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The Value of Technology

Written by: Rodger Blaker

Article Overview: Invest in appropriate technology and learn to use it to your advantage.

The Value of Technology

This past month I read an article about a hospital that went through the trauma of adopting an entirely new level of technology.

Every nurse and most other employees were given laptop computers. All mass communications and memos are now done via email. All patient records are computerized, all doctor's orders are typed. As you can imagine, there was tremendous resistance, and the cost of equipment and training was enormous. And yet, the cost of the investment has been re-captured almost instantly!

Productivity is up. There are new feelings of competence, new avenues of communication and clarity. Errors and the frustrations of trying to read messy handwriting are way down.

My point? The "cost" of investing in new technology almost always pays for itself in less than 30 days. As a rule, expanded technology predictably creates vastly expanded opportunities. We gain new perspectives. New and bigger markets open up. New communities are formed, and new alliances, partnerships and joint-ventures materialize.

Recently I've watched several small businesses struggle with "out-sourcing" technology, from running their websites to managing their databases, and while contracting services can be a good idea,
in these cases it was because the owners "didn't have time" or "weren't interested." And in every case, the long-term costs of refusing to learn at least the basics of new technology have had
enormous costs.

Invest in appropriate technology and learn to use it to your advantage.

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Article Tags: alliances, appropriate technology, clarity, competence, contracting services, frustrations, joint ventures, laptop computers, mass communications, memos, messy handwriting, new avenues, new feelings, new perspectives, new technology, nurse, partnerships, patient records, small businesses, sourcing technology



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