With the New Year just a few days away, 2016 will be here before you know it. This means you should already be thinking about next year’s IT budget, and how to best address your technology needs to keep your practice growing, compliant, and not stifled by outdated IT that distracts you from your customers.
To ensure your IT is dependable for 2016, here are a few steps you can take to prepare your business.
1. Evaluate
One reason some businesses fail to update their IT—then wind up with broken technology that causes endless headaches and delays—is that they’re overwhelmed by the number of technology choices. They’re unsure what needs to be upgraded or replaced. That’s why the first task you should undertake in planning next year’s IT budget is to determine what you have right now.
Have a small or mid-sized business? You may be able to do this by walking around your office and visually assessing your technology. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you could also hire an IT provider to determine which pieces of technology you use regularly. (Hint: You can contact SWK Technologies to see if you are eligible for a free assessment.)
2. Correct
When you’re done with the evaluation, you’ll have likely discovered some IT issues that need to be addressed immediately. If you have the budget to fix them this year, then go ahead and do so; otherwise prioritize technology repairs in your 2016 budget. This will help ensure IT doesn’t create unnecessary dysfunction in your daily operations.
3. Strategize
Stop thinking about technology for a moment. Instead, think about your long-term business goals. What do you want to accomplish in the next one, five, and ten years? What do you envision your business looking like then? Jot down your goals and answers to these questions on a piece of paper, then think: Can your business can achieve these goals with IT implemented as it is now? If it can’t, what technology changes need to take place? The answer will reveal necessary IT adjustments for the future of your business. A few other ideas to consider when planning your long-term IT strategy include:
- Usability – Complex technology scares the average user and prevents usage. If you want your new IT solution to be used, make sure it’s user friendly. Otherwise you’re throwing money away.
- Automation – Because your time is valuable, you need all the help you can get. Technology can act as your team of extra staff members, automating and taking care of processes usually performed manually. Automation frees your employees to spend more time growing your business.
- Adaptability – Both technology and the world as we know it are in a constant state of change. When implementing new IT, find something that will evolve with your industry. If you’re unsure, talk with the vendor of the technology product you’re interested in, or consult with an IT provider to help you along.
Lastly, we understand: IT isn’t your primary concern.
If you ever have any questions or need assistance planning for your future IT needs, our experts are more than happy to help you in assessing, evaluating, and implementing new technology that will take your business into 2016 and beyond.