As a business, it’s important not to become set in your ways. If things are going well or you’re unable to identify which technologies suit your goals, then it’s tempting to keep the company’s technological methods as they are. However, the steadfast approach could result in a lack of efficiency and your competition overtaking you as you increasingly rely on outdated technologies and software.
The truth is, a lot of businesses fail to identify the tech that truly benefits their workforce, which ends up standing in the way of efficiency – as employees lack the appropriate and adequate training when it comes to software, systems and apps.
Here, we’ll discuss the topic of tech paralysis, touching on the reasons why businesses still use antiquated systems, where businesses can improve, and what a company with a grasp of modern technology actually looks like.
Why do some businesses suffer from tech paralysis?
Copying their competitors
If a competitor is doing something right, then surely if you use the same tech that they have implemented and assume that replicating it automatically means success for you and your business? Not so. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to business; what’s most important is to sit down and talk with everyone in the business, identify where current systems are letting them down, or not being used to their full potential, and research the best solutions.
Cost, effort and time
If you’re planning on developing and testing a new system, then you’ll have to factor in the cost, time and effort that will take to carry out properly. It can be a significant drain on a business’ resources; even when the new system is up and running, you have to consider the cost it takes to train all members of the team to use the technology, too.
Whilst the long-term benefits of updating tech systems may be obvious and acknowledged by stakeholders, they’ll also be constrained by short-term targets – the cost of which could mean that businesses can’t feasibly invest in long-term goals.
Fear of investment
Along with the cost of new technologies, some businesses remain sceptical when investing in new software and systems because of the perception everything will soon be out of date, and they’ll be back at square one once again.
Like a lot of new things, these fears can often be unfounded. If you’re looking to err on the side of caution, then take the pragmatic approach and invest in software and systems which are scalable. Programs and tech such as these offer opportunities to continuously update and improve as technologies develop and the business grows.
What does a business with the right tech look like?
A business truly using tech to their advantage is identified by their workforce employing tools, systems and software to effectively manage their responsibilities. For some organisations, it may be important to offer a suite of different tech options, so members of different departments can access and utilise the tools which best suit their roles and responsibilities.
For example, customer-facing personnel may yield greater benefit from a different system to those working in internal communications. Rather than forcing one department to adapt to a less suitable option, it is preferable that both are available for the teams to use at their discretion.
How can businesses improve on their tech?
There are simple tests businesses can use to evaluate how they use technology. The most basic process would be to evaluate lead times on tasks, projects and campaigns. If a particular job is taking too long to move from inception to completion, then it could be inhibited by the supporting tech.
Consider the Kanban methodology, which is used to manage the creation of products, with an emphasis on continuous delivery. Utilising this method of task management can highlight the stages at which tasks are routinely hampered, and help you identify where a solution could be required.
By viewing all items in the context of each other, it helps to limit the amount of work in progress, so teams don’t commit to too much work at once. Then, when something is finished, the hierarchical structure you’ve identified means the team can work on the next highest thing in the backlog.