5 Penny-Pinching Ideas For 2008
“In business, I’ve learned that much technology is overhyped and misrepresented. Every day I deal with stuff that doesn’t work as promised. But there’s a bright spot: Even in the vast wasteland of crappy software and unreliable hardware, I have found some penny-pinching technology recommendations that are worth considering for 2008.1. Increase your network bandwith. Faster is better. The faster you can enter an invoice, print a check, or record a customer order, the faster you can get on to the next productive task. Technology gets faster and faster every year. Make your network go faster and you’ll immediately save a few bucks.
2. Set up remote access. Work isn’t done just between the four walls of your office. Get with the program! People like to do work over lattes. They like to access their files while driving down the turnpike. They want to send e-mails while getting a lap dance. Remote access tools are inexpensive and easy to deploy.
3. Create a few key reports. Come up with three to five key reports you want to see every day or week. Hire someone to come in and write up the reports. A couple of grand spent on a few decent reports will save you many times over in better management of your orders, quotes, expenses, etc.
4. Avoid Vista. Delay getting Vista until the hardware really catches up. Just say no to nonfunctioning programs and incompatible devices! Microsoft will be releasing their first service pack to Vista in 2008 and that should make it ready for prime time. But you’ve got better things to do than monkey with an operating system that, for the time being, costs more than it returns.
5. Outsource your phone systems. For about $12 per month per mailbox we get the whole phone system, complete with automated attendant, call forwarding, voicemail, etc. The best thing is that no one calling us knows we’ve outsourced! Even the automated attendant has an American accent! We don’t have to worry about maintaining our own system or paying through the nose for a phone lease. Check out gotvmail.com for price comparisons.
For five more penny-pinching ideas, go here.
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