Twenty years ago, fax machines were regarded as valuable, technologically progressive office machines.

Today, telefacsimiles often are relegated to the margins of offices - if they are used at all. They generally are regarded as quaint, outmoded devices from the pre-Internet age.

"The modern era pace of technological change is daunting," said John Regula, vice president and chief information officer at Allied Services in Scranton. "Change is the new norm."

Companies and workers need to try to keep pace with the latest developments in business technology. But the expense, time and effort to stay current pose challenges.

Technology allows small businesses to automate certain functions that historically have required the need to hire an employee. For instance, bookkeeping functions now can be handled by software applications such as Quicken and Quickbooks. The sales function is automated through contact management sites such as SalesForce. This gives the small business owner the ability to focus on strategy and cut down on labor expenses.

Small businesses compete with large businesses by being more swift and agile. Additionally, a small business can respond to change faster than a large business. A hundred years ago, electronic mail did not exist, and the only way to communicate with someone else in another geographical location was by postal service--the farther away your client or supplier, the longer the communication took. Today, with the advent of information technology, information is shared at an astounding rate. This saves time, offering the ability to make decisions faster.