Businesses have to keep up with the latest technological developments to stay relevant within the industry and bring in new customers. However, spending on IT isn’t exactly a walk in the park, as IT can be quite expensive, especially for small businesses.
In fact, according to a forecast by global research firm Gartner, worldwide IT spending will reach $3.8 trillion in 2019, an increase of 3.2 percent from 2018. What’s more, spending is moving from mobile phones, PCs, and other on-site infrastructures to Internet of Things- (IoT) powered devices and cloud services.
Given this, how could you keep your IT costs down while still ensuring your organization is taking advantage of new tech to maximize productivity and efficiency?
#1. Embrace cloud computing
There’s nothing wrong with on-site hardware and software. However, have you ever considered the possibility of disasters happening? Your devices can be stolen, destroyed by natural calamities such as fires and floods, and worse, your sensitive company information can be infiltrated and used for data and identity theft by hackers. Should these happen, you could experience long periods of downtime, massive financial losses, and reputational damage.
This is where cloud computing can be helpful. Through this technology, your storage, hardware, and applications are hosted online, making them accessible via any internet-capable device, such as a PC, smartphone, or tablet.
Not only will this save you physical space, but it helps protect your data from disasters. Data in the cloud are saved in multiple locations worldwide, so if a certain backup becomes inaccessible, another one can be retrieved. This makes data loss virtually impossible.
Turning to the cloud reduces IT support expenses because your cloud provider will closely monitor your infrastructure and fix issues before they can become damaging to your company. Lastly, cloud computing allows businesses to trade in high IT infrastructure capital expense with a more affordable operational expense.
#2. Standardize your hardware and software vendors
Another way to reduce IT costs significantly is to stick to only certain technology vendors in your business. This could include your operating system (OS), productivity software, printers, PCs, and other mobile devices. Doing so could eliminate compatibility issues and confusion for various departments.
You could avail of discounts by purchasing software applications in bulk. This way, you can cut down deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting and repair costs since you’re only committing to one vendor.
#3. Automate some tasks
Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to automate repetitive tasks in your business. Not only does this speed up productivity, this also enables your staff to focus on more important tasks that add value to your company.
One routine task of your IT personnel is maintaining your PCs. By automating some aspects such as software updates and diagnosing devices, the need for additional IT personnel is eliminated, thus saving you money.
#4. Get quicker return on investment (ROI)
When you invest your time and resources in new technologies, you want to feel their effect on your business operations immediately. If a project isn’t going according to plan or it’s not delivering the expected results, take the necessary steps to ensure that it won’t fail in the long term. This means modifying the technology to align with your business requirements to get a quicker return on your investment.
#5. Partner with a managed IT services provider (MSP)
Your current IT staff won’t always be able to handle all the issues going on with your IT network. No matter how knowledgeable they are, there will always be one aspect they won’t be able to handle. As a result, this could leave you spending more for IT support than you originally expected.
This is why it’s a good idea to outsource your work to an MSP such as Binatech. MSPs are a team of highly skilled individuals equipped with various certifications and licenses, and can manage all your IT needs 24/7/365 from a remote facility.
Compared to a small on-site IT team, MSPs can save you money as they will only require you to pay a small monthly fee, which is more practical than paying your staff a full-time salary.
Cutting IT expenses doesn’t mean that you have to compromise your business efficiency. By making the right decisions regarding technology, you can ensure your company’s productivity and profitability.
When it comes to ensuring maximum productivity in your business, you can’t go wrong with trusting Binatech. Our managed IT services will make your technology work for you so you can focus on more important matters. Don’t think twice about your IT costs. Call us today.