|
Between juggling other priorities, avoiding change, and trying to manage expenses, the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” mindset can feel like a convenient approach many of us lean on. It’s fine for things like a quirky washing machine or a TV that’s a bit finicky to turn on, but when it comes to the technology that runs your business, this strategy can quickly turn into a costly mistake. Even large corporations aren’t immune to this, as we’ve seen with Delta’s outdated IT infrastructure (read here: http://gocts.us/8d5jq7) and Southwest’s outdated technology (read here: http://gocts.us/pb1hcg) led to major operational failures that not only cost them more financially than if they had addressed the issues earlier, but also damaged their customer loyalty and trust—two things that are hard to earn back in business. Prioritizing and budgeting to ensure your technology keeps up with your business needs can be challenging, which is why having a reliable IT partner who communicates a clear path forward is crucial (but that’s a topic for another day). Today, let’s dive into the top 3 reasons why the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach falls short for the technology that keeps your business running.
Cyberthreats Evolve Faster Than iPhones
Every few months, a new phone, gadget, or piece of tech hits the market. With the rise of AI and automation, the pace at which new technology is being introduced has skyrocketed. Less than two years ago, ChatGPT was in beta, and now it’s integrated into the latest iPhone and Microsoft has already been selling their CoPilot service with it. Meanwhile, cyberthreats are evolving even faster, aiming to exploit these advancements. Bad actors waste no time leveraging new technology, which is why phishing emails no longer come with broken English. Cybersecurity threats are constantly shifting, and outdated protection stack or hardware can leave your business vulnerable. These gaps in protection create easy entry points for hackers. Small businesses are especially good targets because they often lack the robust protections of large corporations, making them easy prey for attackers who can automate their efforts and cast a wide net to catch those with weak defenses. Staying ahead of these threats by implementing timely security measures and addressing gaps is crucial to avoid getting caught in the net.
Productivity Loss is 4 to 8 Times More Expensive Than Upgrades
To me, number 2 on this list (http://gocts.us/exczlx) is the most eye-opening. A five-minute interruption might seem harmless, but according to research, it takes 23 minutes to fully refocus—meaning that single disruption can cost 30 minutes of productivity. Is your tech keeping up with your team, or are they wasting time troubleshooting or navigating its unnecessary complexity? For most creative businesses, payroll is the biggest expense, and if your technology is outdated or ineffective, it’s quietly draining your budget. Incredibly, a 2016 survey revealed that US businesses lost a staggering $1.8 billion in productivity—just from wasted time alone. How much productivity could your business be losing without even realizing it?
Today’s Small Problem Is Tomorrow’s Bigger Mess
One thing I have plenty of stories about is getting calls from people in dire need of help. It usually starts with a warning sign from a few months back that was ignored, followed by more signs—also ignored—until the entire business grinds to a halt and their IT team can’t fix the problem fast enough to get them up and running. This happens so often that I’ve perfected the 30-minute Zoom call, where I know exactly what to ask to quickly figure out the issue, why it happened, how long it’s been ignored, and what our next step should be. Think of technology like a partner. If you ignore its needs, wants, and cries for help, your relationship will quickly deteriorate, and you’ll have to deal with both the root problem and the fact that it’s been neglected. But if you treat it with care, curiosity, and attention, it can be your best ally, saving valuable resources like labor and, most importantly, preserving your time.
So if you had to pick one you’re guilty of the most, which would it be?
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
|
