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  • When (and How) Should You Update Technology?

When (and How) Should You Update Technology?

Henry Kivett

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Is your technology part of the solution—or part of the problem? Here are the tools your business needs and how to keep them current.

As a business owner, you can’t ignore technology any more than you can ignore your customers. Even if your products or services aren’t particularly high tech, the current wealth of available tools can make your workflow more efficient and boost your visibility to clients. But that abundance of technology also can be overwhelming. What tools do you really need? And how can you tell when it’s time to upgrade your current tech?

“The first warning sign is that your business is not growing,” says Alex Sirota, director of NewPath Consulting, a Toronto firm specializing in helping small businesses embrace technology and marketing solutions. “Technology is an amazing enabler for communication, collaboration, and automation. If you feel you are being left behind by your competitors, your technology—or lack thereof—could be to blame.”

Today, we’re talking tech—what you need, when you need it, and why.

The Basics

In addition to a high-quality desktop or laptop computer, Sirota recommends a good wireless router. “Bad Wi-Fi,” he says, “can really slow down your internet—and your business.” He suggests upgrading from your internet service provider’s hardware, which usually consists of low-end units with limited reach and reliability. And every business needs a printer. Canon’s MAXIFY series is a great investment for small and big businesses alike. It won’t take up an entire cubicle, but it’s got the speed and the ample ink supply of a much bigger model.

Into the Cloud

Sirota also suggests taking your operations into the cloud. Not only will this reduce hardware costs—no need for huge hard drives for storage and backup—but it can also make your business life much easier. “Cloud tools not only save your business money on technology,” says Sirota, “they also enable your business to be more productive and profitable.”

Cloud-based customer service platforms take a great deal of IT and engineering off your plate while providing state-of-the-art tools for everything from following leads and accepting payment to tracking inventory and marketing analytics.

Signs That It’s Time

Now you’ve got the basics down, but how can you tell it’s time to upgrade your current technology?

  1. You’re not growing. Stagnation is a sign that your technology isn’t doing its job. If you don’t have the tools to effectively track and follow up on leads, your sales will likely flat-line—and take your business with it. Make sure you have technology in place that will help you control costs, increase revenue, and grow your business.
  2. You’re growing too fast. A great many companies make giant leaps right out of the gate. This is a good thing, but if your beginning technology isn’t scalable, then you might be unable to support your own growth. Orders might not get placed, leads might start slipping through the cracks, and you and your employees might simply get crushed under the workload. Project management platforms like Basecamp or Asana can help your team track projects and communicate with tools for sharing files, assigning goals, discussing projects, and monitoring progress.
  3. Customers are complaining. If your current system isn’t helping you respond quickly to problems or avoid them altogether, and customers are complaining, then it might be time to upgrade. Consider a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform like Salesforce or Infusionsoft. These can help you automate everything from your marketing to your order fulfillment, as well as follow-up with clients post-sale to secure repeat business.

Finding a Provider

Often, the missing piece of the tech puzzle is making sure you’ve signed on with a provider that can meet your needs. Sirota recommends making sure your provider’s platform is easy-to-use and that the support staff is helpful. “Don’t settle for bad service,” he says, “and unless you can be up, running, and productive in half an hour, the platform—and the company hosting it—are likely not worth the trouble.”

Remember, technology can’t solve all of your problems—but it can empower you to make informed decisions in a strategic way, and work efficiently under pressure. The key is finding a good fit with your company and making sure that your tools are able to meet your needs as your business grows.

NOTE: Some links on this website point to documents and sites which are not managed or controlled by Canon Canada Inc. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Canon Canada Inc. of any of the products, services, or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Canon Canada Inc. does not assume and is not responsible for any liability whatsoever for the linking of any of the linked websites, the operation or content (including the right to display such information) of any of the websites or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

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