As a leader in Business IT Solutions in Melbourne, we understand just how important IT is for any business. IT is especially important for young businesses, to create competitive advantage, and provide premium services to their customers.

In this article, we discuss a handful of the top ticket items young businesses should be ticking off their IT list to ensure they set themselves up for success.

IT Hardware

IT hardware is one of the first things you need to research for your business. While there are differences depending on your industry and business type, generally you and your team will need laptops/or desktops if the need to travel with your computer isn’t required, a server, a firewall for security, and a multi-function printer, scanner, fax etc.

Some businesses will require more, such as tablets for staff if there’s a need for these devices – such as real estate agents attending open homes.

How many computers? Do you need printers for all of them, or can you share one? Do you need a printer at all?

Software

The Software is very important, as computers, tablets, and smartphones would be useless without it.

There’s an enormous amount of software available for businesses these days. Do you need time tracking software for chargeable staff? Or procurement software for billing purposes? What finance package do you need to run your business effectively? Should it be based on your server in the office or a cloud-based package? Each business needs to purchase software specific to its industry and needs.

Cloud computing can offer advantages here, as it can save you money. Example: There are great Cloud-based CRM tools available these days.

The main benefit of cloud computing is the significant reduction in hardware cost. Instead of needing to purchase in-house equipment, the hardware is left to the vendor. For rapidly growing companies, new hardware can be large, expensive, and ultimately inconvenient. Cloud computing alleviates these issues because the resources can be acquired efficiently and effectively. Even better, the cost of fixing or replacing equipment is none of your concern, as it left to the vendors to handle.

Website

After sorting out your hardware and software, the next key requirement for your business is your website. While most businesses think they might not need one, it’s important to keep in mind that your competitors will most likely have one. Also, consider how your prospective customers will find you;most people these days use Google to find businesses.

There’s a difference between throwing together a basic site and hoping for the best, or going a little further and having a site designed and developed for you, that is search engine friendly and will appear in search results. Mobile friendliness is also a major factor for consideration for your website.

Tech Support Staff

If you aren’t large enough or don’t need in-house Tech Support Staff, you should ensure you have access to IT help and tech support. This means getting a company on contract whom you can call in the event something with your Tech plays up or fails.

There’s little more frustrating than trying to run your business when your tech is failing. You need to have access to everything you need to run your business.

Final Thoughts

When considering the type of technology your business needs, it ultimately depends on the industry and structure of your organisation. However, this article should give you a general idea of what to consider when piecing together your own business plan. If you are looking for a leader in Business IT Solutions in Melbourne, our friendly team will welcome a chat.