Challenges

Any business, large or small will face unique challenges. No two organizations will see an issue in the same way nor will they choose to solve it similarly – this is perfectly normal. We have prepared some of the scenarios that we see most often. Our expertise can help you face these typical business challenges with minimal pain.

Change & Continuity

Addressing change and continuity of business is vital to any size organization. Just like a business shouldn’t operate without insurance, operating without a change procedure or continuity plan is risky. This plan doesn’t always have to be complex, but it does need to be addressed.

What do we mean by Change & Continuity?

Change & Continuity refers to two largely separate issues that are fixed with the same solution – a solid, tested, plan.

Change is any action that might alter the day-to-day operations of a business, such as hiring or firing someone, shifting owners, moving to a new location, or even changing shifts. These actions are typical to any business operation, but many of them should be executed according to a plan, especially where IT is a factor. For example, a new hire needs access to computer systems right away in order to begin work, while someone departing the company must have their access promptly terminated.

Continuity, also known as Disaster Recovery, ensures that a business can continue operating under rare but extremely high-impact circumstances, such as a natural disaster, the loss of a key staff member, or even an economic downturn. By planning for these contingencies, a crisis can have less severe impact on a business and even ensure its survival. Many of these plans are simple, such as isolating which technology costs can be cut during a tight fiscal period, or backing up computer data at an off-site location in case a natural disaster destroys computer systems. In fact, 70% of businesses that suffer a serious data loss are out of business within 2 years (Source: DTI/PricewaterhouseCoopers Information Security Breaches Survey). With a continuity plan, issues like this are avoided.

Etnacom’s strategic IT planning services can help you determine key change and continuity areas for your business and help you plan for them.

Growing Your Business

Growing any business can be an exciting yet challenging time. One one hand, there is excitement and a feeling of success. On the other hand, there is increased pressure and responsibility. What’s the right way to grow? How can I manage this? Often, business owners and managers turn to technology to help solve this problem. While this is a terrific idea, it needs to be well planned. Technology is a terrific tool only if it is being used effectively.

When you are growing your business, time is of the essence. There never seems to be enough; between payroll, customer service and sales, the days fly by. There isn’t enough time to step back and really take control – but business sometimes runs you. Sometimes, it is best for an impartial advisor to analyze the situation and propose ways to become more efficient. In our case, we look for healthy ways to introduce technology into your business. That way, mechanical and impersonal functions can be automated and simplified while you can spend more time on the more important aspects of controlling the business.

Expanding means more money made, but it also usually means more money spent. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in a management or technology solution that the increased revenue due to expansion disappears. If that happens, then the expansion itself can quickly become a wash. By thinking carefully, we can help you deploy effective management solutions without compromising your profit margin.

Even if your small business is doing the smallest of expansions, it still doesn’t hurt to have an advisor looking over your shoulder. Etnacom can provide a free consultation regarding your expansion plans.

Increasing Productivity

A computer can be one of the best tools available when getting things done, but it can also be one of the biggest drains on time. There are too many distractions – Internet chat, games, mindless web surfing – not to mention the times when you are trying to get legitimate work done and the computer just doesn’t seem to be working. Managing technology in a way that doesn’t compromise productivity is what will make computers an effective tool on which to run your business.

Some ways that Etnacom can help you increase productivity for you and your employees in the digital realm include:

• Eliminating Distractions: By setting electronic policy, your employees can have access to all of the tools they need to do their job – which may not include web surfing, chatting with friends or playing games. These applications won’t be available to employees that shouldn’t be using them.
• The Right Tools for the Right Job: Don’t spend an hour trying to get something done when there is an application available that will do the same job in five minutes. By assessing your activities, we can recommend applications that help you get more done. Of course, we’re not looking to break the bank either. We’ll work with your budget and develop a workable solution.
• Upgrade When Necessary: Trying to get your work done on an obsolete computer is not only difficult, but extremely frustrating. By making sure that your hardware is adequate for the applications you are using, you significantly decrease the risk of encountering any time-consuming problems when doing your work. If your systems are outdated, we can help you cost-effectively upgrade to newer systems (see New Equipment & Upgrades).
• Organize Your Information: By keeping information at your fingertips, you can refer to it easily without having to interrupt your work. Using technology, we can help you employ many useful solutions to this, whether by implementing a virtual filing cabinet or task manager to getting all of your crucial information in an easy-to-use database.

Since we’re a small business too, we know that your tasks are demanding and time is limited. We’ve optimized our own systems to ensure our own productivity and it worked for us; contact us and we’ll make it work for you.

Laws & Regulations

Did you know that the following laws and regulations might apply to your business?

• Your website and online advertising must abide by certain regulations.
• If you maintain an online mailing list, you must abide by a certain set of laws that pertain to the privacy of your clients’ contact information and communications.
• If your employee and customer data is electronic, it must be stored in a private and protected manner, even if it is located on a computer not connected to a network.
• Credit Card information must be stored in a certain format to protect against theft and comply with privacy laws.
• In certain places, electronic equipment must be disposed of properly, in compliance with environmental protection laws.

The list continues. While some laws are extremely straightforward and common, others are not as well known. However, even uncommon laws can lead to serious consequences if not properly followed.

Keeping up with the laws and regulations surrounding your business operation is expensive enough. We can help you to determine if your business is in compliance with laws and regulations concerning technology, and help you to rectify any issues.

Important Note: Etnacom is not a legal firm and does not offer legal advice regarding the use of technology in the workplace. Rather, Etnacom is knowledgeable regarding laws and regulations concerning the operation of a business’ computer systems, and can propose measures that will assist the business in following these laws and regulations. These measures should be independently evaluated by an attorney or legal firm.

Mobile Data & Portability

There’s no question that today’s business owners are increasingly mobile. Mobility is a necessity – in a fact-paced environment, there are many things to do both inside and outside your place of business. So, how can you stay connected to what’s going on at your business while still being out in the field?

Etnacom recommends many solutions for both business owners and employees to allow them to be out in the field but still be able to share information with others. Some of our most popular solutions are shown below.

Mobile E-Mail & Chat: Sometimes, the best solution is to be in contact while on the go. We can help to identify the best mobile data infrastructure for your business and deploy smart phones or other equipment.

Wireless Systems: If you’re in the office, you shouldn’t be required to sit at your desk or even the same computer in order to access your important information. By deploying wireless and wired network systems, we ensure that you’re tethered to your business, not to your keyboard.

Remote Access: Having access to business data from home or on the road is especially convenient. Our consultants routinely connect mobile workers with their business environment through remote connections such as the Internet while still being conscious of costs and security issues.

Tracking Systems: Tracking might involve vehicles, employees, or even products en route to a customer. By having more data available, you can make better business decisions and avert possible crises.