When times get tight the IT budget’s usually the first to shrink, but don’t overlook the importance of updating your front-office systems. Outdated technology could be costing your company money by frustrating technology savvy customers and employees.
How much time and productivity’s wasted by employees complaining about the “ancient” computer system that isn’t working right — 30 minutes a day, maybe an hour or two?
What about your customers who are just plain annoyed by software that’s out of date by ten years?
Your employees and customers are increasingly used to tech solutions for everything. So when a company’s technology isn’t up to speed, they throw up their hands in frustration and sometimes they walk.
Problems that run rampant in outdated systems include: complicated log-in procedures, unlinked systems and search tools that only work if you type in the exact word or phrase. And many older technologies just weren’t built for use with the Internet.
Large corporations are slowly realizing that technology, especially a front-office system, has a much higher ROI than they previously thought. The technology available today is much more secure, and cheaper, than the stuff they bought five or ten years ago. But only 35% of companies world-wide are making mobile applications a standard part of business, and even fewer are seeing the potential for employee training and collaboration.
In the coming years companies will have to invest in new technology to compete in the global market. Older equipment may work as a short-term Band-Aid, but higher productivity and satisfied customers will only be gained by investing in the latest technology.
