Business Solutions for December 2016

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DECEMBER 2016 3
business solutions
A technology plan is a design for the future, preparing your company to meet its changing
technology needs. Every company needs a technology plan, no matter its size or offerings, and
whether or not it specializes in technology.
Benefits of a Technology Plan
With a technology plan, your company can proactively adapt to,
and keep up with, technological advances, which is beneficial in
a number of ways:
• You will set goals to align technology with the needs of your
business as you grow. A technology plan is where you can
record such goals and track their progress.
• Your business will have the right equipment to meet new
customer demands.
• You’ll be ahead of the technology curve, signaling to custom-
ers that you’re progressive, making your services and products
accessible in ways that best suit their lifestyle.
• You’ll have a budget for purchasing new technology so these
expenses will drive the growth of your business, rather than
become a burden. You can plan for periodic replacement and
update of your technology to help prevent “surprise” expenses.
• Your business will be more attractive to younger workers to
whom up-to-date technology is not just an added bonus, but
expected.
• You may save money. By planning ahead, you are focusing
your expenditures only on what is necessary to achieve your
goals and grow your business, as well as avoiding the risk of
having technology that becomes obsolete or is not suited to
your goals. Thinking ahead and investing in better equip-
ment can also result in fewer problems and less time and
money needed to deal with them.
How to Get Started
The first step in building a technology plan is to assess your com-
pany’s current technology. Ask for feedback from both customers
and employees to see what needs to be improved. Look for areas
of your business that could use more technology to make the work
more efficient. Also, look for places where you may have technol-
ogy that you don’t need (for example, printers in a paperless office).
Next, think about what you want to accomplish in your business
and how technology can help. Set goals accordingly. Make sure
to consider the feasibility of the goals, including how much time
and money it will take to complete each one. Consider what
technology might be needed if your company grows and how
technology may change over time.
Finally, present your plan to your trusted technology advisors. Be
prepared to invest a few hours to discuss your goals, brainstorm
solutions, and refine your technology plan. A small investment
to do so will more than pay for itself with clearly defined and
achievable plan.
After you create the plan, it’s time to start implementation. Don’t
forget to revisit and revise it each year.
For more information about how the Networks
Plus staff of business consultants can help meet
your technology needs, call 800-299-1704, or email
us at
Think strategically about hardware,
software, and technical support
Does Your
Business Have a
Technology Plan?