Last week we examined some of the top mistakes companies make when implementing IT solutions. These mistakes included believing an IT company isn’t necessary, using the kid next door in place of an actual IT company, and purchasing cheaper equipment because it seems to be a good price. Unfortunately, these mistakes can end up costing more time and aggravation in the long run.
If you haven’t read part one, please do so now before continuing. Below are some additional mistakes companies make with their IT solutions, and ways your business can avoid these same costly mistakes.
“But that costs $1,000. What about this other option?”
One of the biggest mistakes that companies make when it comes to IT support is thinking about cost only. Sure, money should be a factor, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. When it comes to IT solutions, it’s helpful to think about not just what it costs you up front, but what you’ll save. If spending $1,000 means that your employees are more productive, get their work accomplished more quickly and are able to take on more work because of their freed up time, then that is $1,000 well spent.
Additionally, it’s important to think about long term costs too. If you are thinking about implementing a cheaper solution now, knowing long term you’ll have to upgrade to something different, examine the costs of going for the better solution now. In the long run you may actually save money if you implement what you need, instead of what is cheap, particularly when it comes to the cost of training staff on this new solution, the loss of productivity while learning the new system, and the down-time created during the switchover.
“Do we have to pay $5,000 for that software? Can’t we use the $200 version? It has almost the same features.”
Sure, cost is a factor, but sometimes there’s a reason that software can have an extreme difference in price, even though it appears to boast the same features. One of the biggest things to consider when looking at software isn’t the cost, but the capability. If the software is going to be used by multiple staff at once, what happens to the cheaper version when it crashes? Does it take down the whole office? Does it save the data prior to the crash? How does it access and connect with the server?
Larger companies need enterprise-level solutions, so that when one person’s software crashes, it doesn’t take down the entire network, lose data, or mess up the works. While the $200 version may seem tempting, it will probably wreak havoc when it crashes. That’s because cheaper solutions often aren’t created for wide scale use, and don’t have the solutions imbedded for a larger network. When assessing any solution, determine how it interfaces with the office as a whole, and what happens to the rest of the office when one person is down.
“Yes, we need our 5 customized applications to accomplish our goals.”
Often companies string together a bunch of different applications to try to accomplish their many goals. But the more systems you use, the more your employees have to learn. Additionally, when one of these solutions no longer works it can be a big scramble to find something that not only fits, but integrates into your existing framework. A good IT company can help locate applications that encompass most, if not all, of your requirements and needs, allowing you to streamline processes and increase productivity.
These are just a few common mistakes businesses make when implementing IT solutions. If you are thinking about implementing new technology, don’t go it alone. We can help you figure out what solutions will work best for your business, and help you avoid mistakes the other guys make, keeping your business ahead of the competition.