Technology – should we be concerned that the guy who wrote about JanSan is also writing about technology?  That kind of summarizes what we do every day in a small office, though, doesn’t it – we’re supposed to understand the latest in computer technology while making sure the toilet paper is in stock.

I don’t know much about how technology works, but I try to know how to use it.  I don’t rush out to buy the latest gadget, but I understand the value of an office network to share documents.  Computers and technology should simplify our lives, not complicate them, so I’m pretty aggressive about making sure any “advancements” will actually make people more efficient and effective, not confuse them. 

For example, we only recently began receiving our customers’ checks on line; we reached a point where our bank and our systems were both able to take advantage of the savings associated with not processing paper checks.  We bought two additional monitors so our cash app folks could have one screen showing the check and the other our accounting system; this investment was paid for within 3 months in reduced costs – storage boxes, “research” trips to the store room and check filing and retrieval costs.  Was this technology new?  Hardly, but it didn’t make sense to implement it until we were ready to do so.

Technology has become a buzz word unto itself, but it’s not something we should fear or throw our hands up over.  Slow it down, break it down and remember to apply common sense – if a new technology isn’t going to make your office more efficient, healthier or more profitable, it might not be right for you.