Information Technology Pro: 4 Sneaky IT Hacks For Small Businesses

Hacks are meant to make life a little easier, and that's especially important in business where wasted time and effort means lower productivity and profits. For small business that waste often comes from trying to keep up with technology and implement it into processes - the very thing that's supposed to make businesses more productive. Here are some subtle IT hacks to get you back on track.

1. Automate Everything

Encourage your people to look for technology that will make their tasks easier. For instance, a barcode system could save tons of time on inventory management. Employees will be happy to look for and test anything that makes their jobs easier, and investing in the right solution pays since every moment they aren't wasting puts more money in your pocket.

2. Software Escrow

This is typically done if you're licensing software; you can insist the source code be stored with an EscrowTech agent to ensure that the software is properly maintained. This helps to protect you in case something goes wrong, such as the vendor failing to issue a software update per their obligations. You might specify release conditions such as vendor bankruptcy or violation of agreements, in which case the code is destroyed or returned to the vendor.

3. Email Accounts

If you're like most people, you spend a good part of the day reading emails. Too many people in an organization want to copy everyone in the command chain, right up to the CEO, to resolve conflicts or promote their own agenda. Sorting the garbage out of your inbox is a big waste of time. Consider creating multiple email accounts in the company directory for specific purposes. That makes it easier to prioritize them.

4. Outsourcing IT

There are any number of firms offering comprehensive IT management or even a specific subset of services over the cloud. System design, data storage, vital network protection, and much more are available for a standard monthly fee. The benefit is that it reduces your own hardware, software, and IT staffing burdens. By looking for SLAs (service level agreements), you also get a legally binding promise that your expectations on performance and reliability will be met.

Continuously monitor the processes and workflow going on around you to spot aspects of your IT infrastructure that need improvement. You don't necessarily have to have brainstorming sessions, high-priced consultants, or expensive solutions. Sometimes the easiest and quickest problem resolution means getting a little sneaky.