There is no getting around the fact that technology challenges are a part of doing business for organizations of all sizes, but small business owners frequently struggle with technology solutions the most. This is especially relevant to equestrian businesses, as more then 95% of equestrian businesses fall into the category of small businesses, or SMBs.
Small budgets, a lack of knowledge, and general complexities related to system integration and problem-solving when issues arise are the main causes of the technology challenges small businesses face.
Although technology is essential, it can be very overwhelming. Due to the rapid changes in the tech world, small businesses find it particularly challenging to keep up with the changes while concentrating on their daily operations.
Five common technological issues that many business owners face are listed below:
Data Recovery and Backup
All businesses depend on data, so owners and executives must create plans to safeguard this information. No matter the size of the business, data theft or loss can be detrimental. Therefore, it's imperative that businesses have a plan in place to backup important data, such as financial data, contact data, and sales data (such as partner or client contracts.) There are many causes of data loss, including:
Simply storing your data on devices is insufficient. If you have a data backup, you will have a safe copy of your data that can be easily restored to the network. Data backups are typically kept in a remote location apart from your network servers. Our suggested strategy adheres to the "3-in-1 backup" principle, which calls for maintaining backup copies of crucial data on local devices, in the cloud, and in production. However, business owners may find it difficult to manage the network system and data backups on their own if they don't have the necessary knowledge or skills, don't have a dedicated IT team, or are operating on a tight budget.
Data Protection
Small businesses frequently lack the security required to prevent security breaches, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Large-scale breaches at larger organizations have been reported, but attacks on small businesses are rarely or rarely mentioned. 61% of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have reported experiencing at least one cyberattack in the past year, according to CyberSecurity Magazine. Despite the growing threat to SMBs, 43% of them lack a cyber security strategy. This might be the result of the fact that 52% of SMBs lack any internal IT security experts. Network and data security audits that pinpoint specific cyber security risks across a variety of technology solutions can give business owners the support they need.
Keeping Ahead of New Technology Integration and Solutions
To remain competitive, businesses must adopt new technological solutions. For SMBs with inexperienced IT staff, it can be difficult to know which solution is best and whether it integrates with existing systems. Spending a lot of time learning about the various parts and how they technically fit into your network is necessary to stay up to date with new technologies.
It may take some time and not always go as planned to integrate new technology or upgrades. System interruptions and even downtime may follow from this. Usually, the main objective of any implementation or upgrade is to reduce downtime. Due to their ability to complete upgrades and integrations with the least amount of downtime, managed service providers help many businesses. The minimal expense to business owners outweighs the revenue lost as a result of system outages and lost productivity.
Planning IT
Without sound and strategic IT planning, businesses will often blow through their already meager budgets for IT projects and security by making rash decisions about hardware, software, and security. Just like a marketing or business plan, having an IT strategic plan is essential. An IT strategic plan has several advantages, including:
Lack of Skilled IT Staff
Skilled IT workers are in short supply in today's workplace. Due to the abundance of opportunities, SMBs must compete for the same talent with larger organizations that have larger budgets. As a result, small businesses might find themselves with an IT staff that is underqualified. There are strategies that businesses can use to bridge the IT skills gap. Additionally, locating a partner before IT problems arise can help you save time and money later on. It will be time- and money-consuming to wait until you need an external IT services provider. In order to have a strategy in place for when difficulties arise, find a partner you can trust and who can learn your system beforehand.
Due to a lack of skilled staff and limited resources, SMBs will face difficulties implementing technology solutions. By investing in qualified and experienced staff, large organizations can manage and prepare for IT challenges. Because their budgets are smaller, small businesses have a harder time attracting the same talent. By utilizing the resources of a managed service provider, SMBs can have a more extensive IT staff and receive the same attention and services as large organizations without having to incur the cost of hiring full-time IT staff. Additionally, small businesses can budget expenses more successfully with a consistent monthly cost.
