Is too much information technology ruining your business?
Many would agree that IT is more complex today than it ever has been. And your business is probably more dependent on IT than it was just a few years ago.
Most companies “bet their business” on their IT systems. Consequently, the impact of an IT outage is worse than it used to be.
Virtualization and other technologies promise easier maintenance and quicker recovery, but often these technologies require more IT expertise and more dollars every budget cycle.
What can you do TODAY to reduce this complexity?
One of the best things you can do is to reduce the number of computer applications your company is using. Application proliferation happens incrementally, so it’s not always easy to see. Even small businesses find themselves using dozens of applications. More applications mean more technical support issues and more difficult recovery in the event of an outage. And each application is likely increasing your need for computer hardware, software, Internet connection size and the need for IT skills and services to maintain them.
What’s the first step to reducing the number of applications your company is using?
Create an inventory list of all the applications on all the computers in your company.
Then, tor each application, ask your staff this simple question:
Is this application helping me get generate revenue, deliver my products/services, or collect money?
If the answer is no, get rid of it.
Yes, there will be some pain and suffering. And eliminating applications can be a long process. But focusing on your application portfolio is one of the best ways to align information technology with the business goals. And minimizing applications reduces wasted cash, and wasted productivity, and wasted worry.
