Unless you like building power plants, get on board with technology subscriptions
Would you build a power or water filtration plant for your business? The answer for 99% of us is no, which would make no sense. Many large factories built their own power plants at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. There was no distribution network or centralized power plant to connect it to. This was the only […]
Has your technology provider outgrown you?
The technology space is known for innovative, rapidly growing companies. The downside is finding your technology provider has moved “upmarket” and left you behind. This is happening more and more with acquisitions funded by private equity groups. Their goal is to put together more and more recurring revenue, show increasing revenue and profit growth, and […]
Visit Your Family, Not Your Servers: Weekly Onsite IT Visits Probably Aren’t Necessary
Many groups provide a weekly, Onsite IT “visit” to make sure that their customer’s technology is working properly. This is based on an hourly billing model that requires someone to show up to get paid. The problem is it’s 100% reactive and there is no reason to show up anymore physically. Do all of your […]
Maximizing return – Putting it all together (Part 3 of 3)
Making a decision is the first step towards maximizing return. Until that happens, we are operating in the theoretical world, not reality. Once you have determined what type of decision you are making (covered here), we apply a simple scoring matrix to determine what type of BUYER will be best suited to make your decision. This […]
Maximizing return – What type of decision making are you doing? (Part 2 of 3)
How is making a decision about what to purchase for dinner different from buying a new car? Those differences are pretty obvious. What about the difference between a rental car you want on vacation and a car to purchase? What about purchasing options for a new car? All these examples highlight three impacts you need […]
Maximizing return – What type of buyer persona are you? (Part 1 of 3)
Business is all about making good decisions and then executing them. Deciding what products and services your business buys is a key driver of your firm’s profitability. There are different types of buyer personas that we see in the marketplace. The key takeaway here is to be aware what type of buyer you are in […]
A cost first mentality will land you in last place
Is the first item you review when making a decision the cost? Do you think in terms of what you can (or can’t) afford? When choosing between alternatives, is cost how you order them? Approaching business decisions with a cost-first mentality can be very limited, especially when looking at technology decisions. Let’s start with the […]
Technology projects can slowly drain your business productivity
Productivity growth in the US has stalled out over the past several years. Productivity is the measure of output in good or services per hour worked. There are a lot of experts on this area, so I’m going to focus on some observations I’ve had in the business environments we manage. If you want to […]
Here are 5 types of virtualization
For many businesses, managing and maintaining their entire hardware and software infrastructure can be a daunting and prohibitively expensive task. But with virtualization, this is no longer an issue. Virtualization allows businesses to maximize the use of their IT resources at a reduced cost — this is why it has become so popular in the […]
Why internal IT still needs a partner
A good partner can make a big difference in the performance of your INTERNAL teams. Finance partners with accounting firms, legal with outside council, and sales will partner with various marketing firms. These relationships are based on mutual professional respect and often become an extension of your internal teams. A solid partner for internal technology […]
It takes money to make money, even with technology!
We have all heard the adage, “it takes money to make money”, and this holds true even with technology. Lack of proper investment in technology strategy and services is the second leading cause of poor business results. Lack of investment in people is the first. People depend on technology to get their job done, so […]
Don’t buy a cow if you want milk. Technology ownership does not equal reliability
If you wanted a reliable source of milk back in the day, you owned a cow. There was no reliable distribution network or steady supply otherwise. Technology ownership was very similar to this until the advent of the Internet. You needed to own everything to control it; in theory, this was more reliable. Today, the […]
Going to the emergency room is expensive, especially for your business!
The emergency room is the last place anyone wants to be. It means that something unplanned and usually painful has occurred. To make matters worse, going to the emergency room is EXPENSIVE! This holds true not just in your personal life but also in business. Proactive technology health checks can make your business ER visits […]
When you have no plan, everything seems like a good idea
When you have no plan, everything seems like a good idea. Think about that for a minute. How many times in your business do you end up switching courses, or “trying” out something new just because it *seemed* like a great idea? If you do not have a solid ability to plan, decide, and execute […]
Your business is unique. Your technology shouldn’t be
Your business should be unique in some way. It’s what we call a competitive advantage. If there is no uniqueness, you compete on price, which means you better operate more efficiently than others! In either case, your technology strategy and systems should be 100% aligned with supporting your business needs. Your technology should be standards-based […]
What exactly is an IT Director directing anyway?
