Choosing the right technology for your small business isn’t an easy task. There are lots of things to take into consideration such as what type of technology is a good fit for your organization (for example, desktop computers or tablets, local network or cloud-based services). Plus, you’ll want to know how well the technology will grow as your business needs change and how your choices will enhance your organization’s productivity.
Seem overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Determine your needs, set your budget and stick to it. Overspending is easy and costs can add up quickly, particularly as you are starting up. Figure out how much you can afford and find solutions that will bring you the most bang for your buck.
- Once you have your budget, re-evaluate your needs. Are you on the road most of the day? Then a lightweight tablet might be more appropriate than a bulky laptop. Plus, you might need to consider your own hotspot device so that you can access the web from anywhere.
- Research your options and figure out how to best fulfill your needs while staying within your budget. While that shiny new mac is tempting, if you’re only using the computer to log onto the internet, it might not be necessary. It also may not be necessary to purchase equipment that will soon become obsolete. Renting or cloud based solutions may be better options for you. Also, if your work keeps you outside of the office, make sure to find out the capabilities and coverage for your mobile phones and tablets.
- Remember the important, but often neglected or forgotten services. Back-up and storage options are vital to the smooth operation of your organization. When you’re researching pricing, don’t forget to include solutions for when you outgrow your current memory capacity or have an unexpected equipment failure.
- Make sure your tech can help you grow and support your changing business needs. One of the reasons to invest in technology is to save time and add to the bottom line by making processes and procedures more efficient. If your tech solutions become more cumbersome than helpful, you are losing money! Systems that don’t have the flexibility to expand as you grow can also be a huge money drain. While you don’t want to purchase what you don’t need and will never use, you will want to make sure that you have the freedom to add onto the system as your business takes off.
Your business phone system is one of the many technological decisions that you will need to make. Halloo’s collaborative tools and contact management system can help you keep track everything going on in your business. To learn more, take the tour.