All businesses need technology. They simply can’t reach their full potential if they don’t, especially in this day and age, when technology has such a profound influence on how the world works. Alas, technology isn’t free. It’s very often not even cheap. And that means that businesses can end up allocating huge sums of money to kitting their operation out with the technology and software they need to succeed. There are ways, however, to keep costs to a minimum. We’ll take a look at 6 of the most effective methods for doing that below.
By Team Savant
Image: ThisisEngineering
Buy What You Need
It’s easy to get carried out when you’re buying technology for a business. It’s like buying technology for personal use; you can fool yourself into believing that you need a more capable device than you really do. It’s recommended to be realistic about your technological needs, and only buy what you’ll actually use. You probably won’t have the latest, most brilliant machines on the planet, but that’s precisely the point, since you wouldn’t use half of the things those machines could do anyway.
Look At Refurbished Options
Of course, even good machines can cost a pretty penny. If you’re buying for an entire business that involves multiple employees, then buying all those devices can eat up a significant chunk of your budget. If you’re unsure of how you can afford to buy laptops, printers, and other mainstays of office life, then take a look at refurbished options. These devices are technically second-hand, but they’ve been barely used and fully restored to essentially “as new,” but they’re much cheaper than new options. In fact, by using this approach you can save 40%+ on the cost of your devices.
Rent/Lease The Expensive Equipment
It’s one thing to buy a few laptops and another thing to buy the real expensive equipment. If you work in a specialist field, then you might have no choice but to get your hands on a piece of equipment that allows you to reach your full potential. In those cases, it’ll be best to rent or lease the equipment, rather than buy it outright. Even if you can afford the cost of buying, it’ll probably be better for your cash flow if you find a rental company instead. This will give you access to the equipment you need while keeping your budget very much intact.
Use Affordable IT Support Services
Your IT infrastructure will allow your employees to work efficiently and push your business forward. Alas, that’s only the case when everything’s working well. If it’s not, then all your technology and tools will just be expensive clutter. The vast majority of businesses outsource their IT support since hiring an internal expert is expensive. However, remember that you don’t necessarily need to use managed IT services on an ongoing basis. If you’re not sure how much you need IT help, consider opting for a monthly IT support package. This will give you access to the support you need, when you need it, just without the long-term commitment or huge upfront investment.
Review Your Subscriptions
You’ll have a lot of software and other tools that you use to keep your business ticking over. However, if you’re looking for ways to slash your cuts, then it can be worthwhile looking to see if there are alternative options available. Many businesses fall into the status quo when it comes to software, and simply think that they must continue using the same ones forever and ever. That’s not the case. If there’s a cheaper option available that’ll do the job just as well, then it can be worthwhile undertaking the short learning curve required to get to grips with the new software.
In some cases, it can also be good at looking at entirely free options. Many software companies use the ‘freemium’ business model, which will give you access to some of its tools for free. It can be worthwhile using these tools for non-critical tasks.
Have All Employees Use the Same Tools
Finally, businesses can minimise costs by having all employees use the same tools. This standardisation of your business technology can have a long-term positive financial impact on your business. For instance, it can help to speed up training (since every training session is the same), it’s easier to fix problems, and it makes it easier for employees to help each other with minor software issues. Plus, you should be able to get discounts if you buy in bulk or on a long-term basis, which provides even more savings.