As the Roanoke Valley begins to see Dogwoods and other signature trees and plants blooming, many local business owners are looking at their operations for how to breathe new life into their facilities. We often think of “spring cleaning” in terms of dusting off desks, cleaning out the breakroom fridge, and finally locating the source of that putrid stench, or clearing out the back storage room, but the most crucial Spring cleaning might be the move to upgrade business technology.
Appearing “cleaned up” on the outside is a great start, but true professionalism and growth stem from a solid infrastructure, seamless internal and external communication flow, and protecting your facilities.
At RCI, we’ve spent over 50 years connecting Virginia enterprises with the right business technology for their unique needs. This Spring, we’re encouraging other local Southwest Virginia businesses to look beyond the surface. If your team is fighting with outdated phones, fuzzy surveillance footage, or an entanglement of cables, it’s time to take a look at our IT maintenance checklist. Roanoke companies can use for a smooth-running, cleaned-up IT setup!
Why You Should Upgrade Business Technology This Year
Is your tech propelling your business forward or weighing you down? When you upgrade business technology, it’s not just updates for the sake of updates; you could be actively eliminating issues that your company has perhaps just gotten adjusted to over time, like key communication or security gaps. A modern infrastructure ensures that when a client calls or walks through your door, they encounter a business that is efficient, secure, and ready to serve them.
If you haven’t Spring cleaned your systems in a while, we go by a basic IT maintenance checklist Roanoke businesses can rely on to identify gaps:
Are your desk phones and mobile devices in sync?
Can you see every corner of your property in color and HD?
Is your cabling organized, or is it a “spaghetti” mess?
If you haven’t upgraded recently, are your older systems still receiving the upkeep they need to function?
The Whole System
We’ve seen phone system platforms come and go, and while VOIP phone systems are something we’re proud to offer, we know that transition takes time. VOIP is the gold standard today because it allows your business calls to reach you, whether you’re at the office or working remotely, without ever giving out a personal cell number.
However, we also know that many Roanoke companies still rely on tried-and-true hardware. As pioneers in the business telecommunications industry, RCI hasn’t forgotten our roots. We still provide expert service for older on-site phone systems like Toshiba. We believe that to upgrade business technology successfully, you need a partner who understands your existing business technology situation, so we can recommend the best next steps. Whether you are ready to jump to an internet-based solution or need to keep your current Toshiba unit running for another year, we’ve got the parts and the expertise.
Surveillance and Facility Protection
Part of any thorough IT maintenance checklist Roanoke business owners should follow is a thorough surveillance check. Like checking if your lenses are blurry resulting from Winter snowstorms, ensuring proper recording/ storage is taking place, and that files/ footage are easily accessible, and whether you can pull up your system’s captures on your phone right now if needed.
Protecting your facilities plays directly into protecting your bottom line. Keeping outdated cameras is like keeping your doors wide open for the wrong people to walk in and stir up trouble!
Overhead Paging…Can It Reduce Overhead?
An often-overlooked way to upgrade business technology is to utilize overhead paging. It remains a vital tool for warehouses and retail, but can integrate quite nicely into large offices as well. If you find yourself walking across the building just to find a manager, or find yourself raising your voice just a little too often, it’s time to think about paging. Modern systems can tie in directly with your VOIP lines, allowing you to make announcements from any handset or even a mobile app. It’s about creating a Spring-cleaned internal communication system that reaches every corner of your facility.
Clean Infrastructure, Clear Mind
A Spring-cleaned office environment can actually provide psychological benefits! When your cables are labeled, and your server closet is organized, your teams face fewer overall disruptions and get the productivity benefits that come with an orderly workspace. They can then stop worrying about how to connect and focus their efforts on the day-to-day tasks at hand.
As your company starts to upgrade business technology this spring, ask yourself if your communications, security, and organization actually reflect the quality of your work. If the answer isn’t a resounding yes, it’s time for a refresh.
Anything Else to Add to the IT Maintenance Checklist, Roanoke?
Perhaps there’s another element of your IT infrastructure you’re unsure about. Luckily, RCI is your local IT company ready to make it easy to upgrade business technology even if it’s something we didn’t cover here. We’d be happy to visit your building and get a firsthand look so we can provide realistic recommendations! Just give us a shout!
