Depending on how you approach it, new technology can either be a boon or a bane for your organization. Without proper planning, the chances of investing in the wrong technology are enormous, and you can easily end up in a situation less desirable than before. It doesn’t help that business leaders often find themselves spoiled for choice, and they struggle to distinguish the hype from real, tangible benefits.
Always ask yourself the following questions before implementing new technology:
#1. Is it secure by design?
Digital security has become one of the biggest business concerns nowadays. In the past, security features were often tacked on afterwards rather than built in from the outset. Today, this dated approach is almost guaranteed to leave your organization vulnerable to a data breach. Security should always be a core priority all throughout the process; you can even consider bespoke software applications or integrations developed for your company. Security also should be a top priority when you’re migrating data to new systems. You need to ensure your data is protected during transit, and you have a fallback if anything goes wrong.
Related article: A quick guide to keeping up with technology trends
#2. Does it align with business goals?
Forget the hype of impressive-sounding figures and pseudoscience. When choosing and implementing new solutions, always focus on how they align with your business objectives and the tangible benefits they offer. At times, the digital transformation sector may sound like it’s all hype, but it actually offers benefits no modern business can afford to ignore. Instead of automatically opting for the latest industry standard, be sure to evaluate cases of real-world usage so you can see how the technology would work within your environment.
#3. Will it help your employees?
Mismatched technology is one of the most common complaints employees have about their workplaces. Too often, people are forced to work with new and unfamiliar systems. The first casualties are productivity and morale, but performance, reliability, and security may also suffer if users end up seeking workarounds. Since your employees will be using any new technology you adopt in the workplace, it’s crucial that they’re also part of the decision-making process. Like with many businesses today, if you don’t factor end-user buy-in into the equation, your new technology will become a costly liability rather than a valuable solution.
Related article: Addressing the challenges of implementing new technology
#4. How will it help your customers?
Just as employees often complain about poor technology in the workplace, customers also hate being forced to learn something new just for the sake of what’s trendy. Companies make this mistake all the time by redesigning user interfaces or adding unfamiliar or unwanted features. For customer-facing technology, you need to think first about the needs and pain points of your customers and create real-world use cases that address the issues rather than compound them. Above all, never change things for the sake of change, particularly when it comes to end-user experiences. You’ll only alienate your customers, and that’s far worse than just a wasted investment.
#5. Who will implement it?
Some business leaders are easily led astray by pushy salespeople, implementing technology that no one in the organization is familiar with or has a clue how to maintain. IT is complicated, which is why every new technology implementation must be carried out with the utmost care, under expert guidance. This is particularly crucial when it comes to matters of security and compliance. Thus, your technology strategy should not only include the solutions you’re planning to implement, but also who is going to implement them and be the person responsible for helping employees and customers enjoy the most benefits out of them.
Online Computers is a people-oriented business, which is why we cut out the hype and go straight for the innovations that bring real benefits to your employees and their customers. Don’t know what technology is right for your business? Read our comprehensive post about the 8 Most common IT mistakes, and how SMBs can avoid them. In today’s business environment, SMBs need to be tech-savvy in order to get ahead of the competition. But you don’t have to be a geek to be knowledgeable about technology. At Online Computers, we strive to educate our clients of the power of technology and how they can utilize it to enhance their business. Want to be smarter about IT? Get in touch with us today.
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