Choosing the Best Technology for Your Business

With the right application choice, the rest is easy

Choosing the best technology for your business can be daunting if you don't know where to start. However, there's a simple path any business owner can take that will ensure a successful marriage of hardware and software. Here are the basic rules of thumb:

Choose your core business applications first.
Make each following technology decision based on your current technology and business needs.
Double-check hardware and software compatibility before you commit.

Choose your core business application

If you're a restaurant business, look for a restaurant application. If you're into retail, look for retail-focused applications. If your business doesn't fall into a common category, start with the basic applications you might need, like word processors, spreadsheets, or financial management programs.

Choose your support applications

In addition to software supporting your core application, make sure you think about such common tasks as email, Web site creation or customer relationship management.

Choose your computer hardware

Once you know what kind of software applications you want to use, you need to by the right hardware for it. For instance, if you want to a use a program that requires a PC with Windows XP, you don't want to buy Apple Mac computers (or vice-versa).

Find the best of the best

The easiest way to find the best hardware and software solutions is to look at online reviews, including sites that contain reviews from ordinary customers. Not only can you find flaws, but you'll often learn about the features you really need or can ignore.

Find a Local IT Consultant

Ideally, you want to spend the bulk of your time running your business, not trying to track down the best of tech. As your time becomes more valuable to your business, find a local information technology (IT) consultant who can give you an annual technology checkup.