Part 3: IT as a Strategic Asset to the Organization
It is difficult for SMBs and even technology providers to break out of this cycle. Often, cost is a major factor. Fixing a problem for the short term may have a smaller hit to the bottom line than a major overhaul or a proactive management contract. However, the long-term costs to maintain a working environment end up being much higher, not including the opportunity costs associated with lost productivity, competitive edge, and risks to the business.
“This is what gets me excited – to partner with businesses, to learn about what they do, how they do it, and the key that makes them successful.”
A different approach is required. Businesses need to embrace the technology, not as a cost center, but as a strategic asset. This is what gets me excited, to partner with businesses, to learn about what they do, how they do it, and the key that makes them successful. The challenge that I strive to meet is introducing and implementing technology that helps and contributes to the company’s success.
I have found over my many years of providing IT services, that alignment of company goals with technology absolutely is critical. What are your business goals over the next year? What about the next 3 to 5 years? Are you looking at expanding your workforce and products or services; or is streamlining to maintain your competitive edge driving your goals?
These higher-level conversations with business decision makers need to have a technology component to break the cycle and meet these goals.
Too often businesses make technology decisions with little to no information, limited options, or simply because what has worked in the past, should work again. I believe in having the meaningful, higher-level conversations. IT is not an appliance that only does one thing until it breaks and is fixed or replaced. IT is a continually evolving mix of people, technology, and process that enable your employees to be productive and your business to be profitable.
The Zumasys MSP Practice
Partnering with our customers, to help them make better business decisions. This is Zumasys’ goal and why we created our Managed Services Practice (MSP). Zumasys’ goal is to be the technology partner for your business, to enable you to think strategically about technology decisions and to move beyond the break-fix cycle. What are your business goals 1, 2 or 3 years from now? How do your technology decisions impact those goals? Zumasys can help you answer that.