We know the feeling you get when your server dies or the look on your face when you realize your desktops can no longer support your workforce. We’ve also seen the look of panic when a virus has locked all of your files – threatening to shut down your business. We have some good news – IT doesn’t have to be this way. There are certain measures you can take to protect yourself from the “pit in your stomach” feeling that happens when IT fails. This starts with considering an IT upgrade. Whether it’s a physical upgrade to your equipment, an upgrade to a managed service provider, or moving yourself from on-prem to the cloud, it’s takes a plan and the right mindset to successfully upgrade your IT.
- The Right Mindset
So how do you begin? The first step is having the right mindset. So many times we hear business owners talk about how IT is just something they hope works and, more importantly, hope doesn’t break. They get nervous when they hear the words “replaced” or “upgrade,” envisioning a bill with many zeros. In order to successfully upgrade your IT plan, you need to be in the right mindset. Your IT Plan is an investment in your business. IT can transform your customer experience and internal operations. This in turn makes you more profitable and competitive. The first step is realizing that upgrading your IT plan is an investment in your business’ future
- Needs Analysis
Now that it’s an investment in your future, you need to analyze what areas of your business could do better and how IT could improve those areas. If you have a salesforce that spends increasingly more time on the road, the answer could be initiating virtual work environments so they can work from anywhere. If you find your server constantly in need of repair, it could be moving your server environment to the cloud. If you have a large customer service area, it could be adding Artificial Intelligence to your service center to help trouble shoot and field calls. Most times this process works best if you have an outside IT company present during your analysis meeting. An outside consultant will be able to see areas that could be improved with newer IT services.
- Financially Plan For your Upgrade
The next step is planning for the upgrade. Upgrades are not typically free and come with a cost. How much can you invest this year in upgrades? How much can you dedicate to maintenance? Determining the appropriate amount you can invest will help you determine where to start. Again, this is where having an outside IT provider or in-house IT pro available will help. They will know what certain upgrades will cost and help you determine where to start.
- Educate and Embrace
Your upgrades have begun. Now it’s time to educate your workforce on how to use the new system. Is your IT department trained and ready to handle the new services? Do your employees know how to work in your new services? Education is the key to getting your workforce to embrace the new systems. The last thing you want is to implement a new system and have no one use it to it’s full potential.
As you look towards 2017, we strongly encourage you to evaluate how much you allocate to your IT services. It’s no secret that in this day and age you have to have tech to survive. But it can be much more than a survival tool – it can help you compete in your industry and truly transform the way you do business. If you’re wondering how to incorporate new IT services in 2017 or how to budget for IT, contact us!
