With the New Year approaching, you may be looking at putting in place new technologies to increase productivity and boost your competitive edge in 2008. Ask yourself these key questions to make sure you get the most from your technology investment.
To make an effective purchase decision, ask yourself what the problem you're addressing really costs your company, compared to the total cost of the solution. For example, a company may be missing sales opportunities because sales reps need a better way to stay in touch with the office from the road. A mobile broadband solution can help them connect to e-mail and the Internet more effectively. You can gauge the payback on this solution by estimating the value of increased sales versus the cost of the broadband solution.
Where is your company wasting time and energy? Evaluate how a technology solution can reduce the time it takes you to do a particular task, or how it improves your productivity. For example, a high-speed Internet connection might let you take advantage of an online payroll solution. This may reduce the time you spend phoning in your numbers, freeing up time for income-producing tasks.
If you view technology as an expense, you're only seeing money flowing out of your company. But the efficiencies technology solutions can generate can reduce costs elsewhere in your company. For example, shifting to an e-mail-based order confirmation system can reduce expenses related to printing and mailing invoices. Online collaboration programs might allow far-flung colleagues to work together online, reducing travel costs.
Adopting the right systems can maximize your results and simplify future technology deployments. For example, a high-speed Internet connection makes it easier to implement new technologies, such as integrated access. That, in turn, can help trim calling costs and provide new capabilities. It might also set the stage for technologies that might be necessary in the future, like video over a network.
Sometimes technology solutions offer "soft" benefits, or those that are difficult to quantify. For example, keeping your computer network up-to-date may help improve employee morale and retention, as workers feel you're investing in the tools they need to do their jobs most effectively.
Qwest recently mailed a product and services catalog to its small business customers. The catalog offers a worksheet to help you plan your company's technology direction for the coming year.
Access the Qwest planning worksheet.To create an effective technology plan for your small business, you need to stay current on data and voice communications solutions. While many sites discuss these technologies, these sites are dedicated exclusively to covering small business-focused technologies.
bMightybMighty.com, part of CMP Technology's Techweb network, helps smaller companies understand how to use technology to solve business problems. It features articles on a variety of technology topics, as well as a blog.
Inc. TechnologyInc. Magazine's online technology resource center aggregates technology-related articles and resources from the print magazine. It also publishes original content on small business technology issues, such as its "Business Bytes" blog. The site contains a wide range of how-to articles, product reviews, and user-generated content on specific technologies and technology strategies.
Small Business ComputingPart of the Internet.com family of web sites, Small Business Computing is regularly updated with news about technology solutions for small business owners. In addition, the site contains a helpful glossary of the "top 40" small business computing terms.
Small Business TechnologyA developer of online and print content (as well as a sponsor of events), Small Business Technology provides information on how small and midsize businesses can use technology strategically. The site features regularly updated news and articles, discussion boards, resources and online events.
Small Business Technology MagazineIssued quarterly by the nonprofit Small Business Technology Institute, Small Business Technology Magazine helps smaller companies understand how information technology can improve how they operate, grow and succeed. It regularly publishes articles from small business thought leaders, and includes case studies related to how specific companies are using different technology solutions.