Introducing multiple manufacturers into a technology infrastructure increases support complexity, which means extra costs.
One of the best things about working with companies in the SMB space (small and medium-sized businesses) is that there is never a dull moment. Technical people tend to be problem solvers and the interesting business models, creative growth strategies, aggressive goals, and unique challenges presented by these firms are part of what makes working with them so rewarding.
SMB companies compete in the marketplace just like their larger counterparts. Many times they can be more nimble than bigger firms and this presents an advantage. Sometimes large corporations have an upper hand because of their access to financial resources. In order to effectively compete, an SMB company needs to be smart:
- smart with their strategy,
- smart with their business offerings, and
- smart with their money.
Many times a relationship with a client begins with a plea for help. And one of the most common problems is untangling, repurposing, reconfiguring, and streamlining equipment that was purchased without a proper plan. This situation begins innocently enough with a quick purchase here and a cheap buy there. For example, a business owner realizes that a new employee starts on Monday and a new workstation is needed. Off to the local technology superstore they run and, upon arrival, are confronted with a dizzying array of options and choices. Ever stood in front of a giant lunch buffet and wondered where to begin? The feeling is similar at the local Best Buy or Fry’s, but the downside associated with a poor choice is not resolved by simply chewing on a Tums or popping an Alka-Seltzer.
One of the most common mistakes is to purchase a computer that is intended for home use only to find that it has inherent limitations regarding business-class utilization. Extend that concept to the rest of the components needed to efficiently run an SMB network and the result is an unintended mess. Significant money has been inappropriately spent and, by the time things get straightened out, more is often needed to ultimately resolve the situation.
So, what is a small business to do?
After all, technology and tools are required to do business and working without them is not an option. Advice we often share with clients is twofold:
- avoid products and solutions geared for home use and the home office, and
- pick a brand and standardize.
We frequently engage with SMB clients and, at the outset, their 20 workstation fleet is comprised of HP, Dell, and Acer (for example). Although these computers are from reputable manufacturers and may all be networkable, supporting them is unnecessarily complex. Think of it this way: if a small business was going to build a fleet of vehicles, would they standardize on a single company (Ford, Chevy or Toyota)? Or would they buy a couple of cars from one manufacturer, a few from another, and one or two from the third? Setting aside the possibility of volume purchasing, what about maintenance? It would be much easier to support the fleet if all vehicles came from the same dealership. The same concept applies to purchasing technology.
Introducing multiple manufacturers into a technology infrastructure increases support complexity, which means extra costs. For most SMB companies, there is no reason to deploy a network comprised of several differently-branded workstations. And, while products geared for home use or the home office may present an attractive initial purchase price, their inherent limitations will be a source of increased support costs in the future.
Simply implementing these two simple technology purchasing strategies into an equipment-buying plan will make a big difference in being able to stretch dollars and leverage investments in the technology infrastructure. For SMB companies, this not only can help them compete more effectively in the marketplace, it makes good business sense.
Are you a SMB? How do you feel about the need for a plan when it comes to equipment procurement and technology infrastructure investments? Leave your comments and join the conversation below.