To: The boss
From: The employee
RE: Can’t work
Dear Boss,
My computer’s turning on but showing a blank screen. I can’t get to any of my programs and can’t send out any emails except for on my phone. Waiting to hear from IT, they told me the computer might have a registry error or something, I don’t know, I don’t speak foreign languages. Hopefully they get it fixed soon but I won’t be able to do anything for at least the next few hours. Give me a call if you need anything, I’m going to head home.
Thank you,
Your Employee
Have you been here? Either as the boss or the employee? It can be frustrating when a computer fails out and work cannot be done. IT technicians can only work so fast, but time lost is money lost, and companies, regardless of how big or small they are, need to remain productive. What are the options that we can have to meet these challenges?
Technicians at Tier One Technology Partners, the IT division of MKS&H, have come up with several different options for their clients to keep employees productive and minimize down time when issues occur. A few tips include:
1. Office 365– This application allows everyone to work anywhere, as you can download programs to any computer under that person’s name (up to 5 machines) and they can get back to work. Companies with 365 have the ability to keep moving, be more mobile, and have less down time.
2. Spare Machine– Dust off the old laptop in the custodian’s closet and check to see how old it is. If it’s ancient or hasn’t been updated, fix it or order two new ones, and make sure IT updates them or can get to them quickly. It does not hurt to have a desktop computer as well, on and running, so that anytime you need to swap it out to fix a computer, your employee only loses the time to plug the new one in. Companies often overlook the importance of spare equipment.
3. Tablets– That’s right, if you have a tablet, you have the capability to answer emails, create documents, even access information on the network. Your employee is able to handle all of their normal functions (depending on your work environment) and be productive while their computer is fixed.
IT professionals should be consistently evaluating the equipment of your company, proposing changes and making sure that you have equipment ready for any situation. Managed service providers are not only “IT guys” that fix your computer, they are also consultants and business organizers. Make sure you are up to date and taking advantage of their knowledge to improve your company and to ensure less down time.
Article contributed by Nick McCourt, IT Consultant, Tier One Technology Partners
About Tier One Technology Partners: MKS&H’s technology consulting group, Tier One Technology Partners provides your growing organization with IT strategy and effective IT services solutions to keep you one step ahead. Tier One was founded in 2000 in the response to listening to the needs of our clients and the business challenges that they were facing in such a rapidly changing IT environment. Thus, Tier One was developed with the simple goal of being an IT consultant, partner, and support firm.
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