Does your company still use a lot of bulky, legacy hardware and software? At one point it might have made sense to save money by skipping the updates, but over time it becomes a financial hazard if you keep using outdated technology. It turns out your customers care a lot about the technology your company is using. In fact, approximately 90 percent of consumers said they would stop doing business with a company because of its outdated technology.
That puts your business in a situation to respond to your customers’ needs and deliver on what they want in order to stay competitive. But do you need a full update or just a little refresh of your technology? Here are five signs your company’s tech infrastructure is outdated.
You’re Getting Hacked Frequently
Constant viruses, security breaches and hacks are a telltale sign of outdated technology, software and system patches. Although you may be running a robust anti-virus program and firewall, it’s not enough to protect against hackers. When your technology becomes so outdated it can’t keep up with the ongoing updates, hackers can easily infiltrate your systems through ransomware, ransomworm and simple email phishing schemes. It’s also possible patches will stop being released for your outdated tech and you’ll be left on your own to keep hackers at bay.
One way you can combat security breaches and ensure your systems are up to date and not compromised is to use a third-party monitoring service. Indusface offers continuous hack prevention for your online applications to keep your systems safe.
Your Competitors are Leaving You in the Dust
You may think you’re getting by okay with the technology you’ve been using for years, but if your competition is advancing in leaps and bounds, it’s going to be impossible to attract new clients. Look to see what type of technology is evolving in your industry.
For example, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analysis platforms are rapidly evolving and attracting businesses to their services. A system like Qualcomm AI offers cutting-edge hardware that can make a wide range of devices smarter from smartphones to vehicles. The technology helps the devices adapt to their users and environments and create intuitive user experiences.
Your IT Team is Burned Out
An overworked, overstressed and burned out IT team is a red flag that your company’s tech infrastructure is severely outdated. Old technology needs continuous workarounds to work correctly and keep up with the demands of your company. But that also requires more and more of your IT team’s time and attention to keep it all running. Instead, they could be innovating on how to create better systems and processes and keep your data safe.
Moving more of your systems to the cloud can help mitigate some of your IT tasks. For example, instead of tasking IT with troubleshooting your call center systems, a resource like Aspect Zipwire can run your customer service in the cloud with features like live chat and with multi-channel interaction.
Your Systems are Constantly Crashing
Constant system crashes are usually signs of viruses or outdated technology. Either situation calls for updated hardware and systems that runs quickly and efficiently without being overburdened by simple processes. Ongoing crashes are also a sign your hardware will eventually fizzle out and never restart. That could lead to an emergency you’re not prepared to tackle with data loss and unproductive downtime.
There are third-party tools that run in the cloud to help protect your systems and data when they crash. Mozy offers automatic systems back-up with around-the-clock monitoring to keep your data safe and can quickly restore it if your hardware or systems fail.
You’re Spending a Bundle on Repairs
Take a look at your budget to see how much you’re spending on hardware and system repairs. A quick fix isn’t the answer to outdated technology and will just lead to more expensive repairs as your systems age. You’re also likely to spend money on fixes that won’t hold as new viruses, hacks and technology emerges. In reality, it may be cheaper to simply replace your systems and hardware and rely on more efficient equipment.
Updating your company’s technology isn’t just a necessity to stay afloat, it’s also a smart business strategy. Make cutting edge technology part of your plan to stay competitive, deliver on what today’s consumers want and develop the user experience your customers deserve.
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