Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Technology Solutions
What is the best movie? The question is fodder for a passionately argued debate, the kind you might hope to avoid getting dragged into at a party, and the answer is entirely dependent on who you are asking. What are your criteria for “best”? A gripping plot, emotionally resonant acting, cutting-edge special effects, or artistic cinematography—or all of the above? Do you want to experience profound emotions and plumb the depths of your soul, or do you want to escape life and feel good for two hours?
It doesn’t take long to realize that “What is the best movie?” is the wrong question. It’s too subjective, requiring too much context. Perhaps instead we should ask, “What is the best movie for me?”
The same goes for technology solutions. That’s why we’re a technology-agnostic company. We’re not here to get you to adopt what we like to use, or what we think is “best” overall according to our own predetermined criteria. That’s because there’s no “best.” There is, however, a “best for you.”
A number of factors will influence what “the best” technology solutions are for your company: your industry, the number of employees who will be using the software, your current tech stack, the time you have to learn something new, and your budget, just to name a few. Whether you’re looking for CRM, ERP, or POS, making the right decision is about asking the right questions. Here are some questions to consider when choosing a new technology solution.
Does It Meet Your Needs?
Before you can answer this question, you have to have a clear idea of your business goals and your strategy for achieving them. Clearly articulated needs and goals make it possible to determine whether or not a technology solution meets your needs and will help achieve your goals.
Your strategic goals include your growth goals, so be sure to consider what you need now and what you will need in the future when choosing any tech solution. One solution might be full of features you don’t need now, but you might need them in the future. Another solution might look perfect for where your business is today but lacks the ability to scale up as you grow.
Does It Integrate With Your Tech Stack?
While it’s easier than ever to get different software to play nice together, you still have to consider any new software’s place in your tech stack. How will it communicate with other software? In which direction does the data flow? How easy will it be to move my offline spreadsheets into this new system? Also think about what your current tech stack is capable of and what a new solution adds to what you already have.
How Secure Is It?
You lock up your office or warehouse at the end of the day, install security cameras, and hire security. Cybersecurity is equally important to keep both business data and customer data out of the hands of criminals. Make sure your software uses two-factor authentication (2FA) for logging in, and ask developers about how often they release updates and how quickly they respond to bugs and security threats.
2FA means that in addition to entering a password, users have to respond to login requests at a second access point, such as their phone. That way, even if someone steals your password, they won’t be able to access the program or app because the login code will be sent to your phone. There are ways around 2FA, but they are extremely rare cases, such as your phone being stolen or cloned. Hackers can clone your phone by stealing its unique identification code via unsecured public wifi (i.e. airport wifi). Again, this is an extremely rare case, so 2FA should be sufficiently secure.
In addition to login security, inquire about update frequency. Frequent updates help guard against both hackers and bugs. Bugs in critical software can cost your business money, so it’s important that any company you work with is quick to issue updates that patch bugs out. Look into other users’ experience with the software: is the company slow to respond to security weaknesses and bugs? If so, you might want to look elsewhere.
What’s the Learning Curve?
Every piece of software has a learning curve, some steeper than others. Realistically, how much time can you spend learning the new software? It might take an hour or it might take months for your team to feel like they are experts. It’s important to evaluate how much time you can give over to learning and fully integrating the system into your operations.
This is not to say that you should avoid software with a steep learning curve. If the right technology for you is something that will take time to learn, losing a little efficiency in the short term as everyone gets up to speed might be worth a big increase in efficiency in the future.
Will You Be Supported?
Availability of technical support, especially during the crucial implementation stage, is another factor to consider. Technical support should be there if something goes wrong, but you also want someone who can help you learn how to use the software and get the most out of its features. Good technical support requires both knowledge of the technology and the ability to teach it.
ProsperWerx Helps You Find Answers
Though they might lie outside of your area of expertise, these are some of the most important questions you will have to answer as a business owner. Our team of experts in technology implementation, integration, and administration is here to walk you through these decisions so you can spend more time on the business you’re passionate about and less time worrying about the technology behind your business.
