It’s Never Too Late for a Business IT Resolution

Now that we’re halfway through the new year, how well have you kept up your New Year’s resolutions? If it isn’t well, don’t worry - you can make or adapt them at any time. This loophole even includes any resolutions you may have set for your business operations this year. So, let’s call this a do-over regarding your IT improvement resolutions.

Here, we’ll tackle a few common resolutions that your business can benefit from, no matter when you put them into action…assuming it’s sooner than later, of course.

Organizational Resolutions

When you’re looking to use your technology as an opportunity to improve your business or its processes, it is important to have your goals in mind going in. We’ve always recommended that these goals follow the S.M.A.R.T. framework: that they are made Specifically and are Measurable, that they are Attainable and Realistic, and they can be accomplished in a Timely manner and increase chances for success. In fact, taking advantage of a managed IT service agreement is an easy method to incorporate the S.M.A.R.T. framework into your business.

To help you identify where you should focus, we’ve split these business resolutions into the goals that you want to achieve.

1. Invigorated Processes and Productivity

Sure, we all want to see our businesses operate more effectively, however, not many of us actually consider how we can contribute to that goal. If it is discussed, this goal is usually tabled for a more opportune time… which only seems to come when there’s an issue that requires that increase in effectivity. Reactive habits like this one need to be broken for your business to be advanced.

What goals would you like to see achieved by your business? What inconsistencies and inefficiencies have been creating issues for you, and do they have a greater underlying cause?

Many operational issues result as a side effect of a technological shortcoming. This is precisely why we always recommend that all IT systems be kept up to date and optimized at all times, but not every system is managed as it should be. These shortcomings can come in a few forms as well. A poorly-maintained solution may not be able to support the processes you’re asking of it, or may have some unresolved issues preventing it from operating as it should. An employee not accomplishing as much as they should, may not be the fault of that employee, but an issue with the tools they are to use.

Resolving to identify any issues you have (and having them attended to) will assist you in keeping your processes going. With fewer issues slowing their solutions down, your staff will be able to achieve a level of productivity more to your liking.

An easy way to do so would be to have an information technology audit scheduled. Many technology providers (like us) will do them for free, coming to your business to make sure that everything is as it should be for you.

2. Increased Data Security and Assured Continuity

One of the most important factors to attend to in your information technology is maintaining its security. The average business has a lot of very valuable data under its care, like personally identifiable information (PII) and financial data - something that cybercriminals are very aware of. While larger businesses may be able to throw enough money at their IT solutions, the average business isn’t - another thing that cybercriminals have learned.

I think you can see what we are getting at here.

Despite the beliefs of many, cybercriminals are not so picky as to go after exclusively high-value targets, so no, a small business isn’t safer than a big one is on the basis of its size. Plus, distance is no longer a factor in such crimes, so a business here in Oneonta could potentially be targeted by someone on another continent. This makes it all the more critical that a business knows, for a fact, that it is secured to the best of its ability, and that it is being monitored for threats by a trustworthy protector.

Of course, not all threats come from cyberspace either, and many could potentially halt your operations if you don’t have the proper measures proactively implemented. Disasters of all kinds take businesses on far too regularly, and if a business’ data is lost in the disaster, that business is truly gone.

This year - and all future years to come -you need to make it a mission to protect your business from threats of all kinds, and ensure that you have the resources to bounce back if something bad happens.

3. Improved Customer Relationships

What’s a business without customers, clients, or other businesses that allow it to remain in operation? Not long-lasting, I can tell you that. This makes it all the more crucial that you have the tools you need to keep in communication with your assorted business contacts, and the practices in place for these communications to happen.

There are assorted technologies that enable you to securely communicate from effectively anywhere in the connected world, from Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solutions, properly managed business email, and far too many others to list here. Without this communication, you will have a difficult (if not impossible) time keeping your business’ doors open, let alone bringing it prosperity.

Clear and open dialogue with the people who turn to your business to supply them with what they need is necessary to keep your relationship with them alive. Dedicate some time this year to making it happen. You also need to make sure that you are encouraging your team to interact with each other (and you), and that you are checking up on how they are feeling about their work environment.

An office culture that exudes positivity can bleed over into your clients, increasing their satisfaction with you and their loyalty to your business!

Starting Fresh, Once Again

Okay, so you fell through on your company’s New Year’s resolution…. oh well. New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned more often than not in the first few weeks of the year, and we’re almost certain that by now most have been all but deserted. If you do need a few improvements made, decide to take the time and commit to making these efforts for your business’ benefit instead of throwing in the towel. Make them, and keep moving forward… that’s the important thing to take away here.

Even if you have already kept all of your resolutions and built up good habits, you can always do more to ensure your business’ success for the rest of this year and beyond. Simply put, there are always internal improvements that can be made to any business. Even if we didn’t cover one of your weaker points, that doesn’t mean you don’t have any present in your IT infrastructure or business practices. Fortunately, these problems can all be solved with the right IT solutions and maintenance put into action.

Directive has been operating for over 25 years now because we understand the value of recognizing business shortcomings, and working to fix them. We can help you fix yours as well. For more information about our Managed IT Services, feel free to explore the rest of our website, or give us a call at 607.433.2200.