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

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

2

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

3

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

4

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing

19 May 2025

5

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025 Mark Long

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025

19 May 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
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

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 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

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

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

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