Technology is evolving and developing at an incredible speed, and it shows no sign of slowing. For a business, that can be a frightening concept, as it sometimes seems as if the moment you have taken a new piece of hardware out of the box, it is on the verge of obsolescence.
Different companies have different ways in which they try to rise to this challenge. Many take the “head in the sand” approach, and soldier on with the same outdated IT infrastructure year after year, until freezes and downtime become the norm and the “tricks” for operating a particular piece of software become almost like a dark art, the secrets of which are passed orally down through employees.
It’s a familiar sight in many businesses, but it doesn’t have to be the case. Keeping your IT infrastructure current and relevant delivers business efficiencies and makes for reduced stress and a happier workforce. It can also be far less expensive than you might think.
Shop online for the best price
If you are looking for a new computer for the home, or a fridge, TV set or even car insurance if it comes to that, you will look online and compare prices. It is strange that in a business setting we are less inclined to do so. Online deals are as relevant in the B2B market as they are in B2C, and the online marketplace here is a prime example.
There is a vast array of hardware, peripherals and the like, all from reputable suppliers and with the same warranties available as if you had purchased through conventional supplier channels.The only difference is that they are all significantly cheaper. Online marketplaces like this are the way forward in IT procurement, so it is worth getting involved now.
Compatibility with legacy systems
One of the biggest challenges businesses face is integrating the new with the old. When you choose new hardware, you will of course need to make sure that components or peripherals that you buy are compatible with existing infrastructure. However, there is also a case for taking a long hard look at the overall costs. At some point, that older equipment has got to go, and now might be the time to take a clean sheet and look at a whole new enterprise management system.
Consider more fundamental changes
If you really are starting from a clean sheet, look at your needs from absolutely every angle. If you’ve been toying with the idea of outsourcing any part of your IT function, then this is the time to take the plunge. If you go with a fully managed service, the chances are that you’ll not need half of the equipment that you though you did, as this will be provided or procured by the outsourcing partner.
Other benefits of going down this road are that your salary costs will be significantly reduced, the third party provider will take care of all your data protection and security needs and you will have access to the very latest software all the time. It could be just the thing your business needs.
