JASON SIMONS: Get edge with right IT set-up

Jason Simons Wanganui District Council IT manager

HOW can smaller businesses without information technology experts on their staff get the edge on their competition using information systems?

It is fairly easy. Either hire a consultant to come in and set you up with the systems you need to allow your business to grow, or do the research yourself on the internet to find out what's out there that you can use.

For a sole trader setting themselves up in business for the first time, it's important right from the start to plan for growth and to use information systems that will future-proof your business.

That way, when you start expanding and hiring staff, you're not wasting valuable time dealing with templates, file storage issues or finding where your last proposal is saved.

By setting up templates that other staff can use, you save time by not having to redesign templates and you have the added bonus of controlling branding and setting quality standards. By storing files in the cloud instead of on your laptop, it is easier to share files with other staff. This saves you time.

With all businesses, time is money and any time spent redesigning or replicating work is time - and money - wasted.

With the right IT knowledge, you can reduce overheads and, when you're starting up, your biggest overhead - and your greatest constraint - is your own time.

The phrase "use IT to work smarter not harder" is often bandied about, but if you really want to make changes to the overall efficiency and professionalism of your business, invest early on in good systems that allow you to deliver better service with less effort, and that other staff can use as your business grows.

-Wanganui District Council information technology manager Jason Simons has worked around the world delivering IT solutions, including providing encrypted systems for governments, banks and corporates. Follow his blog at jasonsimons.nz