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What’s Under the Hood of Your Business Technology?

Finding The Right Technical Advice

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How to Use Technology to Improve Your Hiring New Employees.

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Success in building any business depends on many factors, but none are more important than finding and keeping the right employees. A workforce that fits culturally with the company; one that is dedicated to the company’s mission; and one that is willing to follow leadership through “thick and thin” to reach the company’s goals can literally foster the success of the business.

There are a number of technologies available today that can aid or assist the business in attracting, hiring and maintaining that needed superior workforce. You can start with the need to attract the right people to your business. Websites like Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com give even small companies the opportunity to market their job openings throughout the world. Another aspect of hiring is to share the company story with the potential labor pool of prospects. Here technologies such as social media, think Facebook.com, make it easy to reach a large audience at very little costs. Good prospective employees are drawn to companies that look like they are a good place to work. Your website is another bit of technology where you company story needs to be told and updated to make your business attractive to these same prospects.

When it comes to hiring technologies exist that can greatly improve your hiring process. You can find websites that offer advice on how to build a great hiring process. There are human resource companies, such as AlegreHr.com, that can offer guidance and advice at a fraction of the cost of many local sources. All types of pre-hire testing are available on the internet from personality profiles, such as those offered at Birkman.com, or job-related testing that can be found on industry organization’s websites. Skills test can also be administered and graded through a computer. Effective use of these and other technologies raise the odds that you will make the right hire.

Employee retention and motivation are the real end-game of the hiring process. A company that invests in and maintains a quality communication and operating system goes a long way toward motivating its workforce. If every employee has the tools they need to excel at his or her job, then with proper supervision, they should all feel motivated to do their best work. Of course, there are other factors in creating a work environment that motivates the worker, such as condition of the actual work place; but having communication and operating technology that works well can make up for other lapses in the overall work environment.

Everyday there are new technologies, both equipment and software, that come to market that can enhance the businesses’ opportunity to hire and maintain a top-notch workforce. Successful owners and managers stay abreast of these technologies. When the time is right, they make sure that the company adopts and puts these technologies to work. Business success is made up of many factors but none as important as a quality, motivated workforce.

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Westec can help you build or upgrade your businesses’ communication system. Call Ben (713) 682-4000 or email him at benschissler@wtsvc.net to get his input on how to build a better system for you and your business.

[img src=”/wp-content/uploads/sites/623/2018/03/1-Best-Consult-Logo-Option-2-11292017-smaller.png”]

www.1bestconsult.com
For more helpful tips and other business-related topics, check out Rick’s website at www.1bestconsult.com

What’s Under the Hood of Your Business Technology?

Yes, your business has a hood just like your car or truck does. Therefore, from time to time you or your mechanic (technician) needs to check under the hood to make sure the engine that drives your technology is running smooth. Also, every 6 – 12 months you need to make sure your “engine” is up to the tasks at hand so that your technology keeps your business operating and competitive.

Your growth plans should be the real starting point of how you evaluate your business technology. If you plan to grow slowly and you are satisfied with your current competitive position, then you can typically let upgrades or replacements slide a bit. However, on the other hand, if you are seeking to grow and compete at a higher level, then your technology may need to be closer to the latest and greatest available. In today’s technology world, newer technology typically adds additional features and capabilities that allow your business to operate more efficiently. This efficiency can drive revenue up and expenses down which puts your business in a more competitive and profitable position.

First, I encourage you to take stock or an inventory of all the technology you use in your business. Unless you are still depending on a rotary phone or a mechanical cash register then technology should be helping you run a better business. Start with your point of sale, if you have one, and then move to what I call your administrative computer or network. Verify that the equipment and software you are using are sufficient and up to date to keep these systems running at the speed you need. You may need to upgrade or replace some or all the equipment and/or software depending on your growth plans.

Secondly, look at all the other technologies that are a part of your business process. This could include credit card processing; use of I-pads; digital cameras for security as well as consumer sales; and controlling shipping costs. Each one of these areas are subject to new technologies that can make their use if more cost effective. Also consider completely new technologies or uses for technologies, such as using the I-pad to improve your customers in-store experience.

In previous blogs (see http://www.westecservices.net/blog/ ) I have talked about using your IT service company as a resource for not only keeping your technology working but to consult with you on updating or replacing it. Granted, many IT services companies only offer break-fix repair services. However, others who use business models such as Managed Services are in business to help their clients not only fix their technology but to manage it as well. These companies can often assist their client’s in selecting the right hardware and software that integrates best with their businesses’.

