bMighty went out into the trenches to dig up real stories of how actual businesses are using technology to survive ITE (in this economy). Plus: 21 easy ways to cut IT costs without hurting your business.It's kind of a Catch-22. On the one hand, The Great Recession is lowering tech prices and offering an unprecedented opportunity to use technology to leapfrog your competitors. At the same time, though, even companies with the means to invest in technology are often too scared to pull the trigger.

But when bMighty's Elaine Appleton Grant went out into the field to create our comprehensive Recession Survival Guide, she managed to unearth a few companies -- like Sundia Fruit and Vico Software -- that are managing to be smart about where to cut IT costs while also making shrewd technology investments designed to boost efficiency and gain competitive advantage. These brave, visionary companies prove that while it's not easy, it is possible.

Just as important, they inspired our collection of tips and tricks to cut IT costs and make it through to the recovery. Check out the whole package, from behind-the-scenes business stories to useful advice for companies of all sizes:

Sundia Fruit Uses Technology To Weather The Great Recessio Facing the most challenging financial climate since the Great Depression, Sundia Fruit's investment in innovative technology hasn't just helped it survive, it's made the company stronger than before.

How Sundia Fruit Uses Technology To Monitor A Global Business Sundia Fruit's investment in an intranet-based platform provides up-to-the-minute information on which customers owe money, how much they owe, how long it's taking them to pay, and who the best payers are. It also provides a weekly, company-wide reporting system. And when the economy went sour, the company's emphasis on visibility allowed founder Brad Oberwager to court new and existing funding sources armed with detailed and current financial data.

Marketing Technology Helps Vico Survive The Great Recession By combining free and inexpensive marketing methods with an investment in new sales and marketing software, Vico Software was able to increase its sales pipeline despite significant budget cuts.

Tough Times Call For (Smart) Technology Investments In any economy, technology alone won't save your business. But making smart, strategic tech investments can help your business survive and even thrive. Meet three companies that are managing to be both cautious and innovative at the same time.

6 Ways Technology Can Help Your Business Survive The Great Recession Sure, cutting back on spending -- including technology spending -- seems appealing right now. But unless you make smart choices about how you trim your tech budget you can damage your ability to thrive when times improve. These six technologies can help you conserve cash without compromising your business capabilities -- they may even make you stronger.

15 Ways To Cut Your IT Costs (Premium Content!) This exclusive downloadable guide (free with bMighty.com registration) lays out 15 steps to get more from your company's technology and lower your IT costs.

Don't Miss: How Technology Can Help Your Business Weather The Great Recession