How should small businesses plan before investing in new technologies?
Technology planning is as crucial to a small business as product planning. First of all, it’s important for the small biz to have an idea of what business tasks they’d like the technology to support and be prepared to discuss it in the initial meeting with a consultant. A second overall guideline is that you need to plan to grow into a system rather than out of one. Unplanned short-term upgrades can wreak havoc on cash flow. For an entirely new network or just a server, don’t look for temporary, quick solutions, but for industry-standard equipment with a capacity for growth. A small business can turn forecasted technology needs into a fixed cost rather than a capital expenditure. You can forecast cash flows by leasing equipment rather than buying, which is a tax advantage as well. There are a number of tools and programs to make planning easier, and with trade-up programs like the Hewlett Packard Technology Refresh or Compaq Capital, businesses can prepare and budget for the inevitable
