Your Business Doesn’t Need Technology
Technology is highly overrated. Ask yourself — Do you really need computers and technology to operate your business? If they suddenly didn’t work, you’d be fine. Business would operate as usual. There would be no loss of revenue, work, or impact to the productivity of your workforce. I have no need for technology or finding better ways to do things. If these statements are true for you. If you don’t need any kind of technology aids for your business — — stop reading. Don’t go any further, it will simply be a waste of your time.
Technology — The Necessary Pain in the A%#
So have you taken a hard look at your Information Technology? Have you truly evaluated the impact it would have if you didn’t have access to it? More importantly have you evaluated your daily operation? Are your systems working as efficiently as they should? Have you evaluated how much productivity is lost due to poorly operating systems or cumbersome processes?
In my tenure of almost 24 years in business I am amazed at the businesses that understand the need for efficiency within their business, and those that do not. Granted, over the last 10 years or so, the need to do more with less has forced some business to automate. But still, I am amazed at those businesses who do not evaluate their processes and operation.
Is your Information Technology staff simply a cost of doing business? Or is it driving efficiency and revenue for your organization? If it is simply a “cost” of doing business it may be time to reevaluate your organization. I.T should lead change and innovation, be the driving force to achieve your company’s goals.
If your Information Technology Staff are not innovating, they are doing your organization a huge disservice. Many times your I.T. staff are viewed as simply support staff; maintaining systems, keeping users up and running. While supporting staff is important. If you do not have anyone looking at ways to improve systems and processes, the organization will remain utilizing the same old technology. Often the word innovation gets the bad rap of being directly linked to $$$$$. Meaning that in order to innovate you need to spend a lot of money.
There has been no other time in history where the playing field between large enterprise organizations and small business has been more equal than now. Everyone has access to the same tools, software, hardware, and online marketing. Granted large organizations have more staff and resources. But the need to spend big money on solutions is no more. With mobile technology and apps, cloud based computing, web based applications, and just the overall power of the Internet. We have never been able to find and share information like we can today.
How do I start? There is so much information out there it is easy to get lost. True, there is a lot of information out there. don’t fall into the “if it is on the Internet is has to be true” pitfall. Start with a problem and look for a solution.
Be honest with yourself and commit that sometimes the best solution is NOT some cutting edge high tech solution (IT people sometimes get hung up on the “latest and greatest” technologies without looking at the true efficiency of it.)
Get your I.T. staff involved in process meetings. Have them contribute ideas on ways to automate. Set the stage, make sure that it is an open forum and questions can be asked. Ideas thrown around and discussed. I.T. Staff have to be patient and take time to explain the technology. Don’t let them “dazzle” you with tech jargon and complicated ideas. EVERYONE has to understand what it will do, how it will impact the business positively, and agree on why it is the right thing to do.
I hope this information is helpful and encourage anyone to reach out with questions via email at carl@heidentech.com, Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In. Otherwise you can find other information in my blog at blog.heidentechnology.com.
