Five Steps To Integrating Your Small Business’ Computer Systems
Your small business is growing fast. Your technology needs are changing just as rapidly. But starting over with a totally new system isn’t an option – who can afford the downtime? Sometimes it can feel like needing to change a tire, but not being able to afford to stop your car.
A better solution is to replace components you’ve outgrown – such as software or a lower-end printer – and add them to the existing computer system.
Tech Experts relies on a methodical approach to integrating new technology for our clients – a five-step process that any small business can follow when adding PCs or software:
1: Identify the problem
When your business sees its customer satisfaction, efficiency and employee satisfaction levels plummeting, you know it is time to make a change.
But even if your company isn’t experiencing bottlenecks, there may still be opportunities to improve overall efficiency.
We suggest companies start by looking at whatever they do repeatedly for customers. Then, seek out technology that can help the business do that work faster or better. Remember, inefficiency is expensive!
2: Determine What You Need
Once you’ve zeroed in on things needing improvement, the next step is finding the best technology for the situation. In most cases, small business owners shouldn’t be making such choices themselves, but many still try to “cobble it together.”
Whether you hire our firm, or another technology expert, we strongly advocate hiring an tech consultant to recommend equipment and a plan for the future.
We also advise sticking with name-brand hardware and software to avoid most major problems. Ninety percent of a small business’s needs can be handled by off-the-shelf products, many of which are already seamlessly integrated. Basically, this means that they’ll “play nice with other equipment.”
3: Develop a plan
After selecting (us) as your computer experts, the next step is creating a plan for getting from where you are to where you need to be tech-wise. A timeline, equipment list and critical steps should be part of that plan, including how employees will be brought into the loop.
One of the key things business owners overlook is their personnel. While many employees may be ahead of the curve in their familiarity with different technologies, don’t assume everyone is. Some may actually be tech-averse. Don’t jump too far ahead with the technology. Take incremental steps and everyone can use the new features and benefit from them, rather than being frustrated.
4: Install the Equipment
Likewise, the fewer systems the better. Sixty percent of enterprise software sits on a shelf unused. Only invest in computers and software that will improve your company’s performance. Don’t implement technology for technology’s sake – do it to make more money.
Training should also be a part of your roll-out plan, as well as access to consultants for post support and maintenance.
5: Keep It Maintained
Contracting with a professional computer company like Tech Experts and keeping software and hardware up-to-date will assure that your technology and your business run smoothly – and continue to grow together.
Give us a call today at (734) 457-5000, or send us an email at: sales@ expertsmi.com.
Thank you!
Tech Experts Ranked Among The Top Five Percent Of Microsoft Solution Providers In U.S.
The results are in! Thank you to all of our valued clients who took the time to complete our third-quarter Microsoft Customer Satisfaction Survey.
We had a record number of clients participate this quarter, and we’re pleased to announce that Tech Experts achieved a Net Satisfaction Index (NSAT) score of 195 out of a possible 200. This places us within the top five percent of Microsoft partners in the United States.
The NSAT score is how Microsoft and Tech Experts measure customer satisfaction based on weighted responses to survey questions.
Microsoft has introduced a third-party worldwide system that allows solutions partners to survey their clients using industry-proven methodology to track customer satisfaction.
Only Microsoft Certified and Gold Certified Partners are invited to participate in the survey, which is conducted quarterly by Palo Alto, California based TNS Prognostics.
If you have questions about the Customer Satisfaction Survey, or would be willing to participate in the fourth quarter survey, please call our office at (734) 457-5000, or send an email to info@expertsmi.com. Thank you again to all of our clients who participated! Watch for our next survey announcement, next quarter.
Lock Your Most Used Programs On The Windows Start Menu
The left panel of the Start menu consists of a divided list of programs that Windows XP thinks you’ll find handy: The pinned items list above the separator line, and the frequently used programs, displayed below the line.
By default, Windows XP places links to your Internet browser and e-mail in the pinned items list and will place as many as 30 shortcuts to the programs that you’ve recently used in the most frequently used programs list.
In order to really take advantage of the Start menu as a launching area for all the programs you use most often, you can configure the entire left panel as a pinned items list. Here’s how:
- Right-click the Start button and select the Properties command to display the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box.
- Click the Customize button adjacent to the Start Menu radio button to display the Customize Start Menu dialog box.
- In the Programs panel, use the Spin button to set the Number Of Programs On The Start Menu setting to 0. Click the Clear List button.
- In the Show On Start Menu panel, you can clear the Internet check box because the Internet Explorer icon already appears in the Quick Launch menu by default, and maybe even the e-mail check box, depending on how you launch your e-mail application.
- Click OK twice—once to close the Customize Start Menu dialog box and once to close the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog boxes.
- Click the Start button and access the All Programs submenu.
- Locate and right-click on a shortcut to a program you use most often and select the Pin To Start Menu command.
You can pin up to 30 of your most-used programs to the Start menu, depending on your screen resolution setting. With your favorite programs on the pinned items list, you can really take advantage of the Start menu.