5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR IT SETUP IN YOUR BUSINESS

Information technology should improve business results. It can help small business owners stretch out their limited capital in smarter and more effective ways. Businesses may need to make some adjustments to their work set-up, including spending a bit more on capital, to fully realise and reap the benefits of various technological / IT alternatives. However, all the adjusting and expenses  will be worth it because the benefits will often outweigh the short-lived challenges of the transitional process, once new systems are in place.

Below is a list of ideas that will help you use technology in your small business to do more with less and help you become more efficient and versatile.

Give employees secure, consistent access to information by improving your IT set-up. Your people need to consult the internet for a vast amount of information which will help your business be more current and relevant. You, as a small business, have an advantage over larger competitors because you can react quickly to business changes. But you can quickly lose this edge if your company network is frequently down, sluggish, or unsecured. A secure, reliable network based on intelligent routers and switches let your employees access the information and tools they need to keep ahead of competitors.

Improve internal communication and collaboration. Make it easy to work together. Smooth collaboration between employees, partners, suppliers, and customers is a sure-fire way to boost efficiency while also reducing costs. An intelligent network lets your business take advantage of interactive calendaring, videoconferencing, unified communications, and other technologies for easy collaboration.

Streamline customer service through efficient communication channels.  Delivering fast, knowledgeable service is the best way to keep customers satisfied. Linking your network phone system to a customer relationship management (CRM) solution is a great way to enhance customer communications. When a customer calls, a pop-up window with their records appears on an employee’s IP phone screen, computer screen, or both. Or set up an online helpdesk, which will help customers instantly with their problems and suggestions.

Allow remote access to business data and communication. Reduce unproductive travel time. All too often, time spent on the road is time lost. A networked phone solution that offers video calls and Web conferencing can help reduce the time and expense of traveling to offsite meetings and training sessions. Instead of spending time traveling, you can use the time to get work done with technology. Plus, should one be stranded or unable to get to the physical office, having remote access to company files will allow your people to work from anywhere across the globe.

Improve employee satisfaction. Aging phone systems and slow networks can frustrate your employees and annoy your customers. In some cases, an employee might become burned out and decide to move on. To help ensure that employees are productive and satisfied, your business needs a secure, reliable, and fast network.