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The pitfalls of business continuity planningIf your managed IT services provider has been using the same business continuity plan (BCP) for years, your organization may be in trouble. BCPs should continuously be updated so you avoid overlooking or underestimating certain issues. Not updating your BCP is just one mistake that can harm your business. Here are a few more you […]

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The pitfalls of business continuity planning

If your managed IT services provider has been using the same business continuity plan (BCP) for years, your organization may be in trouble. BCPs should continuously be updated so you avoid overlooking or underestimating certain issues. Not updating your BCP is just one mistake that can harm your business. Here are a few more you should avoid.

Over-optimistic testing

The initial testing attempt is usually the most important, because it's when MSPs can pinpoint potential pain points in the recovery plan. However, they usually test the system in full, instead of in phases. This can cause MSPs to overlook specific points, with too many factors overwhelming them all at the same time.

Insufficient remote user licenses

MSPs give remote user licenses to businesses so that employees can access a remote desktop software when they need to, like when a disaster strikes. However, a provider may only have a limited number of licenses. In some cases, more employees will need access to the remote desktop software than a provider’s license can allow.

Lost digital IDs

When a disaster strikes, employees will usually need their digital IDs so they can log in to the MSP’s remote system while the office system is being restored. However, digital IDs are not automatically saved when a desktop is backed up. So when an employee uses their “ready and restored” desktop, they are unable to access the system with their previous digital ID.

Absence of a communications strategy

MSPs often use email to notify and communicate with business owners and their employees when a disaster happens. However, this form of communication may not always be reliable in certain cases, such as during spam intrusions.

Instead, you can use emergency communication applications such as AlertMedia or Everbridge. These programs automate necessary actions such as sending out mass notifications, sharing information, and mobilizing teams to prevent operational disruptions, so your MSP can easily notify you in case of any disaster.

Backups that require labored validation

After a system has been restored, IT technicians and business owners need to check whether the restoration is thorough and complete. This becomes an arduous task when the log reports are not easy to compare. This usually happens when MSPs utilize backup applications that don’t come with their own log modules and have to be acquired separately.

These are just some reasons why business continuity plans fail. While you should trust that your MSPs will secure your systems, it is important for business owners to be involved with any process that pertains to your IT infrastructure. Just because you believe something works doesn’t necessarily mean that it actually does. If you have questions regarding your business continuity plan, get in touch with our experts today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Here are 4 ways your business can get ahead of the tech curveThe key to finding competitive advantage is by embracing innovation. So no matter how trivial or whimsical a technological development may seem, you’ll want to keep an open mind about what it can do for you. But for a small company, what does “embracing innovation” actually entail? Read on to learn more. Be an early […]

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Here are 4 ways your business can get ahead of the tech curve

The key to finding competitive advantage is by embracing innovation. So no matter how trivial or whimsical a technological development may seem, you’ll want to keep an open mind about what it can do for you. But for a small company, what does “embracing innovation” actually entail? Read on to learn more.

Be an early adopter

One of the biggest factors in determining how successful your SMB will be in leveraging a new trend is how early you get in. Be careful investing in resources with high buy-ins and/or long-term commitments. Focus instead on low-cost IT solutions that allow you to test and see how well they work for you, and also let you pull out without suffering heavy sunk costs.

Invest in the right tools

New tech can be expensive, so how can one take advantage of an emerging tech trend without spending too much? The trick is to repurpose existing tech to do the same thing as the new tech.

For example, John Deere has been selling farming equipment for over 150 years, with no signs of slowing down. When the Internet of Things (IoT) craze began, John Deere figured that IoT would change the way their vehicles serve their customers. But instead of shelling out money for new IoT devices, they simply used already-available mobile devices and GPS tech. This tactic allowed the brand to jump ahead of their competition, especially those who chose to wait out the decrease in price of new tech.

Synergize tech with your business model

With a little creative brainstorming, most business models can actually integrate new tech into their processes. For instance, at first glance, it appears that clothing retailers have no use for AI that has deep learning capabilities. But one particular AI application — chatbots — has proven to be effective in helping customers find the clothes they want. Here, deep learning directly drives sales.

Prepare for possible difficulties

New tech inherently comes with implementation and integration difficulties. But what if you can’t find a way for your products or services to directly interact with the blazing new trend? The next best thing is to provide solutions to problems presented by it. Does interacting with the popular app or activity eat up a lot of mobile device battery? Remind passersby that your outlets are available for customers, or that you sell mobile battery packs. Does it require driving all over town? Inform customers of your latest car rental promotion. Sometimes just associating yourself with the trend is enough.

