8 Ways Small Businesses Can Cut IT costs

Since computers are a necessary part of the vast majority of businesses’ operations, your small business has to utilize them to grow. But this certainly doesn’t mean that buying and maintaining hardware and software is a cheap affair. In fact, the average small business spends over 5% of their entire budget on technology. This means if you want to cut down on IT costs, you cannot simply stop spending money on your company computers, printers, laptops, or phones. Working out how to utilize your technology budget for the best results is important to lasting success. Here’s our tips on how your small business can slash IT costs.
Assess Spending –
The first step is to commission a thorough report on your IT department, and where their finances are going. Identifying potential money funnels will allow you to select the right technology for your business, streamline software processes, and direct funds where they need to go.
Don’t Underestimate Software Costs –
Small businesses have a tendency to focus on their hardware budget. After all, this can take a big chunk out of your potential IT finance allocation. But software, especially if it needs to be installed on a fleet of computers, costs a surprising amount, too. Not to mention, your current software contracts may not be skewed in your favour. As your small business grows, business licenses with software companies are always negotiable.
Know When to Quit –
Keeping old technology running is oftentimes more expensive than replacing your suite with up-to-date alternatives. To add to this, old and clunky computers can cut your staff’s productivity, and hamper the customer experience too. Make sure to replace old technology whenever it starts to get in the way of work processes.
Prioritise People –
If you need a little extra help when it comes to your IT budget, it’s always best to prioritise your technology support staff. Avoid making cuts to employees’ pay or bonuses. If you need to relax a stretched budget, you can re-allocate funds from elsewhere, such as stationary costs, for a short period of time.
Remote Work –
Over the last 3 years the benefits of remote working have been touted throughout every industry. It’s true that having remote employees can save you a lot of money, especially when it comes to IT. Employees have individual responsibility for their tech, you won’t need to power an office or a fleet of computers, and you can re-allocate these funds into purchasing the latest products.
Outsource IT Support –
Choosing to hire an external IT support company offers your small business unbeatable flexibility. Whatever you need from your technology, contract IT Support Doncaster-based can help you get the best out of your hardware and software. Their efficient work times can get employees back online and working quicker, often faster than an in-house IT support worker. An external IT support service will also work remotely, so you don’t have to dedicate office space or energy to them.
Opt for Scalable Servers –
Small businesses that operate largely or solely online can always benefit from better servers. Choosing the right servers is a great investment in your small business’s future, because the best servers will save you money in downtime, and support you in high traffic. Scalable servers will grow with your business, helping you on the road to success.
Consider the Cloud –
Finally, cloud-based programmes such as Office 365 offer three great things to improve and prioritise efficient workflow in your small business. These are faster document sharing, adequate data storage, and quicker communication between employees and customers. With cloud systems, all of these things can be done through a single interface, cutting down on training costs too.