Congratulations, you are a growing company, and now it’s time to hire an IT Director. Or is it? This role has evolved significantly over the past ten years. The advent of the cloud, software-as-a-service, and increasingly digital workflows means that your IT Director needs skills that are likely different than you think. Less tactics, more […]
Deliverables versus Results
The new business initiative has been planned and deliverables defined, but why did it not product results? Often we define deliverables that actually don’t tie back to tangible business results. The new marketing plan that is never implemented 100%, and thus, does not deliver improved sales results. The new customer service process, that ends up […]
Do not get comfortable at your business!
The goal of life in many ways is to be comfortable. Comfort can in financial, health, or physical aspects of your life. This should never happen in your business! Getting comfortable in your business is a sure way to lose market share, make less profit, and be caught off guard. Are you comfortable with how […]
Quick recoveries with external IT support
Three decades ago, the notion of hiring specialists in information technology was virtually unheard of. Nowadays, the majority of businesses are digitally operated, which means technology specialists are a must, especially given the huge increase in different types of security breaches. Determine how external support can back you up in times of technical distress. Access […]
Spring Break, the true test of your Technology Strategy
We all know the feeling of taking “time off” and wondering how much work we can fit in during the vacation. Spring Break is mandatory time off for those of us with school-aged children, and should be treated as a great opportunity to make memories and spend quality time together. Will your technology support this? […]
6 tips to secure Mac computers
Although well aware of its importance, users still overlook Mac security. This might be excusable if you’re using your device just to watch cooking shows or to experiment with PhotoBooth, but not if it’s being used in day-to-day business operations. Deter internal and external threats from compromising your device with these tips: The basics Let’s […]
Your car gets an alignment, so should your technology: Technology Alignment for Proactive IT
Avoid a technology blowout with regular technology alignment. We have all been riding down the road in our car and had it “pull” to one side or the other. We often pull the other way and head straight down the road. What most people don’t realize is that misalignment wears your tires unevenly. This reduces […]
Cyber Liability Insurance is Not Optional…
Would you consider NOT having a general business liability insurance policy? What about insurance for your property and equipment? Of course, you wouldn’t! So take Cyber Liability Insurance just as seriously. These types of insurance have been considered a cost of doing business since Lloyd’s of London was started in 1688. Fast forward – past the […]
Cashing in on an Idea: Is now the Right Time?
So you’ve got the next big thing in technology sitting in your office: a program you customized for your business or a hardware you came up with on the side. When is the right time to license your product for outside sale? Read further to learn the ins and outs of licensing and why the […]
Strategy
A proper technology strategy should have a meaningful impact on your business. Meaningful means more than keeping on budget, maximizing useful life, or calculating pay back periods on capital outlays. Meaningful is giving your business ALIGNMENT with a technology strategy that has been proven to deliver increased ROI over time, increased productivity, and improved competitive […]
The Business of IT: Part 3- Outsource the “T”, not the “I”
When thinking about IT, it’s helpful to look at each piece separately…. The first part is about INFORMATION, which is key to running your business. Businesses with an IT department should be staffing functions that add value to the business. These folks have titles like “Business Analyst”, “Application Specialist”, “Report Writer”, “Project Manager”, and so […]
The Business of IT: Part 2- Getting comfortable with subscriptions, again…
Subscriptions have been around forever. Columbia House Music, wine-of-the-month, magazines, and all our favorite streaming music and TV services are subscriptions. The subscription trend will continue as we move to a service-based economy, especially for consumption-based services like technology! Businesses need to re-think how they are purchasing their IT software and hardware. The majority of […]
The Business of IT Part 1: IT Capex vs Opex
Cash is King. IT Capex vs Opex can help you keep more cash flowing. Cash is king, and anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t run out of it! Cash flow is how much money a business produces or uses. This should not be confused with the “bottom line” number of your Profit & Loss statement. […]
Why Peter Pan’s cloud migration would thrive
Productivity, collaboration, freedom. These words are often touted when the benefits cloud technology are mentioned. But do all businesses that make the cloud switch achieve these? Unfortunately the answer is no. Some businesses flounder in the new technology, and some even become less productive because of it. So how can you avoid such a fate? […]
Don’t Risk It! Minimizing Technical Risk in Business
Businesses Accept Technical Risks Without Knowing It.. Stringfellow Can Help. There are various ways you can address risks in a business environment. A quick web search will show the same iteration of four options: accept, avoid, reduce, and transfer. Technology risks in a business should be clearly understood due to their impact across all business […]
How to calculate your technology ROI
Your technology needs to produce a return on investment. If it doesn’t, you’re wasting you and your staff’s time and money. But how can you ensure you gain that coveted ROI you’re after? What does it actually mean to have a positive ROI? And how can you tell if you have one? Here are a […]
Tips to monitor employee activities online
Whether or not to monitor your employees’ computers can be a tricky decision. While part of you may think it’s unethical, you also may question if your staff are spending too much time on non-work related activities, and taking advantage of you in the process. So, should you monitor? Here are some pros and cons […]
Become better with these productivity tips
Between your customers, vendors, employees and other moving parts of your organization, it can be difficult to find the time to focus on your business. On a daily basis, you likely have to deal with dozens of tasks, and oftentimes don’t finish them all. So how can you fix this? How can you be more […]
Are You Happy?
