Your company may have started small, but if you’re outgrowing the space you’ve been using for a while, it may be time for an upgrade. If you do choose to expand your business — either by moving to a larger office building or opening new locations — that shift will come with a few new tech requirements to keep your business running smoothly. Here are just a few of the technological upgrade you should consider investing in as your business grows.
Extended Wireless Internet Access
If your business is starting to take up more physical space, then you’re going to have to start thinking about your internet capabilities. In a small office, one router may be enough, but once you start to expand, that router may not reach as far as you need it to. Panorama antennas are industrial grade antennas that are specially designed to extend your wireless network. Easily install these antennas indoors or outdoors to ensure your team always has internet access.
If the perfect building for your expansion is far removed from high-speed internet access — a common problem for many rural businesses — you don’t have to fall back on your second choice to solve your connectivity problems. Data is increasingly fast, and data antennas can take the place of traditional wired internet when it comes to network connectivity. Many antennas are both 4G and 5G compatible, but these antennas are traditionally more expensive. If 5G improvements have already been made in your area, you might be able to save a little room in your budget by purchasing 5G antennas.
Data antennas can be attached to company vehicles as well. If your employees are frequently on the road or answer calls in remote areas, a 5G antenna attached to a company car will allow them to complete their work even when they are out of the office.
Cloud Storage
Physical servers are expensive, and if your company’s growth sees you opening offices in different locations, then you’ll need a solution to be sure your teams can stay connected. Cloud storage is a convenient way to keep your employees connected across distances. Cloud storage also makes it easier for employees to work from home while still being able to collaborate with their fellow workers. Not only does this ensure uninterrupted workflow, but as more and more companies have transitioned to remote work, having the necessary tools needed for the new set-up will help make your company more desirable to high-quality hires looking for hybrid or fully remote employment.
While Cloud storage is cheaper and requires less floor space than traditional company servers, it will take some math to figure out which package is best for your company. For example, do you only need 250GB worth of storage a year for your entire company, or will you need several terabytes of space? These are important considerations to keep in mind to ensure your work isn’t interrupted by storage caps a few months down the road.
Project Management Apps
Managing projects was probably easy when your company was small — you might have only had to lean over and ask your coworker a question to keep your project running smoothly. Once your company expands, however, there are sure to be even more projects to manage. Before you get too bogged down with work, take some time to familiarize yourself with a project management app that works well for tracking projects in your industry. This is a good step to take to make sure you transition to heavier workloads smoothly. You can even get your feet wet with a project management software by planning out your move and assigning tasks to team members to see if it’s easy to use and track.
Growing pains don’t need to factor into your business expansion! With the right tools and an organized plan of attack, you can make the transition with ease.