People don’t like change. There’s a reason that so many people stick with the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But when it comes to technology, it’s best to throw that saying out the window. Old technology can hamper productivity in the office and leave you in your competition’s dust. Tech inertia sets in once people get too used to the status quo. Technology moves ever forward, so your company has to, also.
If you’re asking whether your company is stuck in a technological rut, you probably are. The first step is to identify the problem. Where are the bottlenecks in your operations? What causes frustration? Entrepreneur recommends starting with an IT/network audit to see where your company’s technology is at and how it relates to the goals of your company.
Then, do your research. Try and find out what your competition is doing in terms of their technology and see if you are able to do the same things in your company. Set a timeline so that you implement the research in a timely fashion… before it’s out-of-date. Harvard Business Review has plenty of examples of companies that didn’t take the advice that came from their research, tried too hard to emulate their competitors, or didn’t adapt to the changes in their industry at all. Be sure to balance out everything when making decisions about upgrading your technology.
You have to start somewhere. So many of your technological tools are interconnected, a change to one will inevitably start a ripple effect.
If your in-office technology is running too slowly, it may be time to upgrade hardware. If your company doesn’t want to buy new computers outright, that’s fine at the moment as long as you are aware that somewhere down the line, new computers will be a necessity. If speed is the problem with the computers, consider purchasing new processors and accelerators for your computers. The cost is much less than buying brand new computers and work productivity can improve with a faster computer.
If your company does need new computers and you want to do a test-run of newer models, consider leasing a few computers to see if they’ll work well with what your company does. However, note that leasing costs more in the long run than outright buying a new computer.
To cope with older technology during the transition, LifeHacker suggests keeping the lines of communication open between individual employees and the IT department.
If you’re ready to phase out software that has to be installed locally (and maintained by your IT team), it may be time to consider moving to a cloud-based setting. We can help you find a cloud technology package to customize to your needs. We also have services that allow for employees of your company to work from any place at any time as long as they have a supported device. With increased mobility, customer service improves and productivity goes up.
The first thing to do is get an overall assessment of your big IT picture. Evaluate where it is now and where you need to go. An expert can help you decide where to start and how to make sure you transition smoothly.
If a complete overhaul exceeds your budget, choose one area to start with. Just choose it with all of the other, future changes in mind. That way you won’t run into a dead end.
Look at opportunities to combine needs into single solutions. For example, if you currently have separate CMS systems for different constituents, look for a way to bring them under one umbrella. You will save money in the long run.
One way to save money is to beta test any new software your company is considering. You will offer feedback to the software company along the way, helping them improve it, possibly in exchange for a discounted rate.
Tech inertia is never a good thing, but with a little push, you can get moving. So when it comes to considering whether now is the time to upgrade your company’s technology, make sure you’re making informed decisions and don’t be afraid to try things.
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