28/03/2022
15 ๐ฎ๐น๐ฌ๐จ๐ป ๐น๐ฌ๐จ๐บ๐ถ๐ต๐บ ๐ป๐ถ ๐ผ๐ท๐ฎ๐น๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น ๐ช๐ถ๐ด๐ท๐ผ๐ป๐ฌ๐น ๐บ๐๐บ๐ป๐ฌ๐ด๐บ
If youโre a SMB business owner or manager, youโll know all about the benefits of technology. Technology enables SMBs to compete with bigger players in a way that was unimaginable just a few years ago. But for many SMB owners, technology has a downside: the need for constant upgrades.
โWhen will the constant changes stop? When can I stop upgrading my computer systems?โ are questions weโre frequently asked here at Correct Solutions. The truth is that technology will always require upgrades. Consumer demand for new features, changes to government compliance and reporting, and the desire for things to run faster are just three reasons why businesses will always need upgrades.
Given upgrades are here to stay, the key is not to regard them as a nuisance, but to recognise that by investing in them, you will benefit your business. Weโve come up with 15 reasons why you need to keep upgrading!
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Today we have faster CPUs, faster hard drives, more processors โ and these resources mean the processing of workloads is quicker. Basically, older systems are just not as fast as new ones.
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Newer technology enables businesses to communicate with clients and potential customers in numerous ways. Email, social media, via your websiteโฆ More flexible communication options means increased business potential.
3. ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Today we have the technology to do things we couldnโt in the past. For example, remote access via mobile devices mean sales reps can take quickly take orders while on the road, knowing exactly what timeframe they can deliver in.
4. ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Because ageing systems are not actively security-checked, businesses using Windows XP, as just one example, are vulnerable to having information stolen or compromised. Newer technology has better security checking in place.
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Features in new operating systems can be used to provide enhancements that werenโt possible in older systems. This means businesses using older technology wonโt have the functionality that could give them a competitive advantage.
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Software vendors test applications on current and most recent versions of any particular operating system. They wonโt spend time testing applications on elderly systems. Does your vendor support your old technology?
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This goes hand-in-hand with our previous point. IT professionals canโt support technology that has become too old. Young IT professionals may have limited knowledge of old systems. Itโll take them longer to find answers to your IT questions โ which will increase your support costs.
8. ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
If your system is under warranty, it can be fixed and up-and-running again quickly, meaning less disruption to your business. But systems that are more than five years old and no longer under warranty can fail and put the business in disaster recovery โ weโve seen it happen!
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Upgrading sounds expensive, but the truth is that older systems have more issues โ and consequently more costs. The cost of disruption caused by unstable systems and software can very quickly become more than it would to invest in an upgraded system.
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When something new comes on the market, existing systems and software may not be compatible with it. For example, the next update for Windows 10 will have some features removed, so it wonโt run with a Windows 2003 server that some SMBs are still running.
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Electricity is becoming very costly for businesses in Australia, South Africa.... The good news is that newer computers and servers typically use less power โ meaning real savings for your business.
12. ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
Employees become increasingly frustrated with outdated systems and software โ they just canโt do their job as well or efficiently as theyโd like. If they become so disgruntled that they leave, you could lose business knowledge โ and itโs not great PR for your company either, if they tell others why they left.
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Like employees, customers can become disgruntled if engaging with a business that uses out-of-date technology. This can give your business the reputation of being โbehind the timesโ. By investing in technology, youโll offer a better customer experience, and youโll also show youโre there for the long haul.
14. ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Is your system designed to support a specific number of people? What happens if you grow? It wonโt take long before the system thatโs designed to support five people is creaking to a halt trying to support 25. It will also struggle with increased orders, etc. The right technology solution will support your current needs and allow for future business growth.
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Younger staff will be particularly frustrated with older systems โ they will have no idea how to use them. Training them to use outmoded systems is time-consuming and fraught with errors. Better to upgrade and focus training needs on something that will really grow your business.
