You have probably spent months planning your business. There are four things that technology can help with. They are reducing your overhead, improving communication, enhancing security, and network monitoring. If you use these four things, then IT can help you grow in the future when compared to other companies.

1. Reduce Your Businesses Overhead 

Buying inventory-tracking equipment will help you save money. If you buy only the inventory that you need when you need it then your costs will be lower because there is less excess stuff. It will also free up money that can be used for other investments. Inventory-management systems allow employees to monitor their own reordering schedules based on the current inventory levels, so they won’t buy more than is needed. For example, if one employee works in the produce department stocking shelves and he notices that he is getting too many onions, then he can order more efficiently by ordering more before the reorder point. When employees can monitor their own reordering schedules, this helps reduce labor costs. Knowing how many employees you will need for the next rush hour also reduces costs and boosts productivity.

2. Improve Your Communication and Collaboration

One way is to use video conferencing like Skype and Google Hangouts allow you to chat face-to-face with clients and colleagues across the country, even the world. This takes out the need for awkward phone conversations where misunderstandings might happen — as long as your internet connection can handle it, of course! And if your computer can’t, just use a remote desktop service such as logmein that lets you gain access to any computer from anywhere in the world–perfect for those times when you forget to bring home work documents on a flash drive! Instead of storing important files on your computer, you can put them in the cloud. That way they will be safe and no one has to worry about backing up their files. Cloud computing is when your data is saved and then synchronized to other devices.

You can get the latest files that you need right on your phone. Lastly is to use instant messaging services such as Google Talk, Skype or MSN Messenger that allow you to send a quick message to a colleague instead of calling them over the phone or sending an email that might require a lengthy response time. For instance, think about how much easier it is for the head of your department to pick up an urgent request from you by being able to send out an instant message rather than having to wait until he gets back from his lunch break to respond to an email.

3. Enhancing Your Security

A firewall protects your data. It is a computer program that allows some people to go through and blocks others. The firewall makes it hard for hackers to get inside the network. If you know how different types of firewalls work, you can set it up so that employees have access but the network is safe from hackers. Next is virtualization, it is when you use different devices for email and other tasks. You can protect these devices with software. This creates a virtual computer on your existing one. This way, you can run multiple operating systems and copy entire hard drives into the “virtual” space without having to worry about losing data if your computer crashes. Lastly, you should use a VPN. It’s a way to make sure your network is secure from outside threats by using encryption. You can also use a VPN to give employees working remotely secure access to your office’s local area network.

4. Network Monitoring 

Network monitoring is one of many services Bayshore offers to keep your business up and running smoothly, no matter what the conditions are. As part of our complete IT service, we provide immediate on site troubleshooting, restoration/recovery and hardware replacement as an integral part of our ‘break/fix’ service for your computer network. Our Network Engineers can quickly identify any problem(s) with your current configuration and offer the most suitable solution based on the client’s individual requirements. Our goal is to give you the best possible advice that will eliminate or minimize disruption to normal operations whether it be a simple desktop issue or upgrading the complete server infrastructure.

Successful companies start by assessing every aspect of their business then determine their pain points and shortcomings. Productive businesses know how to work with employees and what technology to use. You can do that too. Do not spend a lot of money on software or hardware that you don’t need. Instead, look for more affordable options that will get the job done without breaking your bank account.