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9 Reasons to Update Your Technology

August 25, 2022

Across dealing with clients, staying on top of administrative tasks, and preparing for tomorrow’s activities, sometimes, it can feel hard enough just to make it through the day — so the prospect of throwing in a significant change to your technology can sound like madness. Yet ironically, that’s often precisely what we need to be able to prevent these types of issues in the first place.

Here are nine reasons to quit delaying and update your technology now — along with a suggestion for how you can make the transition easier.

Boost productivity

Productivity gains and time savings are arguably the biggest reason to update your technology, and the theme behind just about everything else on this list.

In general, new technology gets introduced because it improves whatever existed previously, resulting in greater efficiency. For instance, automation and artificial intelligence can perform the tasks humans used to handle manually, and one McKinsey report found automation alone has the potential to save 749 billion working hours.

New technology can also help by simplifying processes, providing a more user-friendly interface, or offering software integrations.

Cut down your team’s workload

Reduced time savings is great for a company’s bottom line, but it also tends to have a positive psychological impact on your team. Nobody likes performing tedious, repetitive tasks or having too much work on their plates; the right technology can solve this problem.

Your team may struggle to adapt at first, but in the long run, it will most likely free them up to do more enjoyable, mentally stimulating work — which could eventually lead to more innovation.

Ease workplace tensions

When everyone in your workplace is trying to get by using an inefficient tech stack or spending time on simple tasks, it doesn’t make for a great environment. Solving this problem can have all kinds of benefits that aren’t immediately obvious, such as improving morale, camaraderie, and communication among your team.

Say goodbye to outdated programs

If you have old equipment, the time will come when it isn’t compatible with the latest software and updates anymore. This causes even more friction than you’re experiencing now if this day comes suddenly and unexpectedly, so make the necessary updates ahead of time.

Improve your security

Technology might have come a long way in the last few years — but unfortunately, hackers have also benefited from the advances. That’s probably why the Identity Theft Resource Center found that data breaches rose 68% between 2020 and 2021. You need to protect yourself and your sensitive information.

Using updated programs is a big part of this, and newer equipment also helps with encryption.

Reduce operating costs

When it comes to updating technology, many companies focus on how much it will cost to cover the new equipment or to buy a subscription or license. But what they forget is that it can actually reduce your operating costs over the long run.

This is particularly true in the case of your hardware — using advances like cloud technology means you no longer need to store everything in-house, while automation and integration eliminate the need for multiple machines to perform one process.

Be better prepared for disasters

The outdated technology you’re working with might be okay for now, but if disaster strikes, it’s more likely to leave you in a difficult scenario. For instance, if you lose all internet access while you’re not using a program that syncs everything automatically using cloud technology, you could lose your data — and there are many other examples of potential implications.

Impress prospective clients

How would you feel if you were about to close a deal with a company and noticed they were still using a brick phone or Windows Vista on their computer? Would you feel confident that they are able to keep your company information safe, like wire instructions, or passwords? You might start to question their capabilities, and the same is true if you’re using a program known by the industry to be outdated. Take Wind Solar as a great example of how they were breached. A hacker penetrated their systems through one of their vendors

It’s not just about Keeping Up with the Joneses – tech is intertwined with just about every business model and sector right now, so dealing with a company that doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing in this respect is concerning.

Work toward strategic goals

While updating your technology mindlessly might not always have the results you want, when you make changes that are in line with your long-term goals and strategies, it can be a lot more fruitful.

Sometimes, working with a third party (like a consultant) is necessary to make this happen.

Don’t delay

It can be daunting to dive into the unknown, whether that means a new haircut or new technology, but you don’t have to do it all independently. Bringing in a third party can take all the stress out of the process and result in a smoother transition.

At Cornerstone Paradigm Consulting, we appreciate how processes, people, technology, and customer service link together to give you the results you need from a transition. To find out more, book a free consultation today.