Information technology, or IT, has had a place in business since at least the early 19th century. Of course, business owners did not have laptops, MAC computers, and data warehouses at their disposal. But they did have simple tabulation machines that helped transform the way they did business. Fast forward to the 1970s, when business and modern computers began a more intense connection. IT has increasingly become a tool that companies use to achieve their business objectives, but it’s also necessary to consider those objectives in your IT planning.
Assessing Your Company’s Needs
Are your business objective needs being met? Also, do your current IT strategies and initiatives allow you to achieve your short-term and long-term goals?
For most companies, the first priority is to be profitable. Typically, business strategies tend to revolve around the basics of increasing profits and reducing costs. Other factors include:
- research and development of new products and services,
- meeting current customer needs,
- attracting new customers,
- attracting and retaining key employees,
- dealing with industry changes,
- staying ahead of the competition,
- and expanding market share.
As business owners look to the future of their companies, it’s important to consider where IT planning fits in.
IT Planning and Your Business Objectives
The IT strategies you implement could support – or detract from – your business objectives. Here are some potential IT issues that relate to your plans:
- Hardware. Are your computers, routers, servers, and other hardware obsolete? Are you spending time and money fixing systems that you just need to replace? Potential clients faced with frequent computer downtimes may gravitate toward your competitors.
- Software. Does your software help employees be more efficient or drag them down? Are your clients and potential clients able to navigate your ordering systems with little or no frustration? As part of your IT planning, make sure your current software supports your business objectives.
- Websites. Are your websites working? Do they contain actionable information that attracts clients while beating the competition? Websites can go stale. In fact, search engine optimization strategies can change from year to year, so what worked in the past prevents you from ranking at the top on search engine results pages.
- Tracking. Do you have IT systems in place to track the effectiveness of your business objectives? This is important so you can make sure your budget addresses current needs in as cost-effective manner as possible.
Also, the increase in remote work has emphasized the need for solid cybersecurity strategies. In today’s business world, coordinating your business objecting and your IT planning could be crucial to your company’s future.
About the Author
Attorney Richard Sierra at the Florida Small Business Center assists clients like you with business and litigation matters. As always, Our Goal Is to Help You Succeed™. For an appointment, you may call us at 1-866-842-5202 or use the contact form on our website. We represent clients throughout the State of Florida, including Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Orlando, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, and surrounding communities.