June 11th, 2013
The Merry-Go-Round continues, and Microsoft continues to push out new operating systems. Sometimes they seem to come out so fast that you can’t keep up with what is new in each version. Hyper-V is something Microsoft has been slowly improving over the last couple of server OS’s. With the latest version in Windows 2012, they have a couple of new features that really spice up what they are offering.
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With the rise of the Internet and social media, it's now expected that many more companies have an Internet identity. Be it a website or social media, you can guarantee that your customers are looking for you online. While having an online presence is positive, it can also open you up to negative feedback, which can ruin, or at least damage, your company's reputation and brand. Therefore, it is important that you practice some form of reputation management.
Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR for short, is the idea of integrating social and environmental ideas into your company, daily operations and interactions with all stakeholders. One of the more common CSR practices adopted by companies of all sizes is the idea of 'going green', or helping the environment. This is a great idea, not only does it make the Earth a better place, it makes your company look more caring; human even. The thing is, it can be hard to actually go green, but there are some apps that can help.
Running a business is often a fine balance between profit and expense. Any hidden expenses can see profits evaporate, and may put your business at risk. One potential problem area that could have drastic impact on your bottom line is technology. It's essential and can be very costly if it breaks down. That's why it would be a good idea to take measures to control your IT costs.
There are a couple of major scenarios we constantly come across. What I find fascinating is how incredibly different the scenarios turn out for the client.
When it comes to running a small to medium business, you are likely operating on razor-thin margins and are constantly looking for ways to optimize business functions or save money. Many managers and business owners prefer to take on these tasks in-house, as they feel that they are better able to control the outcomes. When it comes to IT though, many business owners lack the time and knowledge needed to focus on tech, making it the perfect candidate for outsourcing.
One common business term thrown around with relish is overhead. In business this is usually known as ongoing expenses incurred in operating a business. This operating expense is something all companies have, and in tight economic situations it's often one of the first costs managers try to decrease. One form of overhead not often looked at is printing costs. These can be extraordinarily high, but are also easy to decrease.
Last week we showcased part two of our three part article on how to save money and maximize IT resources in your company. The article covered ways you can save money or maximize resources within your business and included tips on: Using VoIP and other digital solutions, investing in the cloud and working with an MSP. This week, we look into ways you can save money on your outward/customer facing aspects of IT.
Last week we posted part one of our three part article on how to save money on IT in the coming year. That article covered ways you can maximize the resources you already have by being an outside thinker, always looking around and using facts to help determine your actions. This week, we take a look at inward facing or internal costs.