The main reason that IT service firms that offer the Managed Service model do this is that communication systems today are driven by digital or internet services. Your phone system can be a VoIP system, which uses the internet for service. This reduces cost by eliminating the need for dedicated phone service. It also allows your IT service company to expand their offering to include coverage for your phone system. Communication systems more and more pass through the computer server in some form or fashion. This means that your IT service technician, if properly trained, transition from maintaining your desk top or server to taking care of your phone system as well as a number of other communication devices.

If you would like more information on how a Managed Service provider can help you find, select, install and maintain the communication technology that is right for your business then contact WesTec Services.

[logo width=”150″] can help you build or upgrade your businesses’ communication system. Call Ben (713) 682-4000 or email him at benschissler@wtsvc.net to get his input on how to build a better system for you and your business.

[img src=”/wp-content/uploads/sites/623/2018/02/1-Best-Consult-Logo-Option-2-11292017-smaller.jpg” width=”150″]
www.1bestconsult.com

For more help tricks and other business related topics, check out Rick’s website at www.1bestconsult.com

Finding The Right Technical Advice

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In recent blogs, I have addressed the importance of building and maintaining a quality communication system both inside and outside your business. Communications is the glue if you will that not only holds your business together but allows it to grow and prosper. When it comes to communications in today’s business, technology is the key. Technology, its selection, implementation and maintenance is a determining factor in your company’s ability to compete and expand.

One of the major challenges when dealing with technology is to simply understand it and how it can best work for your business. Many of us have a broad or simple understanding, but very few of us have the time, inclination, background and or necessary skill to really properly evaluate what can and will work for our company. Therefore, the need to engage with outside advisors or experts is a necessity. The selection of the right advisor for your business thus becomes a very important undertaking for you as the company’s owner. Your willingness to engage and outsource the role of technology guru in your company will be one of the most important business decisions you make in the history of your business.

The place to start looking for your own technology advisor is with your IT service company. Your IT service company should be able to help you at the very least put together a plan for IT needs. In some cases, they will have the ability and expertise to help you develop your entire communication plan. The IT component of your communication plan is at the core of the overall plan. Therefore it, is not a big leap for a ‘smart’ IT advisor to have the skill and ability to connect the dots if you will for the overall plan.

If your IT service company is not up to the task of advising you on the entire communication plan then you can look for a communication consultant who is more of a generalist. As is the case when hiring any outside consultant, you should thoroughly check their background, resume and especially their business references. In the face to face interview pay attention on how well they understand how your company works and communicates. Once you select someone then you need to be comfortable and confident enough to trust them with your all-important communication system.

At this point, you are ready to finalize the selection of a technical advisor. You need to determine how much you are willing to spend and the terms of your arrangement with the advisor. Your budget is, always subject to what the company can afford cash flow wise, but there are other factors I encourage you to look at. When you look at and hopefully project your return on investment, you consider both the short and long-term returns of the project. The impact of a well-done upgrade of your system can pay off in ways that are hard to put a dollar figure on.
The agreement or arrangement you enter into with an advisor should fit your business. There is no one size fits all for this kind of project. Make a list of priorities and make sure that your advisor signs on to all of them. The timeline of the project is another critical area that needs to meet your needs. Your business needs to be able to operate with very little if any disruption during the upgrade. This may require overtime and working after hours to make the change over less disruptive to daily operations.

My main encouragement is don’t be cheap when you go through this process. That can mean different things to different business owners. The point I want to make is not to say spend more money than you have or want to spend, but make sure your communication system will put you and your team in the position to grow and prosper.

[logo width=”150″] can help you build or upgrade your businesses’ communication system. Call Ben (713) 682-4000 or email him at benschissler@wtsvc.net to get his input on how to build a better system for you and your business.

[img src=”/wp-content/uploads/sites/623/2018/02/1-Best-Consult-Logo-Option-2-11292017-smaller.jpg” width=”150″]
www.1bestconsult.com

For more help tricks and other business related topics, check out Rick’s website at www.1bestconsult.com

Mission: WesTec will be a “turn-key” solution for all of its clients’ business connectivity needs. It will offer efficient and effective solutions, directly and with strategic partners, that create tangible value for its clients at every point of contact. Westec will serve all people and entities with a servant’s heart.

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2916 West TC Jester Blvd., Suite 104

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(713) 682-4000

sales@westecservices.net

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