It’s initially exciting when a business begins to grow and prosper. Some companies fall victim to failure, but others fall victim to success. This is because when a company grows, everything needs to grow with it. Budgeting and long term projections are key here. How much money will be made? What will be the expenses? How many staff will you need? Will the premises need expansion or replacement?
The IT aspect of a growing company can also be problematic. If there are more staff, there will be more computers. A greater demand will be placed upon the existing IT infrastructure as a result. Should there be an upgrade or the installation of a brand new computer system? Such expensive decisions can make or break a company. Let’s look at the whole issue of making our computer systems growth-compatible.
Change Is Essential
Any business that merely focuses on its financial growth will be put in a vulnerable place. The sales may continue to occur initially, but a quality after-service must be put in place. This includes having an IT infrastructure that can cope. There are telltale signs when a wireless network is struggling. The computers may take time to respond. People will be sat waiting for documents to load. Download times will be extended. Screens will freeze, and systems may crash. Someone may lose connection to the internet at a crucial time.
The staff and managers may wonder why all these things are happening. Then they look around and observe all the extra computers and the overloaded plug sockets. This would be just the tip of the iceberg. That’s why the need for change cannot be ignored.
Wise Advice Is Needed
Perhaps the business was small enough to only require one designated computer administrator. As things expand, more may be needed. In reality, the world of computers is so wide-ranging and fast-moving, it’s unlikely one person will be fully informed on all areas.
If upgrades are needed to an existing computer system, expert counsel is essential due to the costs incurred. This may only come from certified Apple or Windows engineers.
It is for this reason that some companies employ a third party company to oversee their expansion and beyond. London is the capital of England and its financial heart. People seeking London IT support want their different computer systems (email, internet, cloud) to work seamlessly together as they expand. Folk need help with their long term business plans because getting a new computer system is not always the answer. In the computer world, things become outdated too quickly for this to be the only solution.
Consider Migrating Data to the Cloud
Many small businesses have their own data centers. This means they manage their own information, software, and hardware. This does create a vulnerability compared to companies that pay third parties to provide cloud storage. The problem is that the cloud option comes at a cost, and not every business can afford it.
In these circumstances, a business could consider contacting a data center service. These external companies can advise on how to replace the existing data center to accommodate growth. Such things as storage and servers may be discussed. So would power, cooling systems, and floor plans.
Some businesses are in the fortunate position that they can afford a subscription-based cloud service. All the company data can be migrated to the cloud, and the local infrastructure can be significantly reduced. The data will become accessible from the workplace or remotely, 24/7. These can be great benefits to growing companies.
The Electricity, Wiring, and Cabling
The work premises should be reviewed to ensure they can cope with business growth. This includes electrical power. The energy efficiency of the building will need to be assessed. Will there be more plugs and sockets needed, and are the current circuits overloaded? This would be the case when different people are sharing them and when adapters are stuck in wall sockets. PoE (Power over Ethernet) hardware can be a solution. This is because fewer electric cables are needed.
If the cabling is upgraded, the data rates can be improved. It may be wise to change to using copper CAT6 or CAT6a cables. If unused ones are also put in place, they will be a safeguard from failure, and the extra capacity will be available should it be needed later.
There is no doubt about it: growing companies need computer systems that are both complex and robust. Additional users get added, and new hardware and software get installed. Not only does there have to be the capacity for expansion, but the staff to safely oversee it.
