Technology is a moving target, and in a competitive marketplace, having the right tools available can give your company a major edge.  Not having that edge, however, can result in your business missing out on potential for new growth—ultimately hurting your bottom line.

The tricky part is that new technology requires a flexibility that isn’t always comfortable.

It can require extra time for training, involve curbing old habits and reliance on familiar programs, and change how your team’s “day to day” runs.  Is it worth it for your company to adapt in the long run?

In climates such as New Jersey, where temperature changes greatly in between the seasons, nature changes with it.  From a hibernating chipmunk to a squirrel that diligently prepared food for winter, nature has all sorts of tricks for dealing with a shifting environment.  Technology goes through seasons of change as well, with the most recent trend being cloud-based platforms.  While the “cloud” may sound like yet another winter storm, it has a variety of adaptations to launch your company to the next level.

Like nature, technology is constantly growing and changing to meet the needs of the environment it’s faced with.  Last year your software, and various applications, may have provided all the tools you needed to tackle your company’s goals.  Since your business needs and technology are constantly on the move, this year your ideal solution is going to shift too.

Cloud platforms such as Microsoft Office 365 offer a variety of productivity tools to help you meet your goals.

In a fast-paced work environment with a need for collaboration, Microsoft One Drive and SharePoint, for example, provide a way for your team to share resources quickly and access the files they need if they’re outside of the office.  That way your team is never caught in the cold without their coat on.

Transitioning from the traditional server-based platforms to Office 365 and similar cloud-based tools can be a daunting task—especially when your team is used to accessing the S: drive as opposed to signing into their customized SharePoint.  The benefit?  It’s not nearly as difficult as it seems; and once your team has gone through a bit of training, the additional information, extra features, and high availability of critical resources will keep your company more productive, more secure, and more relevant to your clients.

While it may be harder for some more than others to change gears and learn new technology skills, leveraging tools like Skype for Business and VoIP phone systems (instead of needing to maintain an old school PBX) opens the door for unified communication, streamlined task management, and an organization that’s much better equipped to handle the uncertain landscape of business with confidence and finesse.

Don’t worry, though…we don’t expect you to make the jump alone.  As your technology partner and advocate, we do consulting best.  Give us a call to set up some time for team training or learning about how adopting new technologies can give you that extra edge you need.

First published in our May 2018 IT Radix Resource newsletter