InfoTech: Buy the right technology
1 Apr, 2008 By: Tyler Whitaker Landscape ManagementDo I need a Bluetooth printer? Or should I get a laptop with WiMax or WLAN with 125HSM / SpeedBooster support? Questions like these give me a headache. Buying technology should be easy. What we need are some guidelines.
Shopping for computers used to be simple. A quick trip to the local technology store to pick out the latest and greatest from a wide selection was all it took. The major factors were functionality, brand name (quality) and cost. Today, finding the right technology solution has become complicated.
Internet shopping with a twist
The Internet is now the de facto standard for comparison shopping. Shopping by price is as easy as point and click. You can find everything from technical specs to reviews by actual users. It's a path to information overload and analysis paralysis in one easy step.
Instead of reviewing all wireless printers for the right match, stop and ask yourself, "What am I trying to accomplish?" Taking the time to define the problem: "I want to print wirelessly from my laptop" gives you a faster way to solve the problem. And here's the twist: try searching for the blogs of those who have had the same challenges. That way you get to leverage the time they spent researching the solution. This is a great way to narrow in on a few solutions.
Don't over buy or buy too soon
Next, limit the scope of your purchases. Technology changes so fast that sometimes you need a crystal ball, an IQ of 150 and a bottle of oxygen just to keep up. A good purchasing guideline is to limit the features and functionality to what you will actually use within the next six to 12 months. Buying the "top of the line" comes at a higher price tag and is a waste if you don't need the extra features.
Over buying goes hand in hand with buying too soon. Waiting for wider spread user adoption of a technology reduces both initial and unexpected conversion costs.
Quantify the technology risk
When it comes to the latest and greatest technology, take a calculated risk only when your business can achieve a strategic advantage by using a new piece of technology. Will it lower your costs, increase your efficiency and increase your net profit? Understand the costs and benefits so you can weigh the risk if the technology doesn't deliver.
It's not likely that the computer industry will ever consolidate to the point where technology purchasing will be as easy as choosing between "good enough," "better than most" and "top of the line." Until then save the hours of research for only your most strategic purchases. And, if all else fails, find a trusted advisor or expert for advice. A simple call or email can save a lot of time and hassle.
— The author is a freelance technologist focusing in business automation. Contact him at 801/592-2810 or visit his blog at
www.tylerwhitaker.com.
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