When the internet debuted for public use in 1991, it forever changed the way companies everywhere handle their information and data – and advancements have only happened more quickly since then. With the advent of the cloud, they again found themselves adapting to new ways of dealing with important information that can make or break company success.
Of course, there are many other ways individual companies have changed their IT systems in order to streamline processes and handle data more efficiently. These changes aren’t always easy, so let’s talk about a few ways to transition smoothly.
1. Make Expectations Clear
The hardest part of changing IT systems is making sure all your staff members adapt to and implement the changes in their day-to-day work. Formal training, team building and meetings won’t cut it if your expectations aren’t clear. Instead of a half-hearted “please try and implement these changes,” it’s important to set clear parameters for change – something more like “here are the new standards, and here’s what you need to do to meet these new standards.” Knowledge transfer can be an incredible tool for establishing your expectations.
2. Get Rid of Old Stuff
A mistake companies make all the time when migrating servers or operating systems is failing to clean out old, useless information. Do you know what’s on your old servers? Have you touched those databases at any point in the past decade? If not, it’s probably not worth keeping. Sure, as a data hoarder you’re not taking up physical space – but you’re probably costing your company money by continuing to host useless data.
Some companies even go so far as to keep pre-computer data, often taking up offsite storage space and draining you of monthly storage fees that you’re paying without thinking. Do yourself a favor and toss those old punch cards.
3. Upgrade Your OS
Microsoft has officially ceased all support for Windows XP, which means it’s time to put the past behind you and stop running critical applications on your defunct OS. You’re not doing yourself any favors by refusing to upgrade to Windows 10 or Mac OS X El Capitan. Rather, you’re opening yourself up to potential data breaches and security holes. If you encounter a data disaster, you’ll be hard pressed to find any help addressing it.
Building a New Company Culture
Any major change in the way your company operates will undoubtedly cause some upset among your staff. However, staying stuck in the past will only harm your company in the long run. Hear them out about their frustrations, but encourage them to look to the future. Once everyone understands that these changes are for the good of the company, they’ll be more willing to adapt. As a result, you’ll remove inconsistencies, delete unnecessary or duplicate data, and ultimately make your company run more smoothly overall.