SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THE IMPACT OF CHOOSING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SOLUTIONS ON COSTS

Burtsev Valery Alekseyevich

The article examines the conditions under which software and hardware solutions integrated into the digital infrastructure have an impact on the cost structure of small enterprises. It describes the structure of the digital infrastructure and the components of software and hardware, the impact of software solutions on operating costs (automation, accounting, workflow), as well as hardware components and operating costs (equipment, integration, maintenance). The article clarifies the parameters of comparing software and hardware solutions in connection with the logic of cost allocation, and also justifies the need to take into account the cost of ownership and scalability when choosing digital configurations. The components of the digital infrastructure and the main cost items associated with them are compared. A scheme for the impact of digital infrastructure on key cost categories has been developed. The problems and limitations are highlighted, and the economic effects of choosing the optimal digital infrastructure for small businesses are described.

Keywords:digital infrastructure, small business, small entrepreneurship, software and hardware solutions, costs.