IT management and gadgets – The admin approach to better business?
Let’s face it, the Age of Gadgets is upon us. They’re everywhere, and they’re also getting into the business admin area. The main use of gadgets is putting functions where they can be found and used. Interestingly and perhaps predictably, sales is the first area to take advantage of the Gadget Economy. That’s highly relevant, because sales is tied into admin in so many ways. Some of these gadgets, like social gadgets, are invaluable in terms of data management and in some cases even data recovery.
The admin angle
Gadgets can provide shortcuts and solutions to problems which would otherwise be either prohibitively expensive or a real nuisance for IT managers. A classic case is the social gadget used for status updates by salespeople. These are cloud-based gadgets, and they’re beautiful in terms of streamlining data management for IT people, because they’re external. As long as they’re operational, they’re not a problem. They fit in well to a sales regime, because they’re quick and have a similar but better than Twitter-like ability to provide useful information to business managers in a hurry.
For example:
Business ABCD has a need for a quick and reliable record of events and two way documented feedback in real time from its salespeople, who are working on very high value sales.
The options are:
Phones - Can’t document efficiently.
Email – Needs external accounts, and can be expected to create tides of messages for archiving. Because the information includes contract performance matters, may even be covered by statutory limits for maintenance. The two way thing is a problem for record keeping, because of possible multiple inputs from multiple people.
Hardcopy – Faxes, etc. Not on the map, too many steps. Archivally it creates a need for scans and data conversion to digital media, not productive.
In this scenario, the gadget does the job, and provides a backup record. It’s a real time, dedicated, and secure access. Information and instructions can move at real time speeds. Managers get the very useful asset of being able to provide and receive clear info, and salespeople get clear instructions, without the email effect, because this gadget works direct.
Targeting gadgets to business needs
It will come as no surprise to IT managers that a business culture which is barely dragging itself out of the Middle Ages needs pointers about these very easy options. Targeting business requirements is definitely simpler than the “systemic” approach, where everything has to conform to system parameters.
If a gadget can provide the functionality, why shouldn’t it? If the gadget can simply be clicked and do a specific job, isn’t that a lot more cost effective than acquiring a possibly expensive, and often underused, pile of software to do basic work? For business records purposes, the nature of the information required is what’s important, not necessarily how that information is generated or collected. As long as the information is accurate, that’s what matters.
Gadgets are the software version of handheld electronics. They’re cost effective by definition. Relying on laptop data recovery is hardly the ideal solution for IT or anyone else. Look for gadgets, not graveyards.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 at 12:43 pm and is filed under Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
IT management and gadgets – The admin approach to better business … | Geek Specials September 16th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
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