Tip of the Week: Keep Your IT Optimized

IT management is critical to the success of your business, but it’s easier said than done. There are countless moving parts that all go into keeping your business’ IT organized. Here are three ways you can make sure IT doesn’t hold your business back from its full potential.

Keep Up With Current Technology Trends
Running a business is your primary responsibility, and staying up-to-date on the latest developments in the IT field can help you make this job much easier. Be sure to read up on new solutions that might be helpful, as chances are it will be in the future. Another way you can keep up with the industry is to look at how similar businesses are using technology to improve their organization. While it might not be the most fun thing to analyze your competitors, it can yield a lot of substantial information you can use to improve the way you compete with them.

Finally, take the time to ask your employees and customers how technology can improve their access to important assets or information they need from your business. If your employees are finding it difficult to get their job done as is, you can use technology to solve the problem. Similarly, if your customers are finding it inconvenient to access the services you provide them with, perhaps it’s time for a change--and believe us when we say it’s better you make the change, as the change they would make could likely mean leaving your business for one that is more future-minded with the way they work with technology.

Augment Communication Between IT and Your Organization
One often overlooked part of optimizing your IT strategy is communication with your IT department. Transparency is important in this regard, as miscommunications could mean a world of difference when implementing a new solution or asking for assistance with a particular application. The less time that’s spent implementing a solution you don’t need, the better, and any chances of the same work being done twice can be safely mitigated.

That being said, communication is equally important for your employees. Implement solutions that help them stay connected to each other in the office, as well as those that help them stay in the loop regarding important projects. Project management software can be a great way to keep everyone involved with a project up to speed regarding progress. A unified communications system that includes email, instant messaging, and voice chat can aid in this further.

Keep a Close Eye on Data
Data is one of the most important assets available to your business, and it needs to be monitored and learned from if you hope to make strides in today’s modern business environment. One of the best new ways to manage data and use it to improve operations is to implement dashboard technology. Dashboards collect information from various points across your business’ infrastructure to provide a single point of access for many of the important assets you use on a daily basis. Taking advantage of one of these can save you countless dollars and cut down on wasted time and resources.

Furthermore, you can implement a customer management system that helps you keep track of each and every one of your interactions with both current and potential clients. Doing so helps you seamlessly move them through the marketing funnel in an organic, natural way. It can help you stay in touch with them and ensure you have the best relationship possible with your revenue sources.

Does your business need help keeping up with the current IT landscape? Preferred can work with your organization to ensure you’re not falling behind the times. To learn more, reach out to us at 708-781-7110.