Scalable IT Solutions: What Works Best for Different Business Sizes
When it comes to IT solutions, one size does not fit all. Your IT framework needs to work well within the confines of your company, whether it’s a two-person operation headquartered in a garage or a multi-billion dollar corporation that employs thousands of people. Different sizes call for different solutions, which is why scalability is so important. As your IT demands change, you need to be able to adjust your solution in size or volume without worrying about efficiency.
Every company wants to see growth, but if you’re not careful, your company may not be able to handle that growth when it comes. Overstretching your business is a great way to go out of business. Here are some general tips to keep in mind when researching IT solutions.
The Danger of “Homegrown” IT
Some IT firms prefer to develop their own software as opposed to using out-of-the-box enterprise software. There are plenty of benefits to doing things this way, namely that the software can be tailored to fit your company’s specific needs. However, that’s a pro that can quickly become a con. As the firm takes on more clients, that software gets stretched in various directions. The number of custom integrations rises and those various customizations don’t always play well with each other. This becomes painfully apparent when trying to scale the software to a different-sized workload.
Suddenly you’re faced with software that needs to be consistently rebuilt from the ground up. Or, at the very least, there are constant fires that need to be put out. Again, there are numerous benefits to using homegrown IT and customizability can be one of those benefits. Unfortunately, it does not make for easily scalable systems. (LinkedIn)
Downsizing Also Requires Scalability
For a lot of people, when they think about scalability, they think about the need to expand operations. That’s a very positive mindset, which is a powerful thing to have. Unfortunately, businesses tend to shrink, as well. Maybe your organization hit a rough patch and you need to downsize your workforce and dial back your operations. That requires scalability, too. Your IT solutions need to work just as well on a smaller scale.
It might not even be a bad situation. Your company’s needs may vary with each project that you take on. In that case, if your new project doesn’t require as large of an IT framework as your previous project did, you might be throwing money out the window. In this instance, it makes sense to cut costs by scaling back your IT.
In fact, if you find yourself in this situation, with consistently altering IT needs, scalability is going to be more important than ever. It’s not always as simple as a mid-sized business needing a mid-sized IT solution. Circumstances fluctuate and scalable IT is designed to not only handle those fluctuations but to make the most of them. (TricoStar)
Scalable IT Services Are in Demand
It’s not hard to find quality IT services. It’s been a burgeoning, in-demand industry for years. In the past few years, fortunately, the focus has shifted from effective IT to effective, scalable IT. When you’re searching for the right solution for your business, you should specifically be searching for firms that advertise their scalability. It’s not surprising that so many firms are now working the word into their very company name.
Going back to what was said a few paragraphs ago, scalability is also about being cost-effective. With a reputable IT firm, you’re only going to pay for what you use, so you don’t need to worry about wasting money on an oversized solution. Efficiency alone isn’t enough anymore. Flexibility in the form of scalability is what you need to be on the lookout for when searching for the right IT solution. (SaxonsIT)
