For small businesses, investing in hardware may be a necessity but also one of the best ways to streamline workflow.
The type of business and number of employees obviously affects your purchases, but when it comes to buying PCs, you consider all they will be used for – mainly communication? Likely, but how much storage will you need? What types of tools in the line of software will you need for production? If your business is creative, consider the type of machine you will need. For heavy design and publishing, a machine with extra space and memory is a must. If you will be shuffling paperwork, a standard gig machine and plenty of hard drive storage. Will you need to purchase portable hard drives? Additionally what size monitor(s) are needed per machine, if you purchase PCs instead of (or in addition to) laptops? Businesses with a sales force may need to consider outfitting some employees with tablets that are portable but effective for calling on potential clients.
Will you need a mobility package to supply phones for employees other than yourself who work outside the office? Some small businesses rely on cellular service and smart phones, but for more professional and readily available communication, VolP solutions can work without a huge investment in PBX boxes.
Your business may require a server, or suffice with a wireless router. Determine what your needs are. How many employees will benefit from a router service? Do you want to offer wi fi in a customer-friendly environment?
Servers are able to house a lot of data if necessary for your business. If your company requires a large database to operate, look at purchasing a centralized server. Otherwise, a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) system can help you store and share files across your network. Sometimes these can replace traditional servers because some provide backup, print server offerings and FTP services.
In addition to all of these major pieces, consider faxing, printing and copying needs. And do remember all of the maintenance, supplies and upkeep that are necessary for those.
While your primary components will consist of computer, network and communicative devices, ABR Systems Group offers consulting services to help you pinpoint which classes of equipment will serve you best in each case. We’ll identify what can best help you to streamline your processes to keep your small business running the most efficiently and profitably for your investment. And, we’ll help you set up and offer training and support for you and your team. Contact us today to get started.
