Establish Your 2014 Technology Plan

Published on: November 22nd, 2013

As the year is quickly coming to an end, many of us are making plans and resolutions for 2014. As a business owner, are you giving thought to the various technologies that keep your business running efficiently?  Computer Troubleshooters encourages you to take action on the following technology issues before the end of the year.  We also discuss additional issues in our most recent newsletter.

Creating Your Technology Plan

Mobile Accessibility: Mobile accessibility means increased efficiency and productivity for your employees because your team can conduct business anywhere at any time. Plus mobile devices provide efficient Apps for accounting, inventory management and scheduling that will increase the productivity of your business. For your customers, mobile accessibility means streamlined communications and quick turnaround time on orders and other transactions. You can also go the extra step of creating a Mobile App for customers.  This can increase brand awareness and provide directions, coupon deals, social media engagement and more. A recent study revealed that 49% of mobile device owners are using Mobile Apps to find local business information.

The bottom-line: If you aren’t fully utilizing mobility, you will be struggling to stay engaged and keep up with the competition in 2014.

Technology Upgrades: Keeping your technology up to date is always important, but now there is an added sense of urgency with the demise of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system on April 8, 2014. If any of your computers are still running XP after the April 8^th deadline, your business will face dramatically heightened cyber security risks. Additionally, failure to upgrade the XP operating system can place your business in jeopardy due a variety of compliance issues that have potential legal consequences. Many businesses are using this situation to strategically link the upgrade of their operating systems and equipment.

The bottom-line: If you are still running Windows XP, you can no longer postpone your upgrade plans. Make and upgrade plan because April 8, 2014 is coming up quickly.

Managing Your Technology Budget: Undoubtedly, it’s a difficult task for any business owner who is trying to juggle technology costs while also striving to stay one step ahead of the competition. It’s even more difficult for business owners to stay up to date on the latest technological details and costs for cloud services, backup systems, cyber security, mobile apps, mobile devices plus software and equipment upgrades. But there is a solution: Managed Services.

As a business owner, one of the most efficient ways to manage your technology budget is to work with a Managed Services Provider (MSP). A MSP can develop a customized service plan that suits both the needs and the budget of your business. A MSP delivers a range of professional services from outsourced network management and monitoring of network servers to security and even call center management. These services are typically contracted for a fixed monthly amount, so you can avoid costly one-time service bills.

The bottom-line: As a business owner, you want to run your business not manage technology problems. A managed services plan can help you make informed choices about complex technology solutions and deliver a higher quality at a lower cost to your business. This can be a “Win-Win” situation for your business.