoft, and Google - control about 63% of the global market. In AI, NVIDIA holds nearly 90% of the GPU supply (Graphics Processing Unit, specialised electronic circuits designed to rapidly manipulate memory and accelerate the creation of images, videos, and animation).
But why should you care?
As things stand, it seems the US has no plans to place direct tariffs on virtual cloud services like AWS (Amazon Web Services). So far, not so much to worry about, but who knows, given how volatile the US government can be?
And “direct” was doing some heavy lifting in the above sentence.
Tariffs on steel, aluminium, and chips could mean data centres become more expensive to build and run. In which case, the costs could be passed on to consumers.
These tariffs were introduced last year, and major providers like AWS and Microsoft have initially absorbed costs. But prolonged tariffs could force a re-evaluation of pricing models, which could lead to higher operational expenses.
There’s loads more info in this feature on TechTarget.
So, what can you do about it?
Switching to a UK or EU-based provider is an option. For instance, switching from Stripe to Revolut, trading Chase for Monzo, opting for Shopify or OnBuy over Amazon, and replacing Gmail with Proton Mail.
Not all are ideal solutions, and as we said, there appears to be no immediate risk of price hikes or direct tariffs on these digital solutions. But if the UK government blinks as the French have, then it’s definitely something worth considering, no matter how big or small your business is.
🗞 READ
How to get renewable energy for business 🌞
Switching energy suppliers is a quick and easy way to take control of your bills and protect your business from price volatility. But switching to renewables and generating your own power can take those savings to the next level - you could even make money from it.
This Bionic guide explains all you need to know, including what’s available, installation costs, payback periods, and more.
What is the digital switchover? 📞
The digital switchover, which will see all traditional landlines in the UK switched off, has been delayed from 2025 to 2027. The analogue, copper wire phone network (also known as public switch telephone network - or PSTN) is still being retired, meaning you’ll no longer be able to use your landline phone from January 2027.
But you don’t need to wait until then to make the switch to VoIP. Here’s all you need to know.
🙌 COMMUNITY
Join our community of small business superheroes 🦸♀️
Small business owners are the superheroes of the high street. But small business owners rarely get their voices heard. Now there’s a place to chat, share advice and help each other through the lows and highs of running a business. To get involved, scan or click the QR code above or click the button below to sign up.
🗣 SHOUTOUT
#BionicBusinessStory - Getting pampered with Dip ‘n’ Clip 🐩
Bionic caught up with Ella Holder, owner of Dip ’n’ Clip groomers, to talk about how she turned her passion for dogs into a thriving small business.
Bionic: Hi Ella! Tell us how you got started in dog grooming.
Ella Holder: “I’ve always wanted to work with animals. I studied an animal course at college and trained in a salon for a while, but eventually I wanted to create a calmer space where I could really bond with each dog — that’s when Dip ’n’ Clip was born.”
B: What’s been your biggest achievement so far?
EH: “Definitely going off on my own. It was scary, but being able to build my own client base and create a space that feels personal for the dogs has been amazing.”
B: And what’s been the biggest challenge?
EH: “Setting boundaries! When you’re your own boss, it’s easy to take on too much. I’m learning to be realistic with my time and to remember: this is my livelihood.”
B: Have rising energy and product costs affected your business?
EH: “Yes, I try to save energy — limiting the use of heaters and dryers — and I did raise prices slightly to cover the cost of the higher-quality products I use. You really do get what you pay for in this industry.”
B: What’s your favourite part of running a small business?
EH: “The people and the dogs! I love seeing owners and their dogs happy after a groom. It’s such a rewarding job.”
B: Do you have a favourite client?
EH: “There’s a little Shih Tzu called Ted. He’s older and had surgery, so I adapt how I groom him to keep him comfortable. His owner’s appreciation always reminds me why I do what I do.”
B: What advice would you give to other small business owners?
EH: “Know your worth. Don’t undersell yourself — if people value your work, they’ll pay, and they’ll wait. Confidence makes all the difference.”
You can follow Ella’s journey and check out her happy pooches on Instagram and Facebook. And read the full customer story at Bionic 🦾
📊 BUSINESS
Get your business costs sorted 💷
Bionic is the comparison site for your small business. We compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.
Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness 🦾
🎧 LISTEN
Playlist 🎶
Time for another classical playlist this month. Here’s one to put on in the background (hey, it’s called Classical in the Background after all), whether you're chilling at home, working away in the office, cooking in your cafe, styling in your salon, or anything really.
Podcast 🎙
Hosted by Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau, The Econoclasts is a podcast that looks at how mainstream economics has consistently failed to predict the events that shape our world. It sounds heavy, but it offers some interesting alternative takes on the policies that shape our world.
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🏡 HOUSEKEEPING
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🚫 STOP
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