I was recently asked to explain how having excellent Information Technology will pay dividends. That’s a great question, even if the answer is not just one or two sentences. My short answer is that the right IT for your company will not necessarily create profit, but it can preserve profits.
Proper IT, the technology that is the right fit for your business, is a strategic investment in process rather than a magic pill for generating more money. Having the right IT may not play a role in making your product better, but it could, as an example, make the distribution of that product more cost efficient. Distribution savings contribute to your bottom line.
Be Willing To Change Your Perspective
For some business owners, it takes a deep change in his or her perspective about the value of the right technology. Good tech can mean better productivity and increased time management. I can use the creation of a new building as an example. To complete a new building, there will be input from architects, engineers, and construction planners. There is critical pricing and scheduling information from construction suppliers like plumbers, electricians, door and window people, drywallers, insulation specialists, and painters, etc. Also factor in pricing from all kinds of designers from kitchen, to lighting, to sound, and to interiors. With good communication software, all these elements and their costs can be sent to and stored right in the project accountant’s office. The whole project’s cost spreadsheet can be updated multiple times daily. Now, your business may not be on the same scale as creating a building, but if you take a moment to think about it, how many information streams do you try to keep track of in any given day? How do you collect and store it? Can your operating spreadsheet be updated quickly and easily?
Good IT, At The Least, Is Value Added
The right IT, its monitoring and management, can add value to your business pursuits. At Aptica, our experience has been that having the right technology for any business can generate more value than the cost of its service. When you have good people giving good advice, it can increase your company’s profitability. Give us a call. We can give you examples and good advice.
Jason Newburg, 260.243.5100, ext 2101, is the founder and owner of Aptica LLC. This IT management and support company has been serving small to medium sized businesses for 16 years in the region that includes Angola, South Bend, and Fort Wayne, IN, Battle Creek, MI, and Toledo OH.