In our last post, we looked at all the reasons it makes sense to evaluate the scalability of your small business IT strategy. The chances are good that you hope to see growth (and possibly exponential growth) as being in your company’s future. At the same time, you might also want to have the option to cut back on expenses or change your service mix as dictated by the economy.
It’s one thing to talk about scalability as a goal, and another to actually create a set of systems that are responsive to your plans and needs. Let’s look at what a scalable IT plan looks like for a small business…
The Ability to Increase Services Without Huge Upfront Investments
In the old days, adding new hardware-software to your company meant pouring out huge amounts of cash and hoping the investments would pay for themselves in the coming years. Today we have much better solutions for our clients.
Using managed services, cloud-based software subscriptions, and other monthly or quarterly fee plans, we let business owners and executives decide what they need and when they need it. There aren’t any huge upfront costs involved and these plans can be adjusted at any time. So, if you suddenly find that you could use access to more server space, or need crucial software installed on more devices, you can do it without busting your budget.
The Flexibility to Scale Back When Needed
Scalability isn’t just about getting bigger, of course. Some of our clients went the other way and pulled their services back in response to economic conditions during portions of 2020. Luckily, they were able to do so easily and affordably using the same kinds of tools we’ve already described.
Because the business owners and executives we work with didn’t spend tens of thousands of dollars (or more) on expensive hardware and equipment, they were able to decrease expenses rapidly without having to hold fire sales. We gave them the flexibility to reduce their managed services obligations, meaning they didn’t have to lay off staff members to lower payroll. Best of all, they retained the flexibility to get operations back to normal after business improved.
Access to the Tools, Personnel, and Expertise You Need Most
Scalability isn’t just about the size of your contracts or the number of workstations you’re using. If you really want to be able to move with the market, you have to have access to knowledge, expertise, and personnel when it matters.
This is another area where we’ve been able to help our clients to thrive. From virtual CIO plans to differing types of managed services agreements, we make sure they have the specialists they need on call when it matters. For example, they can get high-level strategic input without paying executive salaries, or have us send someone with an industry-specific software certification to handle installations and updates. That helps them stay truly flexible and scalable in a way that doesn’t harm the bottom line.
Want to Build a More Flexible IT Strategy for Your Small Business?
At Fantastic IT, we don’t just help our clients to manage technology today – we work with them to build plans and strategies that keep them protected no matter what the future might hold. If it feels like time to make your business more scalable, effective, and efficient, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.