How important is it to invest in the right technology for your business?
Thinking of upgrading your laptop or investing in some new software then this guest blog post from Chris Lambert of Datasense Consulting Ltd is just for you.
One of the key questions I get asked a lot is “What’s the right computer for me?”, really it’s an open-ended question as there is no single answer to this, it is however, a key question for any business, no matter the size. IT is one of the central points to any business and making the wrong investment can have a big impact on the running of your business.
When deciding on what technology to invest in, you need to consider several points:-
- What do I need it to achieve for me and/ or the business?
- What’s my budget?
- What will be my future plans?
Let us consider each of these points:
What do I need it to achieve for me and/or the business?
It is very easy to think I need to go out and buy a computer for my business, remember you do need to consider the wider picture of what you are looking to achieve with it.
A £500 computer may not be able to cope with the workload of a £1500 computer if you are editing music or videos.
Likewise, a Mac is generally the better choice over a Window device when it comes to serious media editing. However, is a £1500 Mac the right tool when it comes to just writing a few blogs and emails? The answer is No, it has no advantages over a £500 Windows device for this purpose.
Most IT Professionals will have an entry level specification for different hardware roles, so it is worth taking advice from someone independent rather than a shop about the hardware you are looking at to ensure that it is able to do the job you need it for.
What’s my budget?
So you know what you want to achieve with the technology, next you need to consider your budget.
The temptation when you are setting up a new business or buying new equipment is to go out and buy the shiniest machine you can, especially when you are looking at Apple products…
However, if you are a start-up blowing your IT budget on a nice new machine is not the wisest decision you can make. You can often find great value machines that will meet your needs on the refurb market.
As an example, I recently had a call from a client who needed a new machine for a new team member who was going to be doing video and image editing. The client did not have the budget to purchase a new Mac, but for a third of the price of an iMac I was able to supply a refurb workstation and high-end monitor. This saved the client a large amount of money and he is now looking at swapping out his iMac for a refurb workstation and high-end monitor as it is performing better than his current iMac.
Most important is to get the machine that meets your needs and is cost effective for your business.
What will be my future plans?
It might seem far away now, but businesses grow and sometimes quicker than the owner(s) expect. What fits for a job today might not fit for a job in a few months’ time.
It is generally good practice when buying equipment to think will it be up to the job in a few months or years’ time.
While PC’s can be easily upgraded with new hardware, less so for macs, it can be an extra cost that can be avoided early on by spending a little more at the beginning.
While I have mainly focused on the computer side of technology, there are many other aspects that can and should be considered with the same simple questions.
The software you use every day needs to be up to the job and in many cases, it needs to stay current. It is often better to look at the subscription service offered by many companies than purchase the software outright and then do it all over again a few years down the line. A one-off payment may not a big issue when the software is a few hundred pounds, but when it can be in the thousands then the subscription route is often a far better option.
In some cases, there will be “free” options to the software you can use. These often come with a limitation on what you can do with it. Some CRM systems, for example, will limit the number of records you can store or stop/remove certain functions until you are paying for a subscription. These restrictions are fine at the start but can soon become needed functions. Also, when looking at “free” software make sure it is not free for domestic use only. On many occasions I have audited systems only to find domestic licenced software being used in a commercial environment.
You also need to consider your Cyber Security. This is something that often gets investment after there has been an issue. This can also be a real budget killer. How much is too much when it comes to security? To be honest when starting out getting the basics covered can be easily achieved, things like strong passwords, secure systems and good security software can make a big difference at little or no cost.
You can also factor Websites into the right technology question. For most small businesses, a WordPress or similar template website will do what you need. They tend to be easy to work with and come with plenty of options to customise your website. Further down the line you might find it is no longer able to keep up with your business needs.
The key point to take away from my blog is to take the right advice and ensure that you are investing wisely in your technology.
Chris Lambert has been running IT based businesses since September 2004, prior to that he worked as part of the IT Team at a Secure delivery company ensuring the smooth running of the processing department dealing with the processing and delivery of high value & secure items like Credit Cards and Passports.
Since 2004 Chris has run RA Computers, been one of the founding partners at Blue Sky Computer Solutions Ltd and since April 2021 as been the technical director at Datasense Consulting Ltd.
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