At Gopher IT we work with a number of SMBs helping them to bolster their IT infrastructure and allowing them to work smarter, not harder. However, after working with a number of small-medium sized businesses in fields as broad and wide as accounting to hospitality, we still, time and time again, see precisely the same technology challenges. So for those small business owners who are ready to throw their laptops out their window, trust us you are not alone; so make yourself a cuppa, sit back and read our list of the five most common tech challenges facing small businesses.
- Lack of technical talent in-house
Most small businesses generally have only a small number of staff in-house with key positions normally focusing on business development, managing director and admin or secretarial support. Not only that, but even if you did want to recruit full-time, or even part-time, IT support, there is a huge gap in supply which can make wages costly and make finding the right person rather difficult.
- Rapid change in technology can make it difficult to keep up
The only constant in technology is that there really is no constant, it is ever changing, an ever evolving entity that requires constant care and attention so you don’t fall behind. This can be an immensely time consuming and costly process and, frankly, can be inordinately frustrating if you don’t have a natural affinity for computers. It can also mean your business can easily fall behind the curve; particularly if you are a solopreneur juggling a number of priorities.
- Security and compliance (GDPR)
We have written previously about the various rules and regulations surrounding GDPR *spoiler alert* don’t believe the hype. However, alongside GDPR there is also the very real fear of cyber-security that is becoming an ever increasing concern in the world of business. In fact, most analysts suggest that if you hold data, the question is not if you will get hacked, but when. Our advice is to invest in cyber insurance as soon as humanly possible and also to invest in a robust anti-malware solution.
- Scaling IT
As your business grows you may well need to grow your IT infrastructure. Unfortunately, this can mean far more than simply investing in more laptops, but may well find yourself out outgrowing basic solutions such as dropbox or gmail or looking for more sophisticated, or even bespoke, options that fully support your staff and growth. This can often prove a little daunting with so many options available on the market and lots of individuals looking to sell their products.
- Managing technology solutions together
Last, but by no means least, is the challenge a number of companies face in trying to reconcile all their various solutions in to one seamless IT infrastructure. Given that most small businesses grow organically and purchase solutions as and when they need them, getting them all to work in perfect harmony can be something akin to assembling a jigsaw when two of the pieces are missing.
Of course, at Gopher IT we can assist with any or all of these problems; helping to make your IT system work for you. So if you would like to have a chat with anyone from our friendly team feel free to give us a call on 0330 223 1391 or drop us an email on hello@gopher.co.uk