Not sure how to integrate your business with the latest tech fads? Turn to us — we’re the experts on all things technology related, be it machine learning or Oculus Rift. No question is too trivial — consult with us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Perks of using dual monitorsWhile dual monitor setups aren’t as popular as single monitor setups, you should consider working with two screens since doing so has a lot of advantages. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of dual monitors. Enhanced productivity A survey by Jon Peddie Research shows that working with dual monitors increases overall productivity […]

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Perks of using dual monitors

While dual monitor setups aren’t as popular as single monitor setups, you should consider working with two screens since doing so has a lot of advantages. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of dual monitors.

Enhanced productivity

A survey by Jon Peddie Research shows that working with dual monitors increases overall productivity by 20–30%. Computer programmers, for example, can use one screen for source coding and the other for programming. By using dual monitors, they no longer need to toggle back and forth between tabs. This frees up time to complete more projects.

Better multitasking

Efficient multitasking requires adequate screen space to keep multiple applications simultaneously visible — a view that single monitors alone simply cannot accommodate. With a dual monitor setup, workers like customer service reps and web designers would no longer waste time scrolling up and down and resizing windows to fit the limited space. Instead, the enhanced visibility that dual monitors bring lets them focus on completing their tasks accurately and efficiently.

Easier layouting and image and video editing

With dual monitors, the days of stacking numerous editing tools on top of the newsletter, slide presentation, image, or video you’re working on are long gone. Instead of your screen looking like a game of Mahjong, you can position the editing tools on one screen and use the other monitor for the file you’re working on. With better visibility, you’re less likely to commit errors and more likely to accomplish the task faster.

Effortless product comparison

Imagine that you want to buy a camera, and you have two models in mind. Of course you want to look up and compare their specs before making a final decision.

If you had only one monitor, you’d need to go back and forth from one tab to another. But if you had two monitors, you could view the models side by side to help you clearly see their differences and make an informed purchase.

Want a dual monitor setup for your employees? We can help you roll it out. Contact us today to get started.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How automation boosts your small business’s marketingA solid marketing strategy can make a business profitable. Unfortunately, in the past, not all small businesses were able to spend a huge amount of their budget on marketing. With marketing automation becoming more and more accessible to small enterprises, that has changed. Here are marketing automation benefits your small business should leverage. Inbound lead […]

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How automation boosts your small business’s marketing

A solid marketing strategy can make a business profitable. Unfortunately, in the past, not all small businesses were able to spend a huge amount of their budget on marketing. With marketing automation becoming more and more accessible to small enterprises, that has changed. Here are marketing automation benefits your small business should leverage.

Inbound lead assignment

When you have phone calls, emails, and meetings piling up, it’s hard to keep track of which customer needs what and who is working with them. With marketing automation software and tracking, customer service representatives are automatically assigned to inbound leads based on specialties and demographics so they can work on building profitable rapport right away.

Instant responses to email requests

If a customer or prospect sends your business an email via your website or a “Contact Us” form, any delay in response could ultimately cost you a sale. But if you have a marketing automation plan in place, you can customize automatic email responses to these leads as soon as an email is received. This either provides potential customers with the information they requested or informs them that you will be responding in greater detail soon.

Stop leaving voicemails and start closing deals

There’s a reason most people prefer to communicate via email: keeping in touch over the phone can be tough if both parties are always busy. An automated system solves this by logging information about the leads you have contacted and automatically emailing them about follow-up times. The call, email, and response are all logged in your CRM and calendar without a single minute wasted on inputting mundane information.

Give and you shall receive

Potential clients and leads get dozens, sometimes hundreds, of business emails every day. You need something to set your business apart from the rest. By offering valuable content such as how-to guides and total cost of ownership tools in exchange for contact information, you can create a win-win scenario. Prospects get the content they want, and you get the information you need to make a sale.

All it takes is a web form and some creative writing that ultimately leads visitors back to your products and/or services. Your automation software delivers content to anyone who provides contact information, and it downloads metrics that can be tracked and analyzed by business analytics tools.

Never type another phone number again

Networking events mean new contacts and new leads. They used to mean having to keep track of thick stacks of business cards, but cutting-edge marketing tools now make it possible to take a picture of contact information and automatically store it as part of a cloud-based database. Call-ins, scanned business cards, and received emails are all organized into a single digital Rolodex with recommendations on whom to contact and when it is best to do so — without one minute of tedious data entry.

Every business owner knows that automating mindless tasks is worth it. But not everyone knows what sort of tools are available to cut down on wasteful work. Our team specializes in using technology to add value to your business. Get in touch with us today to make your marketing technology work for you.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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