Business technology can sometimes seem like a hedonic treadmill: you maintain a baseline level of operation with your IT, but it will inevitably fail, leaving you in the tough situation of having to replace it. Today, we want to help you get ahead of the curve a bit with a technology needs assessment. We’ll discuss the benefits of a needs assessment, as well as what it focuses on both now and in the future.

Why Conduct a Needs Assessment?

Simply put, a needs assessment ensures that your business is using its technological assets to their fullest potential.

A needs assessment provides a full picture of how each of your IT solutions are used, as well as the challenges that you face with your infrastructure. It can offer a bird’s eye view of your infrastructure and expose troublesome issues that you haven’t yet addressed. You’ll learn more about how your infrastructure is working, as well as what could be improved upon.

For example, if you discover a persistent problem, you can consider new solutions that can help you address the issue.

Considering the Past, Present, and Future of Your Business

Look, we’ve all made mistakes—especially in business, where one bad decision years ago can influence things even now.

Business IT is the same, and poor decisions or investments that seemed fine at the time could have led to significant challenges. Think about your past decisions and whether they have yielded a return on investment. But don’t dwell on them—we’re simply looking for opportunities for better decision-making, not for reasons to beat yourself up or question your skill as a business owner.

Here’s a list of questions you can ask for your needs assessment:

• Were certain solutions worth the investment?
• Were staff receptive to the implementation of these solutions?
• How much capital was lost during the implementation process?
• Did the solution yield the expected outcome, and if not, why?

Of course, you should also consider the present and future for your business, too, with these questions:

• Can your employees effectively do their work?
• If not, is it a policy issue, a motivation issue, or a technology issue?
• Could a technology solution present a real and tangible opportunity for improvement?
• Where do you want to take your business over the next five or ten years?
• How can you prepare for the unexpected?

What goes Into a Needs Assessment?

Finally, we want to impart a couple of general tips that can help you conduct an effective needs assessment:

• Note your current resources: Before you implement any new solution, it’s crucial that you have an inventory of what currently exists.
• Consider workflows: Sometimes the issue isn’t the technology, and adding more technology will only make it worse. Think about your policies, procedures, and workflows to see if there are any bottlenecks stymying progress.
• Understand your current technology: If you have identified certain goals for your business, consider if the technology you have will support those goals, or if an implementation is needed.
• Explore alternative options: In business IT, there is rarely a silver bullet or a cure-all. Just because one solution works for other businesses doesn’t mean that it will also work for yours. Don’t be afraid to experiment and learn more about other opportunities, and above all else, ensure an appropriate fit before implementation.

If all this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry… we’ve got you covered.

415 IT can help your business conduct a needs assessment. To learn more, give us a call at (415) 295-4898.