Software Platforms
Running a strong business model is a pleasure. You’ve got great customers and an effective team from sales to marketing. However, you need to ask yourself if they are working at their peak abilities. Are they able to work together and break down silos? Unfortunately, your existing technology may be comfortable, but it may be preventing your business from progressing. Read on for information about the technological revolution happening right now and how to evaluate if your business needs to get on board.
5G and Edge Computing Is Here
You’ve probably heard about 5G, the fifth-generation mobile network, but it’s important to understand that it is more than faster call speed. 5G is the first mobile network that is specifically built to address the Internet of Things, IoT, connecting not only your phone but all devices, objects and machines. As 5G comes online, it is making edge computing available for all businesses. No matter the size of your business, you can use 5G and the cloud to make real-time business decisions wherever your business is. The future is all about modules in cloud computing and modules in physical servers which allow for agile decision-making and instant scalability. There are already automated testing tools to make sure a move to 5G runs smoothly for your business infrastructure.
What Is Your Current Setup?
If you aren’t already embracing 5G and software platforms that will give your business a technological edge, how can you determine whether the move is a good idea for your business? Begin by evaluating your current technology and its cost. Look at the risks inherent in the system. Quantify how much money was invested in your current system, but also analyze the ongoing costs. Map your systems and establish how they interact or fail to interact. This is the baseline from which you can compare all potential changes.
Create a Best Case Scenario
To establish whether a new platform would be better for your business, it is first necessary to decide how you’d like your business to behave. Look for teams that could integrate more seamlessly, communications can happen more quickly and information that could be available to everyone who needs it. Maybe you’re still relying on email for team communications and tribal knowledge is the rule rather than the exception. Take these into account and think about how you could overcome those boundaries. From all this information, create a business case for why a new platform will benefit the business and give promising ROI.
Do Your Due Diligence
Once you know what you want to happen, it’s time to see if it can happen at a cost the company can afford. Bring in the major stakeholders to get everyone on board. Ask each individual or department to take on a part of the research looking for platforms and vendors that will fit your needs. Once everyone has done their research, it’s time to come back together to make decisions as a company. By involving as many people in the process as possible you will minimize pushback that inevitably comes with change. Make sure the platform you select provides the foundation your business needs to be able to build and expand at the drop of a hat.
Implement Your Plan
Whether you add one tool, move one platform to the cloud or overhaul your entire system infrastructure, set a plan and budget. Audit to make sure the quality meets your demands. Remember that you may need to bring in new team members to actually execute your plan and that have the technical skills to work with the vendor to make sure your end product is what you actually need.
If your business hasn’t already moved to the cloud, there’s a more than even chance that your technology infrastructure is holding you back. When your business isn’t ready for change, be assured your competitor will be. Listen to your employees and find their pain points to discover where your current technology is hindering instead of helping you. Investing the money and time in making your business more agile will set you up for your next big push.
