If you’re like most, your business is built on servers and internet connection and cloud computing. The difference between you and your rivals is simple: you ask questions. When a new gadget hits the market, you treat it with skepticism rather than embracing it with open arms. There’s no need to invest in something which doesn’t help the company.
The question is: how do you know when it’s helpful and when it’s a piece of old junk? Saying no to tech isn’t a straightforward thing, especially when it’s new and shiny, but the following should help you find the courage.
Analyze The Company
Everything you implement should boost the business in some way or another. The best way to figure out if a gadget will do the job is to analyze what you have now. Take everything and put it into three categories – “Good,” “Bad” and “Needs improvement.” Then, ask a simple question: how does the new stuff fair against the old? If what you are going to buy will make improvements to the “needs improvement” section of the firm, then it’s a smart purchase. Anything else is a waste of time because what you already own works.
Analyze The Competition
Rivals tend to copy what their competitors do, and technology is no different. The thing is they might have a strategy in place which lets them utilize a tool better than the rest of the market. Netflix is an excellent illustration. Others have tried to copy – Amazon Prime – but none have come close to matching the streaming site. Why? It’s because Netflix is engrained in the culture. AP will never have the same following regardless of the quality. You need to think about this before you flush money down the toilet. Never replicate the competition for the sake of copying.
Get Advice
No one expects you to make these decisions based on your knowledge and research. Instead, some companies will offer the service for an affordable price. All you need is a strategic IT consulting business with a solid reputation and a technology consulting service. What they’ll do after you hire them is to look through your past and present investments to figure out what you should incorporate in the future. It’s not a good move to take them at their word every time, yet it’s a foundation from which to do further research. Or, you can use them as a second opinion.
Consider The Extras
A piece of software might revolutionize the company, yet there could be catches. For example, the company might not be able to afford the training involved. When it comes to the situation where the costs of implementing something will shut down the business, then it’s a no-brainer to avoid it. The same goes for things such as transition periods and employee morale. It’s pointless using something if it makes the staff unhappy.
Do you think you can say “thanks, but no thanks” now?
