Clicking with technology

Who can tell me what technology I need, and give me that information in a format I can understand?

BlackBerry or crackberry? Some people love them could not run their businesses without them; others think they are a total intrusion.

The point is, how do small businesses find out what technology would best suit them. If we believe that true productivity gains are going to come through technology, where are we going to find out what we need? Who can we trust to give us the best advice?

We went through a stage of at least once a week having a communications retailer calling us to say that they could get us on a “better deal”. Better deals don’t work for me if the technology does not work. I want a supplier who will work with me strategically.

I heard of a business with more than 100 employees and the finance guy decided to save some dollars so he had some phone lines cut off (he didn’t think they were used). The phone lines were critical to the company’s connectivity. It ended up having no internet connection for more than a week (in December). What did that cost?

Everyone has a different opinion about what is best. And technology now covers such a broad spectrum – from phones, to computers, the internet, networking, hand-held devices and data management. Sales people are there to make a sale (good on them, that is their job) they are not necessarily educators. Is it that you have to be a technology wiz to be successful and innovate.

I am fortunate to have some fantastic technology people both within the company and on call. But I still I want to know more about how the technology landscape will look in two years’ time (let alone five) Where will that information come from – vendors or consultants? And whoever supplies the information, can they do so in a format that I can understand?

I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting clearer information about technology, and I see this as critical to Australia’s competitiveness.