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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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? […]
Being comfortable with technology isn’t the same as being competent
“Those younger folks handling our technology, they know how it works,” says the business owner who has delegated all technology decisions to anyone under 30. The next thing you know, there are apps for everyone, random one-off workflows, and no overall strategy. Technology is everywhere but it is not supporting the business strategy. People become […]
Intelligent Technology – 4 part series
The shift from processing “information” to gathering “intelligence” in your business is critical to long term success. There is a big difference. Intelligent Technology is a competitive asset for your business. Below are the links to our four part series that walks through what Intelligent Technology can mean for your business. Intelligent Technology is shifting how […]
Intelligent Technology Transformation – In Real Life
Does your business need an Intelligent Technology transformation? Not just a new coat of paint, but a serious remodeling. Like that starter house you bought, and now you have two children: TIME TO DO SOMETHING. A technology transformation is often needed to reset the status quo. Band-aids and increment change will not work. A prospect […]
Intelligent Technology – Increasing Productivity (Part 4 of 4)
Doing more with less, also known as increasing productivity. This important concept is how employees enjoy a higher standard of living due to increased wages, and businesses increase profits. The right technology services supporting your business strategy will increase your productivity over time. We have already covered the concept of measuring productivity in your business […]
Intelligent Technology – Consistent Results (Part 3 of 4)
Would you rather have consistent results or random flashes of greatness? Do you want a business that improves over time and is managed with the least amount of effort? It all starts with consistent results. Hitting goals (accuracy) without have a repeatable business process (consistency) is an exercise in frustration! Consistent results provide a business […]
Intelligent Technology – Business Strategy and Alignment (Part 2 of 4)
Ever driven down the road in a car that was out of alignment? When you let go of the wheel, the car starts going in the wrong direction. Until you get the alignment fixed, there will be a lot of WASTED EFFORT to keep the car going in the direction you want. Not to mention, […]
Introduction to Intelligent Technology (Part 1 of 4)
The shift from processing “information” to gathering “intelligence” in your business is critical to long term success. There is a big difference. Intelligent Technology is a competitive asset for your business. Information technology started in the 60’s as a way to process batch jobs on mainframes. If after checking out the link above you agree this […]
Productivity metrics that increase profit in your business!
How to increase profit of your company or department is usually the #1 Goal of Business Owners and managers. The best way to do this is to focus on increasing productivity. Surprisingly, leaders rarely measure the right things to understand the productivity of their business. This is because the usual key financial metrics that measure […]
Avoid making fatal mistakes
There will always be mistakes, oversights, and course adjustments made in any business. It’s human nature and how we learn. The goal of leadership should be to keep any one of those mistakes from being fatal. Here are three mistakes that can quickly lead to long term issues for your business. You build up capacity […]
Utilization based technology services and support
Would you ever pre-pay for your electricity or water service years in advance, knowing that if you used LESS you would pay MORE and if you used MORE it would not even be available? Of course you wouldn’t! This is exactly how many companies are acquiring their technology services and support today, and that needs […]