Lean Networks for Lean Times

In lean times, it’s more essential than usual to match your hardware/software to your organisation’s actual needs.

Whatever your business–bricks to clicks, e-commerce, utilities, professional services, media etc.–your IT network is at the heart of your business and therefore at the heart of your productivity.

“Eliminate ‘hidden costs’: they can mean the difference between profit and break-even, or between break-even and loss.”

The issue is: Is your current network configuration costing you unnecessary money? Not just the up-front costs of buying and licensing, but the operating costs as well. The cost of network downtime, of lost data and email, of dropped calls—in a growth period, these “hidden” costs are often tolerated as a cost of doing business. In a recession, you have to squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of what you’ve got so these costs are no longer acceptable: they can mean the difference between profit and break-even, or between break-even and loss.

Leveraging the IT Network for Productivity

1. Wrap IT around the business, not vice versa: Whatever the scale of your IT needs, you’ll need robust hardware, data backup software, network maintenance and security configured for what your staff and customers do, not for what your IT provider thinks they should do.
2. Invest in applications that enhance productivity: If your business operates from multiple locations over a WAN, then shared collaboration tools, e.g.: sales force or customer relationship applications, accessed via intranet, extranet and VPN can give a big productivity boost for an incremental outlay. If your office runs on a single server, router and LAN, wikis can serve as no-cost/low-cost internal collaboration and communications tools.
3. Peripherals aren’t peripheral: Faxes, printers, scanners etc, should all be networked for maximum efficiency. A great deal of staff time is wasted chasing down faxes and looking for up-and-running printers.
4. Resist the buzz about anything new that’s not mission-critical: For example, a connecting device via wireless LAN may be more aesthetically pleasing than with physical cable but it brings no additional benefit, so is it worth the investment?
5. Get the most out of the familiar: New systems tend to have extra costs associated with training. Concentrate on getting the most out of your existing platform rather than switching to another one.

Talk to us about how you can leverage productivity with cost-effective network installation.

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