Em Dash —
Technology changes so rapidly that it can be difficult to gauge whether or not you should be upgrading right away or examining other options for the same purposes. How can you avoid investing in the wrong solution as a result of the excitement that a new idea or concept can bring? It all starts with knowing what within your organization needs to change.
Where Are You Right Now?
Businesses often begin these discussions by looking at the new hardware before considering what they actually need and for what purpose. IT decision leaders must examine whether the upgrade will make an impact on day-to-day tasks. For example, if you need to update a graphics card or install more RAM, then that’s well and good, but there is a serious difference between a video editing PC and your average workstation.
Your Operations Are Suffering
As for when you know it’s time to upgrade technology for your business, one telltale sign is that your technology is impacting operations in a significant way. If your whole staff is accessing a server unit that is on its last leg, for example, that technology is likely to be holding your employees back from getting as much work done as possible. It’s not just a localized issue for one or two of your staff; it’s your entire workforce. In cases like this, it’s best to get thinking about upgrading as soon as possible.
Your Operations Will Suffer in the Near Future
Another situation where you might consider upgrading your technology as soon as possible is if you can foresee an instance when your operations will be impacted sooner rather than later. A great example is upgrading your operating system so that it will stay up-to-date with patches and security updates. You want to take action now so that you don’t have to later, and, most importantly, before it becomes a significant issue for your organization.
In the end, it’s about being proactive with your technology and its upgrades. You don’t want to make impulsive decisions; rather, you want to make calculated decisions that have been weighed thoroughly. Macatawa Technologies can help with this process. To learn more, reach out to us at (616) 394-4940.
