Technology Checklist
Contact us to review your checklist
___Trusted Technology Consultant
Having access to a technology consultant will ensure that you can concentrate on your business – what you know best - while someone else spends time repairing, maintaining, securing and strategizing about technology solutions for your business – what they do best. Technologists who can help your business grow are an invaluable resource. Technology is the backbone of business.
___ Broadband Connection
Businesses should have a high-speed Internet connection. Complement this with a shared wired or wireless network, to make sure all workstations can be connected and online at the same time. Wireless networks are affordable and offer the flexibility of using workstations throughout your workspace. Wireless networks can often save the cost of physically wiring your office space.
___ Productivity Enhancement Applications/Accounting Packages
Every business should use software tools to enhance its productivity; from the very basics, such as email and spreadsheet applications, to more robust ones, such as integrated accounting packages and resource planning tools. A key tool that should be used is an application to track your business orders, receivables, payables, etc.
Products include: Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and POS packages
___ Customer Database
At a minimum, your business should have a solid, updated database of customer contact information and emails. This is likely one of your most valuable assets. If you have a large number of customers, leads, or contacts, consider using a CRM (customer relationship management) application.
___ Business Email Account
E-mail is quickly becoming the primary and preferred means of communication for businesses. Setup a business email account that, preferably, ties in with your company’s name or company’s web domain name. This way you will have greater recognition and credibility by receivers. E-mail access outside of the office is becoming essential; Blackberries, Windows Mobile devices and the iPhone bring the office to your finger tips.
___ Web Site
A professional web site (even a single page site) with relevant content that properly positions and presents your company’s offerings or services is a necessary component for small businesses.
___ Remote Access/Telecommuting/Road Warriors
While not applicable to every business, more and more small businesses are benefiting from being able to access their files and applications remotely – either from home or on the road. The office of today is anywhere there is an internet connection.
___ Data Backup System
It is imperative for a business that uses computers to have data backup systems. If you have any data that you can’t afford to lose, it needs to be backed up.
Several vendors offer free encrypted data storage over the internet. A NAS (network attached storage) is a practical solution for many small businesses.
___ Security Measures
Ensure that your company has and follows proper security measures, such as maintaining an updated operating system, virus protection software, firewall, spyware protection, adware protection, etc. Security is a process, not a product. Also, ensure that an adequate encryption and authentication method is used to keep customer information (such as personal data or credit card numbers) safe and secure.
___ Planning
From technology replacement cycle planning to breakdown/disaster contingency planning, a good technology plan can help keep your systems running so your business can keep on ticking. Businesses need to remember to keep their technology and computing hardware reliable and operational.
___ e-Commerce/e-Procurement
There are variety of tools that a business can use to make on-line purchases of goods and services (eBay, OfficeMax, Staples, etc.), as well as on-line sales (eBay, Yahoo, Craigslist, etc.). Also, there are several third-party vendors that a business can use to receive online orders (with credit cards) or direct purchasing.
___ Document Scanning/Imaging/Electronic Storage
Businesses today still use quite of bit of paper, and the best way to secure that paper, whether invoices, receipts, transcripts, reports, files, or records, is to scan these and store them electronically. There are a wide variety of tools to provide these directly to a business or as a service. Sending documents electronically can also be efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Contact us to get started on your technology checklist.