5 Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your Business’s Technology

By Stefanie Neyland, Small Business Content Developer at BizLaunch.com

 

From the latest apps to ultramodern wearable tech, doing business in today’s digital world means keeping up with the constant influx of state-of-the-art technology. But with so many new trends and devices on the market, some business owners may find themselves feeling a little overwhelmed by the vast selection on offer.

The truth is that keeping up-to-date with the latest technology is essential for today’s entrepreneurs. It can help them keep up with competitors, show customers that they’re ahead of the times, and can help ensure that they’re not missing out on sales. But the question is: how is a business owner to know when it’s time to ditch that old rolodex in favour of a fancy new CRM, or upgrade that ancient antivirus software for more something slightly more robust? Here are five telltale signs that it might be time to upgrade your workplace technology.

 

1. Your business is expanding

If you’re taking on more employees or extending your product range, it could be a sign that your business is due for a tech overhaul. This might be as simple as upgrading your Internet package to one with a higher bandwidth or buying a brand new, wireless all-in-one printer to facilitate an increased print load.

 

HP OfficeJet Pro (8600 Premium) Wireless All-in-One Colour InkJet Printer with AirPrint and ePrint, $189.46 (Reg: $429.46)

 

2. You’re regularly encountering problems

We’ve all been there before: you’re searching for an email or doing some simple word processing, when bam—your trusty computer inexplicably freezes on you. It’s crashing daily, it can’t handle simple software updates, and it’s beginning to seriously affect your productivity—and not to mention your patience. If this is a common scenario for you, it’s a pretty clear cut sign that you could do with a shiny new model.

Acer Aspire 23" All-in-One Desktop, $749.98 (Reg: $799.98)

3. Your employees’ roles are evolving

As your business grows, the roles within your company will likely change and evolve along with it. Perhaps you or your employees are travelling more. If that’s the case, it might be worth investigating devices that you can easily carry on the road with you.

Lenovo Flex 10 Notebook, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, $379.92 (Reg: $419.92)

4. There’s new software available

It’s always a good idea to stay on top of software updates for your computers, tablets and smartphones. Not only does it keep your devices bug-free, but it also ensures everyone’s machines are working smoothly together. When a new software update or version becomes available, carefully consider its features, cost and value to your business while weighing up your decision. Although more often than not, when it comes to software updates the initial expenditure is always worth it in the long-term.

 

Norton Internet Security, 3-User, Bilingual, $34.99 (Reg: $79.99)

 

5. You’ve bootstrapped your tech

Many small businesses introduce new technology on an ad-hoc basis, meaning their office infrastructure is unsystematic and generally a little haphazard. It’s not uncommon for small businesses to have amassed a collection of jumbled hardware with each machine running different operating systems and software, and while this unplanned approach may work just fine for a time, eventually it’s going to catch up with you. Whenever you have some cash set aside to invest in your biz, consider upgrading all your hardware and software to a uniform standard to avoid the risk of any future complications as your business grows.

 

Microsoft Windows Pro 8.1, $249.99

If you’re experiencing any of the scenarios listed above, making just one small upgrade could make a huge difference to your company. Consider your options carefully and invest wherever you can. You’ll be amazed at how soon you’ll start seeing improvements within your business when all your technology is working in sync.