New technology can be hugely valuable for a business. Acquiring new tech is one thing, but implementing it is something else. It’s not uncommon to experience teething problems, especially if you rush the deployment. The more care you take rolling it out, the better. Today we’ll take a look at some of the best practices you should consider when adding new business tech.
What Does Your Business Need?
It’s always exciting to get new technology, but do you really need to replace what you’ve got? Sometimes business owners invest in new tech that promises to increase productivity, but discover down the line that not only was the old tech that it replaced perfectly adequate, but the new system doesn’t do some things as well as the old one. Of course, sometimes problems with new technology are overcome as it’s tweaked and users become accustomed to it. Don’t be too hasty when investing in technology to address a problem in your business.
New tech isn’t always the answer, so think it through. Can your existing business technology be adjusted to meet the need you’ve identified? Using the tools you have more effectively can save you time and money, because new tech is seldom cheap. Make sure a new system really will give you the competitive edge you want before you invest.
The Project Manager is Key
Many new technology implementations fail because the person or team overseeing the project doesn’t have the time to take on the extra load or lack the necessary expertise. If you’re a small business owner with a limited budget, then you might think it makes sense to do it yourself. This can work, but it will almost certainly take you away from other aspects of running your company. A dedicated, competent project manager can solve this problem. A project manager can devote his or her time to the rollout, serving as the point of contact, organizing staff training and handling the issues arising if and when glitches occur.
Train Your Staff
It’s not just installation and getting it up and running that you need to think about. You can’t separate systems from users. You may encounter some resistance to new technology, even if the old system was annoying for your staff to use. Change can be stressful and new technology can be challenging for users to get used to. There may be fears that new tech will make their jobs unsafe and their input redundant. Make sure you bring your employees on board. Explain what it will do, and how it can make their jobs easier and take the business forward. If they’re informed and engaged then the whole implementation process can proceed more smoothly.
Functionality Testing
The process doesn’t stop as soon as your new business technology is up and running and staff have been trained to use it. You need to keep thinking about deployment and getting the most out of it. Testing it to make sure it’s functioning optimally is an ongoing process. It’s about monitoring whether the setup needs adjustment, keeping track of how your staff are using it, and any issues they have with it, and assessing its impact on the entire workflow. Then the task is to make necessary adjustments. Users are key, because their feedback and commitment to making the implementation work is vital to getting working practices back on track and establishing the new normal.
Final Implementation
It can all be quite a schlepp, but eventually the blood, sweat and tears stage should end and you’ll be ready to use it for everyday business purposes. If you’ve made the right choices then you should have eliminated the problems inherent in your old system and have technology that delivers more than before. It doesn’t all end there though. All tech systems and tools need monitoring and adjusting, but carefully considered implementation should minimize problems going forward.
New tech can be transformative, but always remember it can entail changes in how you do things. Think it through carefully if you want to avoid issues down the line. Quikteks can help you with new business technology, so you get the implementation of your new system right from the start. For advice from our IT experts on acquiring and implementing new business technology, give Quikteks a call today at (973) 882-4644.