How much does outdated technology cost your company?

Technology advances rapidly and sometimes leaves people behind. Whether because of time, money or sentimentality, many people can’t keep up with the latest tech. Unfortunately, being left behind in the tech world could be very bad for business. Customers and employees alike are used to the ease accompanied by the modern times, and going back to old workings can be too slow and frustrating.

Some businesses, particularly smaller ones, may not have the money or see the value in upgrading. After all, something has to be broken to be fixed. Regardless, falling behind can mean being left behind, and competitors will get a hold on the market sooner than you’d like. Embracing new technology can help everyone and doesn’t have to break the bank.

The Benefits of Upgrading

Even if your old gadgets work just as fast as the day you bought them, they don’t work as quickly as modern equipment. Besides, old tech simply gets slower with time. New technology can save a lot of time and effort on you and your employee’s part daily. Saving time also reduces human error and ensures the customer is happy faster.

Your customers and employees are likely used to the ease modern technology brings. Going back to older models for something as important as work can be incredibly frustrating, especially when big deals are lost because the technology wouldn’t work correctly. From rushing to download important files to constantly calling customer service for your devices, upgrading can save headaches for both your team members and your customers:

• Employees: Keeping technology only able to do the bare minimum tells your employees they’re worth only the minimum. Upgrading says you value their time and work and think they’re worth better treatment. If nothing else, modern technology is great for employee morale and makes them feel better about their work, especially if they know how to confidently use everything.

• Customers: Your customers also want to feel valued when doing business with you. If your websites are not up-to-date, or you don’t offer the benefits your competitors do at similar prices, you may lose business. Certainly, referrals and repeat business will drop over time without more modern technology able to generate leads.

Losing touch with customers will be one quick sprint to your business going up. Not knowing what a customer wants or needs will mean the end of your work.

Even if everything can be managed, new hires may be a different topic altogether. People who grew up on the internet are looking for jobs, and they search, not surprisingly, on the internet. According to a Workforce Study, more than 80 percent of millennials say workplace tech will influence their job decision, and 42 percent will leave a job with inadequate tech. Losing employees, customers and new hires can kill any business.

How to Upgrade

A big reason people may be hesitant to switch to modern technology is the price tag. New tech can be expensive, especially if everything will be obsolete in a few years anyway. However, many people are still working with modern tech because they didn’t pay the shelf price. Sometimes, you have to get creative and think outside the box.

For example, auctions are a great place to start your upgrading search. Once you know what kind of equipment you need and have a budget plan in place, you can go to reputable auction sites to find quality products and competitive prices. You don’t need to spend a ridiculous amount of money to keep up in the job market. With seller commitment and quick sales, you can have everything you need fast and at a low price.

The biggest hurdle other than price is lack of knowledge. Perhaps you don’t know what equipment you need, or maybe you don’t know how to use all of your new stuff. Thankfully, there are experts out there who can help by evaluating priority equipment, walking you through setting everything up and showing you how to use everything efficiently.

This expert probably sounds awfully expensive, but they don’t have to be. There are resources out there available at a low cost, and some of them are even free. Some large tech companies will also share advice with small business for free in the hopes of making a great deal. Ways to get advice on budgets and gadgets for cheap are endless.

Pulling Yourself Up

Outdated tech is costing your company more than you think, even if you’re well aware of the deals you’re missing out on. Upgrading doesn’t require a ridiculous amount, and it’s possible on even very small budgets. All you need is time to do the research and shopping. Even though time is something of a commodity these days, especially for a struggling small business, making the investment for your company and employees is worth the extra mile.