She Asks IT, He Answers IT

DIY Tech Purchases: Good Investment or Bad for Business?

She Asks IT:

One of my favorite TV shows, “Renovation Realities,” demonstrates that some things are best left to the pros.

The DIY series details the sad fates befalling those who have a new vision for their home and decide to save money by doing it themselves. Two people, usually spouses with little to no DIY experience, attempt to renovate a kitchen or upgrade a bathroom. The results are generally disastrous – especially when plumbing, electricity or structural issues are involved. The couple ends up (1) frustrated, since the project takes longer than anticipated, (2) exhausted, because they are working about 20 hours a day, and (3) financially strapped, as it almost always costs more than the original budget. Those who couldn’t wait to get started on Day 1 can’t get away from each other fast enough on Day 5.

And the DIYers must often hire experts anyway to undo their misdoings.

But what about buying technology? Should I reach out to an expert for help with that? (And by expert, I mean someone with credentials, who works on computers, not someone, like me, who spends eight hours a day in front of one.)

For instance, let’s pretend I am buying a new laptop for work. (I like this scenario, since I really do want one.) They all look about the same. I can walk right into Sam’s or Best Buy and snag what seems like a terrific deal.

But are all laptops created equal? How can I make sure I don’t spend money on features I don’t really need? Or, worse yet, how can I ensure that I don’t spend too little and miss out on features that I definitely do need?

In other words, could “going it alone” in the short run end up costing me more in the long run?

He Answers IT:

I see mistakes in this area all the time. Something seemingly simple, like buying a new laptop, is not really that simple at all. Some questions you should ask yourself are:

With things like backup methods and antivirus solutions, some are appropriate for one company, but not another. So, the primary issues when buying technology are (1) figuring out precisely what is right for you and (2) getting it installed properly within your system.

Everyone has limitations. When it comes to electricity, I only do minor electrical work around my house. A major re-wiring job will not be one of my DIY projects. Sometimes, I don’t even know what question to pose to our electrician. His knowledge base of 10 is much bigger than my base of, well, two.

When it comes to technology purchases, a couple of minor mistakes may not cause too many problems. But a number of buying and installation mistakes over time can seriously degrade the operational efficiency of a system. I have performed work for businesses with technology setups so out of kilter that it took me two to three times longer than necessary to fix a problem or perform a task.

Getting these environments to work properly may involve something as simple as re-configuring a software application. On the other hand, it might require the process of updating components one at a time, as the budget allows over time. In these cases, it always costs the businesses more money than they originally saved. Often, it costs much more. And what about all the headaches over time?

Certain areas exist in my own business where I can cut costs. But areas also exist where I will spend more money than one might expect. For example, backups are the number one, top-of-the-list priority. I will always have my important data backed up in multiple locations. Network setup and security are other areas that I insist on implementing correctly. And, when it comes to equipment, a well-operating all-in-one printer/scanner/fax device sits way up on my must-have list. These machines get used all the time in business. Have at least one good one.

Relia IT does offer competitive pricing on hardware, software and other products. When comparing apples to apples, you will not save much money, if any, buying it yourself. And, by ordering through us, you have the assurance that we will not recommend anything we would not use ourselves. Period.

Regardless of whether you buy it from us, buy from someone else or buy it yourself, remember that your business is too important to make technology mistakes. They are vital assets. By getting the right solution at a competitive price the first time, you will save yourself money and headaches down the road.