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Tech Gear
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Article 1: Should You Upgrade?
Need to upgrade your
small-business technology? You may be surprised
that you probably don’t. Or you may be a
justifiable exception.
Small-business computer consultants say the
threshold issue is whether you need the
improvement, not whether you would like it. High
tech’s glamorous appeal (and fear of
obsolescence) are reinforced daily with each
heralded technology breakthrough. If you listen
only to the buzz, you may be stampeded into
buying the “must-have” upgrade of the moment.
Be wary. Experts say that often you can do
without, and do just fine. How do you evaluate
your needs? Some tips:
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Does your current
technology do the job?
If so, continue
as you are. If not, an upgrade may be in
order. For example, will doubling the
computer’s processor speed improve your
productivity?
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Where do you want your
business to be in three years?
If what you
have today won’t suffice for what you need to
do in the near future, consider upgrading.
Perhaps your sales staff will increasingly be
out of the office. It may make sense to
replace desktop computers with laptops.
-
Could your business be more
efficient with technology?
Look for
redundancies. This doesn’t mean a new database
system will necessarily throw your admin
assistant out of work. But it may permit you
to reassign him to more productive tasks.
-
What’s your competition
doing? Keeping
up with the Joneses is more than ego
gratification. Have your competitors migrated
to the Web to reach their clients—and perhaps
yours?
Consultant Phil Mogavero
of Data Systems Worldwide says, “If you find
that you’re thinking faster than the computer,
it’s time to upgrade.”
The bottom line: Resist adding gadgetry
for gadgetry’s sake. Weigh potential benefits of
an upgrade against actual needs. Then, of
course, against your available budget. But don’t
budget until you know your needs.
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