Many small business owners decline placing their money in the latest technology investments because of the price. However, falling behind on technology can end up costing you more money in the long run. These tips can help you decide which technology to invest in.
1. Choose Technology With Superior Customer Support
According to research, an unexpected IT outage can cost your business $5,600 per minute. When something goes wrong, it is vital that you can reach customer support quickly and get your problem resolved as soon as possible. Before investing in technology, find out what support is offered. Check the hours support is available. Find out how many ways you can contact support and what the expected wait and resolution time is. Do a test call to make sure someone answers your request during the timeframe the company promises.
2. Secure Technology Investments
Data breaches can cost you money, put your network out of commission, and ruin your reputation. Before you purchase any technology, research any security flaws it has. Consider using password-protected PDFs to protect your sensitive files. Invest in a PDF editor so that you can easily make changes to your PDF documents and drawings without having to convert them to another format. All you need to do is upload your file, make changes and then download the edited file and share it.
3. Read the Reviews
Technology companies make a lot of claims about their products, but not all of those products live up to the claims. One way to find out which products perform as advertised is to read reviews from professional reviewers and users. Don’t just look for good or bad reviews. Look for what people say they liked or did not like about a particular product.
4. Move to the Cloud
The price of cloud computing has dropped significantly in recent years. Moving your business to the cloud makes it easier for your employees to collaborate, particularly if they do not all work out of the same location. Cloud-based platforms are reliable, scalable, and secure. Outsourcing functions, such as running your email server, can save you time and money that you can invest elsewhere.
5. Switch to Mobile
Mobile devices, such as smartphones, are getting better and faster, and high-speed data is becoming more accessible anywhere in the world. Smartphones and tablets can be used for basic data entry and consuming information at a cost that is significantly less than managing desktops and laptops. Cloud-based apps can be accessed from anywhere that your employees have an internet connection. This combination allows you to build an inexpensive mobile workforce.
6. Build a Professional Website
If you have been relying on free website creation tools, consider paying a professional developer to enhance the look and function of your site. A professional developer can custom code your site so that it doesn’t look like just another cookie-cutter site. Your developer can also troubleshoot your existing backend code to make it faster and more powerful or design an entirely new e-commerce system so you can stop paying monthly fees to use someone else’s.
Final Thoughts
The upfront cost of new technology investments may be intimidating. However, when you calculate what you can save in time and money over the long run, technology investments are often a better financial move.
