Running a business can be very stressful. It takes a great deal of organisation and knowledge of business operations to have a successful business and maintain that success. Innovative technologies are transforming the world’s economies. However, post-pandemic businesses have very different technological needs than they did pre-pandemic.
Information technology (IT) can significantly affect your business, resulting in time and money efficiencies that allow your business to plan and scale for your future. Having an expert team to manage your technology solutions and keep your data safe is a must in 2021 and beyond, but many business owners don’t know where to start when it comes to building out their IT infrastructure.
That’s okay!
Small businesses are reaching for all-in-one outsourced IT solutions now more than ever, as dedicated outsourced teams can provide a level of expertise and cost-savings unmatched by what they can afford in-house.
Understanding Information Technology
Information technology is the application of technical expertise to enable organisations in management, optimisation, and access of data, networks, and technology as it applies to business.. IT includes hardware, software, communications, and computer applications. More and more, digital solutions are replacing analog ones. Even office phones in businesses are now Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) systems rather than relying on traditional phone lines.
IT is everywhere we go, through complicated chains of communication with high security and high reliability. Information technology it’s how we create, store, share and transmit data as a business. So how can IT have the most significant impact on your business? Let’s take a look at some of the ways IT makes the biggest impact in the post-pandemic era.
#1. Cloud-Based Services
IT services based in the cloud have remote access capabilities. Cloud service providers tend to lease their software, hardware, and operating systems to their customers. Cloud services generally take responsibility for maintaining the programs and equipment.
These services then eliminate the need for a business to have a lot of physical space. Cloud storage then frees the business from having to purchase costly equipment or pay for upgrades, updates, and maintenance.
With cloud-based services, a business can choose to pay for the amount of storage they need, or a specific surface which in turn, can free up operating income and lesson expenses. The best part about using cloud-based services — especially storage — is that a business can upgrade or downgrade any time. You never need to pay for what you do not use.
#2. Automated Business Processes
Businesses have more to do than ever before to continue to grow and prosper. Whenever a company can automate business processes, it should. Automated processes can improve efficiency and save money in the long-run, allowing for teams to stay focused on their workflow instead of tracking every last detail of recurring tasks.
#3. Remote Workforce
Before the pandemic hit, most businesses relied heavily on in-house employees being on-site day-to-day.. During the pandemic, companies across the world had to adjust and scramble to alter their processes to accommodate their entire workforce in working-from-home. This presented a major challenge for IT departments all over the world, who had to develop the infrastructure to support multiple WFH departments full of employees on short notice. . Post-pandemic, businesses are largely still utilising work-from-home options for some of their staff, and many are adapting to more of a hybrid model.
Having a remote workforce does require information technology to be available at your employees’ fingertips from home. Although that does require some up-front investment, a remote workforce saves on overhead costs and increases employee satisfaction.
In fact, many businesses have recognised they no longer need every employee to be in the office to be productive, and are investing in their futures with hybrid workforces, finding that it has cut expenses and reduced liability without compromising on efficiency..
#4. Mobile Technology
Utilising the latest mobile technology such as software and apps allows an organisation to be less tied to their desks and able to be wherever they need to be at a moment’s notice.
Mobile technology allows for increased convenience, efficiency and speed. No one needs to wait for answers until they get back to the office because the answers are at their fingertips via mobile integrations for every productivity application your team uses.
#5. Data Security
Data security is critical for any business. Cybercriminals are getting smarter all the time, and data needs impenetrable protection now, more than ever. Many organisations have multiple tiers of security layers to keep hackers at bay, and that need isn’t going away any time soon.
Not only do employees rely on data security, but customers and clients do too. Data security can mean anything from a patients’ confidential information, to a student’s special education documents, to a customer’s credit card information—any sensitive information stored in your database—and all it takes is one data breach from a motivated hacker to expose it to the world, putting your business at risk of a lawsuit and fines.
Consumers and employees have a right to expect that their data is protected. It is your responsibility as a business to ensure that their data is kept safe when it has been entrusted to you. Keeping your database encrypted and your devices protected is essential to keeping that trust.
#6. Help Desk
Setting up a help desk is a great way to meet the needs of your employees and your consumers. No employer wants their staff to suffer from downtime due to technical issues. A proper help desk gets employees up and running as quickly as possible.
From a consumer perspective, a help desk allows for them to get answers and support as quickly as possible. Ticketing systems can be handled through forms, chats, emails, phone calls, and more. The system should be versatile to ensure a range of options and a guarantee of convenience for all involved.
Information Technology And Your Business
As a business owner, IT likely isn’t in your wheelhouse. And with a small budget, accounting for an entire IT department may be an expense that just doesn’t make sense for your business.
We get it. That’s why Dynamite IT Solutions makes managing your computer technology simple and cost effective. Dynamite IT offers a wide range of IT support services in Wellington with plans and packages to maximise the performance of your business.
As a Wellington based business ourselves, we understand the needs of local businesses. We have tailored our range of managed products and IT services to take the hassle out of your business infrastructure. Our response time is fast as we are based in Lower Hutt and service the Wellington region including Upper Hutt, Wellington CBD, Porirua City and Kapiti Coast.
Dynamite IT believes in building streamlined IT systems that run so smoothly that you forget they’re there in the background. On top of professional IT systems, we also provide expert IT support to ensure you never feel alone. For a local team that can help with everything from 0800 numbers to web design, we are the IT experts you can trust and rely on – give us a call today.