IN THIS ISSUE – June 2012
5 reasons why business tech is better
Did you know about these FB features?
Cloud Computing to Replace the LAN
3 BI myths you should be aware of
Call us today! Were here to help!
5 reasons why business tech is better | Buying technology for your business can be one of the toughest things to do. It’s constantly changing and in truth, a rather poor, yet necessary long term investment. Beyond that, almost every manufacturer makes models aimed at the personal use market and business oriented products. While the consumer products look like they could fit the bill, it’s not a good idea for businesses to pursue this option.
Here are five reasons you, as small businesses owners, should aim to buy technological solutions and products that are specifically designed to meet your needs, not those of the masses.
- Long-term time and money costs. In general, consumer grade technology is made using cheaper, less durable materials than that of the business equivalent. More often than not, consumer products will break down long before business grade. When they do, you’re stuck paying for the replacement parts or sending the unit in for repair. Beyond that you’ll also have to spend the valuable time dealing with the problem.
- Greater ability to recover costs. Business technology does cost more, however, it’s made with better materials that increase product life. Beyond that it decreases the need for maintenance and will make it more appealing to buyers when you sell it, thus allowing you a higher chance of recovering costs.
- More features. The problem with technology developed for the consumer market is that it’s often developed with features that will be the most useful to the majority. This could be a problem for companies as you’ll be paying for features you don’t need, while lacking ones that you do need. Many business devices also have features that can be tailored to meet a business’s needs, or offer devices with increased functionality.
- Warranty. The majority of consumer tech has a limited to non-existent warranty. Many laptops have one year limited warranties that, in truth, cover very little. Business hardware can have a standard three year factory warranty which guarantees the device won’t break for three years. Aside from that, many vendors will send someone to repair the device within the next day, if you buy business grade.
- The best customer support. It’s a high probability that you’ve had a device break and had the wonderful opportunity of dealing with consumer technical service. This is not the case for the majority of business hardware and software developers. Many companies provide 24/7 support and have employees who understand that your technology is essential to operations, and will work to get your system back as fast as possible.
While in the short term, it may seem like a good idea to buy consumer technology, it’s a solution with long-term drawbacks. If you are looking for new technology but don’t know where to start, please contact us we can help.
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Did you know about these FB features? | The use of social media by companies to connect with their customers and drive brand awareness is commonplace among companies of all sizes. Using a site like Facebook and its numerous features allows small businesses to tap into a potentially large customer base. What many owners don’t know is that there are some hidden features that they could be using.
Here are four hidden features you can use.
- App Settings. This setting tab lets you view and manage all the apps you;ve installed to your profile. From your profile, click the grey arrow near your name at the top of the window, select Account Settings and? Apps to view your apps. Clicking the X will delete the app, while Edit will allow you to edit the settings. This feature is good for managing your profile.
- Archive Facebook. There’s a hidden feature in the Account Settings page that allows you to download your wall posts, everything you’ve shared and your friend’s email addresses. You can also download an enhanced archive which includes info like IP addresses. This feature is in the General tab in Account Settings and is underLanguage. If your company wants to backup its Facebook data, this is the way to do so.
- Customize Username. You can customize the username attached to your Facebook account, which in turn changes the URL of your profile to the username selected e.g., www.facebook.com/myprofile. This is useful for businesses as it allows them to have a unique username that they can use on their websites, newsletters and other communication to encourage visits.
To change your username, click the grey arrow beside your name at the top of the Facebook window and select Account Settings. Under the General tab, select Edit beside Username. Be aware that at this time, Facebook only allows you to change your username once, so make sure you’re okay with the selection.
- Facebook email. Did you know that you can message Facebook users from any email account? All you have to do is enter [email protected] and anything you type will be sent to that user’s messaging tab (the speech bubble in the top left of the screen). This is a great feature that allows you to quickly and easily send a message to your friends without actually opening Facebook.
These are just four of the many useful features of Facebook that you could use in your business to help further your brand, or make it easier to reach out to your followers. If you’ed like to learn more about utilizing Facebook in your business, please contact us.
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Cloud Computing to Replace the LAN | Las Vegas Computer Repairs: Cloud Computing and Replacing LAN Systems
Over the years, the definition of cloud computing has changed significantly. During the formative years of the system, many business owners were skeptical that cloud computing companies could provide them with the proper level of data security and IT support. Today, there is an abundance of reliable information about the various components of the cloud computing infrastructure. Researching this subject will enhance your ability to make an informed decision.
Local area networks, or LANs, were an early network and file-sharing solution. As software technologies developed, the need for more processing power also increased. At the same time, the budget restrictions many businesses faced set limits on how much computer hardware they could purchase. In addition, maintenance and computer repairs in Las Vegas contributed to the associated hardware costs.
Many industry analysts now refer to an infrastructure that encompasses both a public and a private cloud computing system. The public portion operates in a manner similar to a public utility, and the private portion can be customized to meet the unique needs of the client. These clouds effectively outsource the processing power and IT support necessary to run advanced operating systems and multiple applications on a traditional client computer.
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3 BI myths you should be aware of | One of the most popular trends small businesses are implementing is Business Intelligence (BI). There are many benefits to BI that business owners are eager to cash in on. The only problem however is your employees may not think the same way, often seeing BI as a threat to their job security. This, and other, myth can create a workforce unwilling to adapt, and the common myths around BI should be addressed before implementation.
Myth #1: BI will replace experienced judgment
Managers and users often perceive that a BI solution may replace or override their knowledge and experience for business decisions that affect their area of responsibility. The reality is that BI empowers decision making and leverages experience by providing supporting detail often otherwise missing. Critical to the success of any BI implementation is a common vision of how BI is going to improve business decisions.
Debunk Myth#1 with clear expectations and assurances that the value your employees experience will only be augmented with better information.
Myth #2: Users prefer to figure it out rather than receive training
Even the simplest BI tool takes time and practice to help users make the most of the solution. Companies that don’t invest in training often end up wondering why no one uses the tool. The entire organization from top to bottom should receive some level of formal training to get full value from the BI solution. Allowing users to focus time and attention on learning how to use the BI solution will help with user adoption and acceptance.
Avoid Myth #2 by scheduling formal training – away from their regular job – that provides users with hands-on training. (But don’t make them work overtime to penalize them for training.)
Myth #3: Once the implementation is done, it’s done
A BI project is not over simply because the application has been deployed. BI is an evolution that supports the change and growth of an organization. Start with highly visible and easy-to-implement projects so that people build confidence in its value and in using it. The more complex projects should be scheduled for implementation after familiarity and confidence have been sufficiently built.
The whole point is to leverage the organization’s information assets to new levels of utility and value, so that decision-making across the entire organization, from top to bottom, and with the organization’s external partners, is more effective and productive. Revisiting the uses of BI on a regular basis will ensure that the organization is making the most of their investment.
Debunk Myth #3 by incorporating BI as a strategic component of all business planning activities.
Let’s talk about what BI solution is right for your business. Call us today.
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