The world is going wireless, and has been for some time. Most of us have gone from being amazed at the things we can do with computers, phones, and apps to wondering how we can do all of these things while cutting cords and other physical connections. From Bluetooth headsets to watches and tablets, we want our tech to be … Read More
Artificial intelligence has long fascinated scientists, writers, and business leaders alike. For decades, we’ve been hearing about the many possibilities that arise when machines can learn to handle routine tasks, or even to learn for themselves. As we move into 2018, we are finally starting to see some of those possibilities realized. And while AI might not be affecting your … Read More
Although many of our new clients don’t necessarily realize it, providing training to business owners and employees is an important part of what we do. Naturally, we don’t try to turn them into technical experts. However, by showing some simple tips and procedures, we can help them avoid huge problems and save tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars every … Read More
There are a lot of mistakes business owners and managers make when it comes to technology. It’s unfortunate that the most common also tends to be the one that’s easiest to avoid – deciding to “fix” their own hardware software instead of calling a professional. It’s easy to understand why people decide to undertake DIY IT projects. There are lots … Read More
Meeting with new clients usually means talking to a business owner, department head, or technology executive. Any of these might make a buying decision based on their own unique criteria – like cost efficiency, team productivity, or pressing data security concerns. However, one thing we try to help the men and women we meet with to understand is that when … Read More
In theory, replacing one piece of technology (like a computer workstation) for a newer or faster model should be simple. You buy the new item, plug it in, and enjoy the benefits… right? As any business owner or seasoned IT professional can tell you, it’s not always that simple. There are numerous hiccups that can arise when you’re switching devices, … Read More
When technology isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, or lasting as long as it should, businesspeople tend to look for easy fixes. They assume a piece of hardware was defective, for example, or that they should have bought a different item. That can sometimes be the case, but it’s also true that there are a number of environmental factors … Read More
There are a lot of reasons businesses might decide to move from one software product, suite, or package to another. In some cases the switch might have to do with pricing. In other instances the deciding factor might be a certain package of features, or even the aesthetics in terms of menus and colors. No matter what the reason, though, … Read More
We often use the Fantastic IT blog to explore high-level technical topics, but that doesn’t mean we can’t deal with the day-to-day issues and annoyances that might be plaguing your business. To help illustrate that, and get you thinking about some of the ways we could help your company, today we want to highlight a dozen different issues a company … Read More
Everyone knows that artificial intelligence, mobile computing, and advanced robotics are poised to completely transform our world in the next few decades. What many business owners and executives don’t realize, though, is that there are some more subtle technologies that are already changing the way we live and work in significant ways. Here are three in particular that you should … Read More
In a lot of small and medium-sized businesses, hardware upgrades make up a significant portion of the IT budget. However, we often come across situations where businesses are overspending. We are going to show you why in this short post. However, first we want to make clear that by “hardware” we are referring to any physical piece of technology you … Read More
Buying pieces of technology for your employees is a little bit different than purchasing them for your own business use. For one thing, you know exactly what you need and why it can help you work more efficiently. Your employees might not have that same level of insight, and they probably aren’t aware (or as dialed into) of your concerns … Read More
We have reached a strange point in the development of business technology. On the one hand, we have new and exciting tools that are revolutionizing every aspect of entrepreneurship and management. You can do things on a smart phone today that would have been impossible with a computer just a couple of decades ago. On the other hand, there are … Read More
If you own or run a business, the chances are good that you are already aware of the big benefits associated with having a managed services agreement with a reputable outsourced IT team. You get regular proactive maintenance on your technology at a fixed low monthly rate (eliminating expensive unplanned repairs and upgrades in the process). That’s not all there … Read More
With the end of the year looming, we know a lot of business owners and executives will be setting budgets and priorities for 2019. And if this year is like every other in recent memory, a lot of you will be wondering how much you should set aside for technology. Most of the small and medium-sized companies we work with … Read More
As we have noted in the past, the best technology care is proactive. It’s about managing conditions so that hardware lasts longer, software runs flawlessly, and everyone on your team can go about their work without dealing with crashes, error messages, or unexpected failures. One aspect of good proactive technology care, however, also tends to be something that business owners … Read More
Most of the time, a good outsourced IT provider is simply going to work behind the scenes and help you keep your business running smoothly while staying out of the way. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to help make their job easier. Make no mistake: it’s in your best interests to have your technology care … Read More
As we have mentioned in the past, one of the top complaints business owners have about IT budgeting is that it can seem so unpredictable. It’s difficult to forecast future tech expenses when you don’t know what will be coming out, which of your existing devices might break or fail, and how your technology budget will be affected by future … Read More
As IT professionals, we have mixed feelings about the way Hollywood tends to portray our industry. On the one hand, it’s fun that movies portray us as young, attractive people who only fit our technical work in between international travel and kung fu lessons. On the other hand, though, a lot of the business owners we meet with hold onto … Read More
In our many years of working with small and medium-sized businesses in Southern California, we have noticed that an IT crisis typically arrives at one of two different speeds. There are the slow burning issues and the disasters that happen all at once. In today’s post, we want to look at each one, as well as what you can do … Read More
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