When you are running a business, you will often come to certain junctures or forks in the road when you know you need to make changes to the construction or configuration of your organization.
These are always fretful times because you may have to follow through with difficult decisions – such as letting loyal members of staff go, spending vast amounts of money on investments, or changing the entire path of your business.
You also run the risk of ruining whatever success you currently enjoy. If your business is running smoothly and profitably, but you want to achieve higher and more challenging goals, you may have to rip up the current playbook and start again.
This could destroy everything you have worked hard to build, and so isn’t an easy decision to make.
One such decision you could have to make is whether it is time to upgrade the technology within your company or not.
While the exact type of technology you use will depend on the structure of your company and the industry you are in, almost every entrepreneur can relate to the pain of upgrading their tech.
So, when is the right time to upgrade your technology? This is what you need to know:
When there are clear inefficiencies
One of the most glaringly obvious warning signs you will see when it is time to start an overhaul of the tech within your company is when there are clear inefficiencies emerging.
If your team members are unable to complete their work due to a lack of resources or tech at their disposal, or your overall productivity is lagging behind your competitors, then it may be time to make a change and invest in newer tech.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a waste management business needing a new Centrifugal blower or an insurance firm needing new desktop computers; it is vital to know when it is time to make a change.
When your team flags up problems
Another key indicator that it is time to improve the technology within your business is when your team comes to you with a problem.
It will likely be those on the frontlines who first spot signs of an issue, so you should listen to your employees’ complaints with respect and attention.
After all, if they are unable to complete their jobs in a timely and efficient manner, your business is going to suffer considerably.
Sit down with them and ask them what they think they need to do their jobs properly – or as well as employees within your competitor’s company would do.
Make a list and cross-reference it with other employees. The items that come up most frequently on the list should be your highest priority.
When you can’t keep up with customer demand
Of course, it is not just inefficiency or failure that drives a technological investment, but success. If you are suddenly experiencing an influx of customer demand, then your current infrastructure might not be able to cope.
While this is a nice problem to have, it is still a problem. Therefore, you should start upgrading your tech as soon as possible to capitalize on your success.
