Go Against Business Instincts

The backdrop of media gloom surrounding the economy looms large over business technology purchasing. But not only is it possible to get funding for projects, it is the best way to ensure that businesses survives whatever the financial market may throw at them.

Efficiency Gains
Now is the best time to upgrade technology and make workforces more efficient. Of course, this idea goes against all current wisdom which urges cautious spending while long term damage to the economy and its affect on business is assessed. But this reversal of thinking is logical, as this article shall explain.

To begin, businesses need to ask the question. Is the workforce working as effectively as possible? Almost no company can honestly answer yes to this question, because there are always areas where improvements could be forged. The next question is how many of these inefficiencies are caused by technological snags, and similarly, the majority of organisations will have a clear idea what they would improve about their technology platform.

The Options
Now if we bring this line of questioning up to date, we must consider that business over the next few years could be the toughest it’s been for years. There are two choices for businesses at this time. They can either pull the shutters down, work with what they have and hope their customers and marketshare are strong enough to endure the monetary turbulence. Many businesses are of course taking this approach, believing it is the only way to safeguard the future. But consider another question, can businesses really thrive by standing still? It’s an old mantra that standing still in business is the same as going backwards, and it is true - competition, customers and market forces will change and those organisations treading water will be left behind.

The second option is to spend and invest in ways to improve the way the company works. The trick is to create a compelling business case that negates any initial cash outlay with the promise of short and long term gains. The business case is relatively easy, the hardest part is making the mental leap to believe that spending money will save money, and that accountants will follow and agree with the thought process.

Accountants, contrary to what we might believe, will take a long term view of an investment if they can see compelling evidence that spending in the short term will offer a strong return in the longer term.

Funding Business Projects
Many business projects get rejected for funding as the reasons for the outlay are not clear enough. For example, if the idea of offering staff the facility to log and track IT support calls was put forward it cannot be justified by saying it will make for happier users. This is simply not going to get approval. If however you can calculate the reduction in time spent processing routine calls that self-logging would offer, then map this against the improved uptime and speed to make projects go live that a support desk could generate if they had a lower workload, then you might grab the attention of the money guardians.

What to Consider
Looking even more specifically at the support desk, many software solutions have large inefficiencies in place that could be removed with a new system. Consider the ways that Richmond SupportDesk the service desk solution from Richmond Systems could save your business money.

Firstly, there is the improved efficiency that a fast, integrated system offers. Then you can factor in rapid deployment, lack of contract lock-ins, expert and affordable consultancy, and ITIL processes included as standard (with ITIL itself promising huge efficiency gains to those embedding it at an operational level).

All the factors mentioned have a direct financial implication, and if the benefits can be solidified in cash terms, the funding might be more readily available than you might imagine.

Richmond Systems
West House
West Street
Haslemere
Surrey
GU27 2AB
e-mail: info@richmondsys.com
tel: 01428 641616
Simon Armstrong

About Richmond Systems
Established for over 20 years, Richmond Systems Limited, is a leading provider of service desk software for enterprise-wide service support based on ITIL® best practices.

Richmond SupportDesk solutions can be rapidly implemented to deliver fast, flexible and scalable service support for incidents, problems, configuration, change and service level management through Windows™, self service web portal and mobile interfaces. This provides the IT department with full visibility of the support environment allowing streamlining of the operation increasing efficiency and raising customer service levels.

Richmond Systems serves organisations providing support to many thousands of users and is a member of the itSMF and SDI (Service Desk Institute).

This release was published on openPR.