Two Better Ways to Think About IT Support
In a lot of companies, IT support is something that everyone knows is needed, even though they don't really enjoy paying for it.
That leads to a predictable line of thinking: buy as little IT support as you think you can get by with, and then don't worry too much about it.
That makes sense, in the textbook cost-cutting kind of way, but it isn't the best way to plan your IT budget or strategy.
Here are two better philosophies, and ones that could help you make the right kinds of long-term investments: First, think about IT by considering what could go wrong.
One of the easiest ways to understand how IT can become important is to study a company where the right kinds of plans haven't been made.
From backup and disaster recovery to VoIP and other issues, there are places you want to have your bases covered to keep other departments (like sales, accounting, etc.
) running smoothly and not dragging down your bottom line.
Think carefully about which parts of your organization are most reliant on specific pieces of technology, and what kinds of disruptions - especially in terms of customer service, new revenue, etc.
- you could be facing in an unplanned crisis.
The point isn't to scare you, but to show you the importance of thinking ahead.
At some point or another, some piece of your hardware, software, or communications package is virtually guaranteed to stop working the way you expect it to.
Investing a little bit of time and money into the right kinds of protections now can save you a great deal of both later.
And secondly, think in terms of technology possibilities, rather than expenses.
This is the key question with a lot of technology, and especially in the field of IT consulting: What more could we be doing with current technology? How could we accomplish more with lower costs, or give you a competitive edge over other companies in your industry? The whole problem with thinking of IT as an expense, rather than a resource, is that it limits the number of new opportunities you can seek out.
Having the right hardware and software setups is making thousands of companies more efficient, more productive, and more responsive every single day.
To enjoy those benefits, you don't necessarily have to employ a team of Ivy League engineers...
you simply have to start thinking of technology as something you can use to gain an advantage over your competitors or better serve your customers.
Do you want to see how the leading companies think about technology? Talk to a member of our team today, and we'll show you a whole new world of bottom-line possibilities.
That leads to a predictable line of thinking: buy as little IT support as you think you can get by with, and then don't worry too much about it.
That makes sense, in the textbook cost-cutting kind of way, but it isn't the best way to plan your IT budget or strategy.
Here are two better philosophies, and ones that could help you make the right kinds of long-term investments: First, think about IT by considering what could go wrong.
One of the easiest ways to understand how IT can become important is to study a company where the right kinds of plans haven't been made.
From backup and disaster recovery to VoIP and other issues, there are places you want to have your bases covered to keep other departments (like sales, accounting, etc.
) running smoothly and not dragging down your bottom line.
Think carefully about which parts of your organization are most reliant on specific pieces of technology, and what kinds of disruptions - especially in terms of customer service, new revenue, etc.
- you could be facing in an unplanned crisis.
The point isn't to scare you, but to show you the importance of thinking ahead.
At some point or another, some piece of your hardware, software, or communications package is virtually guaranteed to stop working the way you expect it to.
Investing a little bit of time and money into the right kinds of protections now can save you a great deal of both later.
And secondly, think in terms of technology possibilities, rather than expenses.
This is the key question with a lot of technology, and especially in the field of IT consulting: What more could we be doing with current technology? How could we accomplish more with lower costs, or give you a competitive edge over other companies in your industry? The whole problem with thinking of IT as an expense, rather than a resource, is that it limits the number of new opportunities you can seek out.
Having the right hardware and software setups is making thousands of companies more efficient, more productive, and more responsive every single day.
To enjoy those benefits, you don't necessarily have to employ a team of Ivy League engineers...
you simply have to start thinking of technology as something you can use to gain an advantage over your competitors or better serve your customers.
Do you want to see how the leading companies think about technology? Talk to a member of our team today, and we'll show you a whole new world of bottom-line possibilities.
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