Start With The Machine That Slows Everyone Down

A lot is going on at the same time. Your email is always open. The printer queue is always hung up. There’s a customer waiting for an estimate. Your spreadsheet takes forever to load. And the office computer is always making that little “pause” before it lets you click on anything.

The pause doesn’t seem like much at first. Then it starts to be a part of the way you spend each day. You have to wait for files to load. You have to shut down the computer before a big meeting. You tell one person to just use another computer because this one is malfunctioning again. Weak technology never breaks down completely in one single moment in a small business.

Instead, it slowly drains your time and your energy over time. A good configuration of technology doesn’t have to cost a fortune at the beginning. However, it needs to be configured based on how you really operate.

Invest In Areas That Remove Daily Time-Consuming Issues

Just because you have computers everywhere, it doesn’t mean they all have to be high-end computers. The area of the office where people receive visitors (the front desk), the creative/design workstation, a simple pc for storing inventory, and a small server for hosting and providing access to data do not serve the same purpose. 

Identify the areas where time-consuming issues occur daily. If you work with large files, then your RAM and/or solid state drive are more important than having the latest model monitor. If you share documents/folders/invoices/backups/customer records, etc., your Switch/router/network interface cards/storage devices should be examined/considered more carefully. While many people overlook these items, they are often the cause of wasted hours throughout the day. 

In determining your sources for purchasing, consider using distributors who offer products directly to the public if possible. LA Sysco Technologies LLC: best wholesale supplier for computer & server parts (SSD, HDD, RAM, NIC, CPU, Switch, Motherboard, SD card) would likely be a logical choice when planning your budget and looking to simply purchase/upgrade/rebuild specific components rather than buying new equipment entirely.

Don’t Buy More Laptops Because You Want Something Cheaper

While it might appear cheaper to continually replace slow laptops whenever a problem occurs, you will end up spreading the problems that existed with the original equipment across more desktops. 

A better solution is to determine what caused the delay in the first place. Is the storage full? Is the amount of RAM too low? Has the network been updated recently? Are you using a CPU that is adequate, but your hard drive is the bottleneck?

Checking for these types of issues before replacing hardware prevents unnecessary purchases. Additionally, finding out why things aren’t working properly allows you to create a system that can evolve piece by piece.

Create A System That Can Be Maintained By Anyone

Your small business’s technical configuration should not require a special technician every time a wire is moved. Label the basic components. Store extra drives/cables/adapters in one location. Document which machines contain which components. Make backing up so routine, so automatic, and so painless to verify as such.

Conclusion

Good technology isn’t about admiring the equipment after you’ve bought it. Good technology is about creating a system that becomes invisible because your workflow no longer stops every hour due to various disruptions.