With the year winding down, it’s the perfect time to take inventory of your company’s IT needs. What types of upgrades would make a positive impact for you and your employees?
Things as simple as a more ergonomic keyboard or new team collaboration software can make a significant difference without breaking the bank.
At Technology Visionaries, our forward-thinking IT consultants provide hassle-free IT support for businesses throughout North and Central New Jersey, Union County, and Middlesex County. One of our specialties is finding small IT “tweaks” that make a large positive impact on workflow and fuel business growth.
Taking an inventory of your IT needs at the end of the year is a great habit to get into. It provides a regular schedule for planning new technology purchases and can also boost staff morale and get your team excited to start the new year off with a bang.
Five Practical IT Purchases to Start the New Year Off Right
Keeping your IT running smoothly isn’t just convenient, it’s mandatory for keeping your business running smoothly as well. IT investments can often have a pretty fast payback by making tasks more efficient and helping you do more in less time.
40% of small businesses say increasing employee productivity is a top goal. (Capterra)
By keeping up with your IT needs you can help your business:
- Be more agile & productive
- Stand out from the competition
- Offer new services to customers
- Save time and increase efficiency
- Attract great employees
So, which 5 end-of-year IT purchases can help? Here are our top picks.
Software Licenses (New or Renewals)
Renewals: Do you have annual software licenses that are running out at the end of the year or need to be updated? Many applications these days, like Salesforce, Office 365, Evernote, and others, work on a per user, per month or year subscription. If you’ve had a change in staff since you first signed up, you may need to update the number of users and do a renewal.
New: Is there a new software subscription that could make a big difference to your team? Applications like Adobe Creative Cloud could supercharge your marketing with tools like Spark for social media and Premiere Rush for quick video creating. Check with staff for suggestions on tools that could make their work easier.
Computer Peripherals (Mouse, Keyboard, etc…)
Check for peripherals that could make a big difference in someone’s workflow. Just by getting a keyboard that is a better size or one with a number pad could shave hours off each week in the time it takes to get things done by removing the struggle with an ill-fitting one.
Likewise, having a mouse with a smooth scroll and programable side buttons could improve both morale and productivity.
Other peripherals to consider this year-end are:
- VOIP phone headsets
- Local backup drives
- Printers/Scanners
Wireless Access Points
Do you have areas of your office that suffer from a weak Wi-Fi signal? Do you keep getting requests to extend the Wi-Fi to your office courtyard? Wireless access points are a great way to extend a strong wireless signal to other areas of your property.
They act as a “hot spot” where wireless devices can connect and get a reliable signal. They’re very affordable and can instantly increase productivity by eliminating wireless dead zones.
Smart Office Gadgets
Homes aren’t the only places taking advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT), offices can also benefit by time and cost saving smart gadgets like programmable thermostats and lighting.
Costs on smart tech have come down significantly on things like wireless security cameras and automated presentation systems. The year-end holiday sales are also a great time to shop for these types of devices.
Managed IT Services Plan
When you or your team hit a snag with your computer, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to instantly call or chat with your personal IT pro and get it handled? That’s just one of the many benefits of signing up for a Managed IT Services plan with Technology Visionaries.
Having outsourced IT solutions with a monthly plan benefit your business in a number of ways:
- Decrease downtime due to IT problems
- Free you and your staff up to focus on your business
- Enhance your workflow by keeping tech running smoothly
- Boost productivity and reduce frustration
- Keep yours and your clients’ data secure and safe
- Ensures no costly IT surprises by giving you an easily budgeted monthly flat-rate
Looking for Expert Guidance on IT Expenditures?
Before you make any new IT purchases, it’s always a good idea to get advice from the experts. Technology Visionaries can help you evaluate software, hardware, smart gadgets, and anything else in the tech world to ensure you’re getting the most for your money.
Contact us today for a free consultation at 732-587-5960 or through our contact form and kick off the new year with more productive technology.