“What ‘We are in Good Shape’ and ‘We are Happy’ really mean…” How many times has a friend or your spouse asked, “How are you?” and your response was “I’m good”? I would bet that this response is less than truthful. What you are really saying is one of the following: In the business environment […]
5 types of virtualization defined
Virtualization has become the cornerstone for almost all businesses today – and for good reason. It is basically a process of creating a virtual version of a physical IT device. This, in turn, enables businesses to utilize their resources more effectively, while also reducing costs that come with managing and maintaining their infrastructure. Virtualization can […]
Snow Days?
Did Technology Kill the “Snow Day”? If you are from the north please substitute “blizzard” for every time I say “snow” and we will all be on the same page. Here in Nashville, TN, snow is considered the equivalent of kryptonite for cars and roadways (and technology). It’s funny how everyone clamors to be able […]
CLOUD STORAGE + FAST NETWORK = LESS LOCAL STORAGE
Cloud Storage + Fast Network = Less Local Storage What are the three most important specs people focus on when purchasing a new computer? Let’s take a more in-depth look at these factors. Cloud storage has not yet had too much impact on 1 and 2. There is still plenty of local “thinking” even though […]
5 tips for a productive home office
If you think the idea of working from home sounds too good to be true, it’s not. Since the advent of the Internet, many business owners are open to the adoption of telecommuting, a strategy that allows their employees to work remotely in order to save commuting costs and time while increasing productivity. But of […]
HDD vs SSD: Which is best?
The standard hard disk drive (HDD) has been the predominant storage device for desktop computers and laptops for a long time. But now, with the invention of solid state drive (SSD) technology, computer buyers and users now have access to the latest innovation that’s setting new trends in the storage market. So which one should […]
Multi-Factor Authentication
Another day, another technology acronym to learn. Today, we are talking about Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). If you have ever used an ATM card, you have used MFA. The first “factor” is that you needed the card to put in the machine, the second, your PIN code. Finance has long enforced these types of MFA mechanisms […]
5 tips for a successful Office 365 migration
Microsoft Office 365 is growing in popularity as more and more businesses make the move to the cloud. However, without proper planning and testing beforehand, you could get stuck in the middle of the migration process, end up with duplicated data, or even have to abort the transition completely. Needless to say, all of these […]
A New Technology Mindset
How often have you heard, “Well, just ask the young folks, they know how all this tech stuff works?” I often talk about technology with people of various skill levels, backgrounds, and experiences. So what makes some people “get” technology and not others? Well, it’s not what you think… It’s not age, experience, or maturity. […]
Virtualization questions to consider
For small or medium-sized business, getting a leg up on the competition can be the difference between simply surviving and thriving. One way of doing this is by embracing virtualization. Many SMBs have used virtualization techniques to great effect, but implementing a change can be difficult and time-consuming. Here are a few questions you should […]
5 tips for buying a new computer
With the holidays approaching, computers are likely to be among the season’s best-selling gifts. But there are so many different types of computers out there, each with varying specifications and capabilities – how do you find the best one for your needs? Whether you’re purchasing a computer for yourself, for your loved one, or for […]