Thirty years ago computers were a novelty. Computers existed for specific business applications and only the most elite of companies ran on mainframes. In those days systems were designed around a specific software package dedicated to one application. With mainframes came an equally elite support staff to maintain the equipment.
Around twenty five years ago home computers started making their way into the workplace forcing big monstrosities and staff out. Home PC’s were much more flexible than mainframes and were able to place all the power on an individual’s desk rather than pull from a centralized location. Home computers and business software have become the mainstay of business.
Part of the technological evolution leading up to the PC revolution was the development of operating systems and applications that can reliably handle business applications. Within the past ten or so years we’ve become so reliant on technology that without it our businesses would fail. Every day owners tell me their business screeched to a halt due to malfunction.
Years ago, when we visited a doctor, they would take a chart from the wall and jot down a bunch of notes. Mechanics would handwrite a receipt with all the details of their work. Bookkeeping meant making entries into a ledger. Today, all of these business functions rely on computers. Without computers they wouldn’t be able to function.
What would happen to your business if the computers failed to turn on? I have business owners scrambling everyday because technology failed them. It stinks being in their predicament. Take a step back and think about what it would mean if technology stopped working. You would make no money.
We’ve become so reliant on technology and yet nobody plans for disaster. In fact, technology is one of those things that’s last on everyone’s list. Technology is so far down the list that it’s priority probably falls below maintaining the lavatories. The odd thing is, as business owners technology is part and parcel to how we earn our living.
This week I dug into my company’s disaster relief box to bail another company out of their issue. I was reminded that it doesn’t take a ton of resources or space to have a contingency plan. Having a plan in place could limit downtime until your office is back up and running.
My bailout box has some basic networking components. Each of my stores has multiple and redundant computers loaded with exactly the same software we use on a daily basis. Data is backed up to a somewhat central location and is also redundant. If we go down (which does happen frequently), my team is able to power up and be running seamlessly.
Most businesses can benefit from having multiple computers with duplicate software installed. From a technology standpoint, the most basic of businesses use QuickBooks only. It takes less than five minutes at the end of the day to create a QuickBooks backup file. Having multiple computers preloaded with QuickBooks software means an owner could be up and running in as long as it takes to update the new machine.
The sting of technology failures is especially painful during these economic times. We struggle enough to keep business coming through our doors, any breakdown makes reviving missed opportunities that much harder. I know it can be a stretch for some business owners to make an investment in duplicate equipment, but that investment will pay itself back when opportunity knocks at your door and you’re there to answer.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can call him at (978) 919-8059 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)