In this week’s blog, we will be talking about things to consider when developing your company’s IT systems, tech tools, and the importance and true cost of effective of inefficient and ineffective technology. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s common for small businesses to run into problems due to poor IT systems.
About Compatibility
The first thing to consider is compatibility. I believe that the first, and most important, step in all of these processes is to determine which hardware/software ecosystem you will operate in. Not to say, if you use Windows, don’t allow a Mac user or vice versa — but do keep those types of things in mind. If your ideal systems require having to purchase additional machines for your workers, do it! You can read our previous blog about why we use Apple computers exclusively for further details. Ultimately, the costs of buying a new laptop for someone on your team will outweigh the costs. Worse scenarios are possible, such as losing a customer or having to pay your workers a few extra hours per week due to inefficient systems.
About “Centralization” Tech Tools
Once you have selected and purchased your hardware, you will want to look into some “centralization tools,” as I like to refer to them. These are your apps like Dropbox, Slack, Asana, etc. Especially, if your company is decentralized, you’ll want to look into getting the best apps possible. Our company uses Basecamp, which is a project management software that also has features similar to Slack and Dropbox, so all company calendars, events, jobs, messages, and file-sharing is available on one page. Everything depends on your needs and preferences. However, you really should look at finding ways to keep in contact with your team members outside of email, phone calls, and text messages. Especially with telecommuting, it can become challenging to separate work from home.
Using communication apps that the user can get away from when they don’t want to be disturbed is an empowering tool. This will promote happiness and likely decrease turnover rate within your company. Being proactive in decreasing your employee turnover potential will save you thousands of dollars in hiring and training costs. Plus, experienced personnel will better serve the customers leading to higher quality work, longer-lasting customers, and higher revenues.
About Communication Tools
The last thing to focus on is communicating with your customers. Depending on your company’s industry and service types, there will be lots of customer interaction. You may be working with a customer on a daily basis with a specific team member or group assigned to that job. These customers reserve the right to open communication, real-time progress reports, and other such things. Take this concept into consideration when formulating your business strategy and your plan of action for landing your first clients. Again, unhappy customers are customers who do not return and maybe even leave bad reviews, making it harder for you to gain more work. These issues can result in huge issues within your company and need to be addressed as soon as possible.
So, in a nutshell, if you are starting or have already started a company, take a step back and analyze your company’s technology setup. Consider hardware/software compatibility, communication efficiency, and customer interaction before you make any moves on your hardware or software decisions.
