Tech tips: Sharpening your existing tech tools

By Q2Q IT

15 Oct 2020

In September, the theme of our tech blog was ‘ensuring you have the right IT tools for the job’, and to follow on this month, we’re looking at how you can make the most of the infrastructure you have in place.

Are you achieving maximum ROI on your existing hardware and software, or are you paying for a service without reaping the maximum productivity benefits?

All too often, it’s a case of the latter.

Sometimes, SMEs invest in the right tools but don’t necessarily use them to their full potential. That, or if they do, they’re unaware of small add-ons which can make life much easier, for a comparatively low investment.

Assessing what you already have

The most important element of ‘sharpening your tools’ is to know exactly what you have in place already.

After all, you wouldn’t make business-critical decisions based on a whim or ‘finger-in-the-air’ style approach, you’d have the evidence in place to support any choices.

That’s why we liken a business’s IT and surrounding tech infrastructure to a swiss army knife – bear with us on this one.

This multi-functional item houses various ‘tools’ in one compact device – making it super convenient whether you need a knife, screwdriver or pair of scissors. This ability to ‘do it all’ translates into ‘tech land’ too.

You may be paying for a ‘swiss army knife’ but if you’re only using one component and not utilising the rest to their full potential – or you don’t know they exist – you’re likely losing out, not only in terms of revenue but also staff productivity and engagement.

So, take stock and see what tech you have at your disposal, then you can look to explore what each one of the elements can really do for you.

Multiplying the benefits of your existing kit

Putting the above analogy into perspective, you might, for instance, have a subscription to Microsoft Office 365, and solely use it for Teams, Outlook and Word, but what about the more ‘hidden’ features you could be taking advantage of?

We’re talking, a mileage expense tracker for cars, an advanced verification service on cloud back-ups, and free cloud storage (via OneDrive), to name a few.

If you’re reading this and thinking ‘this would be great for my company’, there are many more ‘treasures’ within the Office 365 chest to discover.

Really, it’s just a matter of having a chat with your IT support provider, outlining your business requirements – alongside ‘nice to haves’ – and they should put some ideas together that would help streamline your individual organisation.

Not being afraid to ask questions

We remember our schoolteachers telling us that “there’s no such thing as a ‘silly’ question”, and this is our philosophy – not only with our clients but among colleagues too.

We encourage our customers to ‘ask away’ when it comes to their tech needs, not least because we love de-jargoning the minefield IT gobbledegook, but because it’s the only way they can truly achieve an IT set-up that not only does the job properly now but well into the future.

For example, one thing we’re frequently asked about on a weekly basis is if there are additional security mechanisms available to ensure the safeguarding of data within emails.

Now, we know that a small bolt-on asset exists which is able to back up all emails and potentially OneDrive documents – in case something is accidentally deleted or hacked. It’s our job to be aware of handy features like this.

That’s why we can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your IT provider in the loop with your business updates. From new starters, leavers, tech investments, restructures, remote working models – you name it – get them involved. Any tech team truly invested in their customer will be aware of all the ‘inner workings’ and will be making proactive suggestions to help improve operations before any tech niggles rear their ugly heads.

Making the most of what you have is not only a cost-effective and time-efficient way of making sure you’re getting the maximum out of existing investments, but also identifying where you may need to plug any gaps.

That’s why, it’s worth having an IT reassessment, or audit, every year – or six months if you’re growing rapidly – to make sure it’s continuing to do what you need it to.

If you’d like to chat to us about any of the additional services mentioned above – or you have any other questions about what’s possible from your IT set-up – give us a call on 01524 581690, or drop us a direct message!

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin