I’m a big fan of road trips. I love to get in the car and drive for hours, windows open, radio blasting. I come across the most interesting places on my travels. I’ll stop off at farm stalls. I’ll see a sign boasting the world’s best milkshakes, and I’ll have to try one. But no matter how many stops I make along the way or how long the journey takes, I always like to have a destination in mind.
I think of technology in the same way that I think of road trips.
There’s so much new and exciting and innovative tech being developed every single day, and it brings joy to my heart to think of the amazing places that technology can take businesses. Twenty years ago, the cloud was nothing more than a mass of vapour that would occasionally cover the sun! Now look at the way cloud technology has impacted businesses. Without cloud solutions, how many companies would have survived the pandemic?
But for every ground-breaking innovation that comes along, there are hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of pieces of software and technology that are not quite there yet – that need further thought and development, or are just not the right fit for your company. So how can you know which tech will have a real impact on your business and help you achieve your goals? How can you differentiate between what you want and what you need. I like to think that the answer lies with the roadmaps that an IT support company like Solid Systems provide.
It’s all about having that destination in mind. You need to balancing innovation and proven methods, and find solutions that will not only help you right now, but will contribute towards where you want to be. It’s finding technology that will fit into both your business plan and your budget. And it’s about implementing those systems – the software advances, the infrastructure enhancements – over time.
Some businesses try to jump headfirst into the tech arena, implementing as many innovative solutions as they can get their hands on, all at once. And then they wonder why don’t see return for their investment. It’s because they haven’t thought the implementation through. They’ve spent the money to get top-of-the-line technology, but they haven’t spent the time, effort and energy making sure that they’re the right technologies for their business. Because technology is more than just a financial investment.
You can have 50 different apps, invest in the best rated and priciest software solutions, but if you no one’s using them, they’re not going to be adding value to your business. It’s a sure-fire way to put financial strain on your business from the get-go.
You need to have a technology roadmap. You need to put a plan in place that will bridge the gap between where you are, where you’re going, and what you need to get you there.
The first step is to look at where you are. You need to analyse the systems and solutions that you already have in place, and make sure that they’re adding optimum value to your business. If they aren’t, then something needs to change. Either you need to look at how they’re being implemented, or you need to look at whether they were the right solution for your business in the first place.
Then you need to figure out where you want to get to. What does your business look like in 5 years’ time? In 10? What are the goals you want to achieve?
Next, it’s time to look at how you are going to get from where you are to where you want to be. This is where you can map out the stops that you’d like to make along the way. This is where technology comes in. It's the fuel for your journey, the vehicle that gets you from point A to point B. It’s what drives change, and what sees you meeting and exceeding your goals. Which is why finding the right technology is so essential to your success.
And finally, you need to think of your budget. Because technology doesn’t come cheap! And you need to spend time planning where your budget is going to be spent. You may think that what you need is the latest hardware and infrastructure, but do you have resources that would be able to handle them? What areas are most pressing for your business, and where will your money be spent most effectively?
You can plan your roadmap on your own, of course. You can spend weeks, months and years envisioning the perfect journey for your business. Or you can work with an IT support company like Solid Systems, and think of us as the travel agent for your technology roadmap.
Where you’re taking this trip for the first time, we’ve helped hundreds of companies find the right technology journey for their needs. We have vast experience in the solutions that will help you along the way. We can advise on the best stops to make. And, perhaps most importantly, we can help you maintain your budget along the way, without expecting you to pay for everything up front.
Just as you want the right travel buddy for your road trip, you’ll want the right partner for your technology journey. Make that partner an IT support company who puts your best interests at heart and wants to see you stepping into the future with confidence. Contact Solid Systems today.
About Daniel: As both Co-Founder and Head of Clients at Solid Systems, Daniel has a passion for people, technology, and the way that they come together. He believes in empowering companies and individuals to work in increasingly flexible and productive ways, unlocking their collaboration potential and leading the cultural change of our time.
About Solid Systems: Since 2003, Solid Systems has specialised in delivering leading technology solutions, including managed IT services, and offering guidance to organisations in South Africa and abroad in the most human way possible.
We love technology and the exciting ways that it evolves, and are constantly improving the tools that we use. But humans are at the heart of our business. That’s why we value each relationship and prioritise a personal approach, finding solutions that deliver results for companies in the best way possible.
With our highly skilled and passionate professionals behind us, and the latest and most sophisticated tools at their disposal, we ensure that the businesses we work with are constantly evolving, and can step into the future with confidence.
We give you the best daily information on news, technology, lifestyle, career, health tips, agriculture, business and entertainment. If you can write very well and want to make a living writing online, click HERE!