Even with technology being a part of everyday life outside the office, there are still some companies that balk at upgrading to current technology.
“Many traditional business owners will tell you that they prefer face time with their customers and will not adapt to the need of technology until they start seeing customers going elsewhere,” says Tiffany Weiland, system administrator for MetroHealth System’s Facilities Management and Construction Management departments.
“Technology does not replace human interaction.”
Helping others with technology has always been a mandatory part of Weiland’s work. She spent 15 years at Cleveland Clinic managing construction projects and facility maintenance. She came to MetroHealth in 2012 and aids in training its staff to utilize systems to become more effective and efficient.
Ignorance is not an option
Having adequate technology in the workplace is something business owners cannot afford to ignore, especially in a society where most information is consistently being sent and received through a variety of electronic means. For some companies, however, taking this leap into the digital world feels risky, but there are still ways of following one of the biggest trends in the business world.
Weiland says businesses with the right technology in place will not only increase their productivity, but it will help them avoid unnecessary costs.
“We are in the ‘Information Era’ where information is being produced, transmitted, utilized via any high-speed communication device,” she says. “You get pertinent information to make educated decisions, and sometimes these decisions mean one year’s payroll for businesses or taking them to the next level in the market.
“Knowledge is power, as we know, and the way we obtain necessary knowledge to make our daily decisions either give us the competitive edge or not.”
Reasonable is the word
Customers today are more accustomed to working with companies that deliver quality, comfort and convenience. They want answers via email, not snail mail. Yet, this doesn’t mean that every business needs to update all its equipment.
“A small mom-and-pop shop may not need a full-blown accounting software such as Peachtree or Quicken to track revenue and expenses; nor does it need any IT staff to support telecom infrastructure,” she says. “However, midsize to large companies employ many people, and their business settings are more complex. Having the right technology will immensely increase their productivity and avoid unnecessary costs.”
Weiland adds that every business owner should take stock of what is needed to operate efficiently. General communication software is a must, as is any industry-specific software to help meet regulatory requirements or compliance.
“When business owners decide to purchase software, they should make sure they collect enough information and interview people who have used the software,” she says. “Find out what kind of technical support the company offers, talk to in-house experts for feedback, calculate training costs and review the success/failure rate of the software usage.”
In other words, business owners looking to upgrade or enter the world of technology should do their homework especially since they are making a sizable financial investment taking on this task, Weiland says. The more thorough they are, the less regret they’ll have later about their investment.
