It’s no secret that technology is evolving at an unprecedented speed. To put it in perspective, 90% of the world’s electronic data was generated over the past 2 years alone. Constant changes to information technology can make it difficult to stay on track toward your business goals — but simpler strategization is one of the key benefits of hiring an IT consultant.
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant influx of new technology. That’s one of the key reasons why working with an established IT consulting firm is so important.” - Keith Bamford, CEO of Daystar.
Staying on top of the latest trends is crucial to your competitive edge. However, choosing solutions that don’t fit your needs wastes time and money in the long-term. Instead, you need a well-thought-out strategy that encourages you to strike the right balance between innovation and practicality.
This article explores how IT consultants can help you accomplish that goal. We also examine how an IT consultancy company can help you boost your bottom line and realize new cost savings in general.
Key Strategies to Help Your Business Keep Up With Technology
Regularly Assess Your Technology Needs
Routinely review your technology assets to identify any limitations or areas needing improvement. Regular assessments make it easier to adjust your tools and systems to meet any new changes to your business operations. This proactive approach reduces the risk of outdated technology affecting your team’s productivity.
Set Clear Technology Goals & Benchmarks
Defined benchmarks enable you to track progress, identify areas needing adjustment, and keep your team focused on measurable outcomes. Revisiting these goals periodically ensures they remain aligned with both your business needs and new technological advancements.
Find Out How You Can Reduce Technical Issues by 50% in Just 6 Months
Establish a Scalable IT Infrastructure
Building a scalable IT infrastructure allows your business to manage growth without interruptions. An IT infrastructure that’s designed to handle increased demand allows your organization to adopt new technologies without requiring a complete system overhaul.
It’s also worth noting that 43% of outages are caused by networking issues, not suspicious activity. A scalable infrastructure helps your business stay productive during power outages. That’s because it should include features such as backup power, redundant systems, and recovery plans to keep critical systems running with minimal downtime.
Create a Technology Upgrade Schedule
Plan regular updates for hardware, software, and systems to keep them current. A well-planned upgrade schedule minimizes disruptions by proactively addressing potential issues before they impact productivity. Staying on top of updates also helps improve security and compatibility.
IT consultants manage and schedule timely technology upgrades to keep your systems up-to-date and minimize downtime. Their proactive approach helps you maintain system performance and reliability, while keeping your business competitive.
Invest in Cloud Solutions for Flexibility
Adopting cloud solutions supports flexibility in scaling, data management, and remote collaboration. Cloud services enable your business to adjust resources quickly and meet fluctuating demands more efficiently.
It also provides a streamlined way to adapt as your workforce and technology requirements evolve. In fact, among the organizations that have adopted cloud computing solutions, 43% said it was to keep pace with technological change, and 46% said it was for its durability.
The Benefits of Hiring an IT Consulting Service to Help You Implement Them
Gain Expert Insights Through a Technology Needs Assessment
IT consultants conduct comprehensive assessments to identify technology gaps and recommend solutions tailored to your business needs. Their insights ensure your technology aligns with your current business processes and prepares you for future growth.
Receive Strategic Guidance on Setting Achievable IT Goals
Consultants work with you to establish clear, realistic technology goals that support your overall business objectives. They help define benchmarks to measure progress and recommend adjustments as your business grows. With this strategic guidance, you can make more informed choices that drive results.
To help get you started, here are some general key benchmarks you can use for this purpose.
Benchmark |
Description |
Suggested Frequency |
System Uptime |
Measure the percentage of time IT systems are operational and available. |
Monthly, Quarterly |
Incident Response Time |
Track the average time taken to respond to and resolve IT incidents. |
Monthly, Quarterly |
User Satisfaction |
Collect feedback on user experience and satisfaction with IT services. |
Quarterly, Semi-Annually |
IT Project Completion Rate |
Track the percentage of IT projects completed on time and within budget. |
Annually |
IT Spend vs. Budget |
Compare actual IT spending against the budget to identify areas for cost control. |
Quarterly, Annually |
Streamline Technology Integration Across Departments
IT consultants can help you ensure smooth technology integrations across all departments. Their experience with cross-departmental setups helps you align new systems and make them more accessible and functional for every team.
Tailored Cloud Migrations & Optimization Solutions
Consultants design customized cloud migration strategies that fit your business requirements. They handle the migration process, optimize cloud solutions, and ensure that your cloud infrastructure is flexible and scalable for future needs.
Learn More About How You Can Optimize Your Day-to-Day Technology Usage |
General Benefits of IT Consulting That You Should Always Have in Mind
Reduced Operational Costs
IT consultants help optimize your technology spending by identifying cost-effective solutions and eliminating redundant resources. Their strategic approach to budgeting and resource allocation can reduce overhead and ensure you only invest in technologies that deliver high value.
Improved Decision-Making
Consultants offer insights backed by data and industry expertise to help you make informed choices about your technology strategy. They may also provide analytics and forecasting tools that give you a clearer understanding of how specific technology decisions will impact your business.
Enhanced Risk Management
IT consultants can assess potential vulnerabilities across your systems to help you establish a stronger risk management framework. By identifying and mitigating risks in advance, they can help secure your operations and reduce the likelihood of costly disruptions.
Unbiased Recommendations for Technology Investments
Consultants offer objective advice on technology purchases, free from vendor bias or internal preferences. Their impartial recommendations ensure that you choose the most suitable tools and systems for your business needs.
Find The IT Consultants You Need in New England |
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Choose IT Consultants With a Proven Track Record
Like all business partners, not all IT consulting firms provide equal value. It’s important to take your time vetting the ideal partner to help you meet your business objectives during challenging times of rapid technological change.
Daystar’s consultants are up to the challenge. We conduct regular technology reviews against 225 different points. These assessments help us keep track of where your IT infrastructure is at and where it could be going. From there, we’ll offer expert advice tailored to your systems.
Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you.