Essential Tips: All companies are tech companies

Grappling with the complexities of managing a modern workforce can be daunting. There are many tools and programs required, and it can be overwhelming to determine how everything should work together. Many businesses look at their IT infrastructure as a cost center, a second thought. Today, now more than ever, with the need to work from home or on the go, IT infrastructure's importance is taking center stage. In April, Goldman Sach's said “all companies are tech companies, or at least the ones that want to survive 2021".

Here are some tips that you can utilize to help make your business more efficient using modern computing:

Tip 1 - Shift your mindset, invest

Many organizations view their IT as a cost center, something to begrudgingly spend money on. Successful businesses realize that their technology is not hinderance, but a force multiplyer and are investing more money than ever into all things IT. The key is to ensure you are spending the money in the most efficient manner, getting the most “bang for your buck”. Having a trusted technology partner, with experience in doing just that, can make a significant difference.

Tip 2 - Utilize active monitoring

Businesses should identify critical infrastructure in their environment. Next, they should have a system to monitor that environment that will help them detect problems before they arise. Choosing an appropriate monitoring toolset will help you reduce the time spent on preventable issues. When clients and users don't have problems, they will be happier and perform more efficiently.

Tip 3 - Make it easy

Although a workplace infrastructure can be quite complex on the back end, there is no reason your employees need a degree in computer science to be efficient at their job. It would be best to choose software and tools that make the daily workflow simple and easy to follow, better than it was before. You don't want to require employees to read user manuals or other documentation to determine how to perform the basics of their job. The key to creating an easy to use toolset comes down to testing and planning.

Tip 4 - Plan ahead

The primary objective in any workplace is to create a steady stream of business and to operate in ways that will allow for growth and increased profitability in a strategic manner. To be able to grow efficiently, you have to plan for the future adequately. When providing a suite of tools and applications for your end-users, it is important to consider the solutions needed in the future. For example, you can draw upon the recent need to transition workers to be able to work from outside of the office. Companies that already had remote connection availability, whether for traveling employees or as part of a Business Continuity plan, were one step ahead of the competition. When the unexpected occurs, you must adapt quickly and minimize downtime and transitional periods.

Tip 5 - Consolidate Infrastructure

There are many pieces of software and hardware required to keep your business running. A pre-planned and properly configured IT infrastructure will allow you to ensure that all systems work well together and allow for future growth with minimal additional investment. Virtualization is an excellent example of this in practice. Virtualization enables organizations to lower hardware costs, have easier management, and less power consumption. It also allows organizations to deploy new systems at much lower capital costs.

Tip 6 - Analyse the data

Successful businesses make well informed decisions. That information needs to be up-to-date, accurate, and readily available. By utilizing the best, or even sometimes custom, software in your industry, you should be collecting and analyzing data on those you serve. Leveraging modern technology such as “A.I.”, or machine learning, can help automate and create predictive analysis.

Successful modern businesses utilize many different technologies to have a cutting edge over their competitors. It can be overwhelming to make simple changes to your business, much less complicated changes to systems. Having a qualified professional service advisor can help to ensure your money and time are used effectively. Having an advisor that does not just work for you, but partners with you can ensure that decisions are strategically made to align your technology with your organization's overall vision, mission, and objectives.

By studying and understanding your environment, you can save money and create an easier to use environment to ensure your staff is always able to be productive.

Rook Advisors is a leading provider of business planning and technical consulting services. As a group with decades of experience, we have been able to assist many companies with correcting issues that affect workplace efficiency. Reach out to us today for a free consultation on how we can make technology more than a cost center for your business.