Office Document Strategies Blog

Understand Where Your Support Comes From

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, May 22, 2019 @ 07:05 AM

One of the key parts of any IT technology strategy in a business is having the right kinds and levels of support available to underpin your operations.  The days are long gone where every organization can have the knowledge base and the personnel in place to be able to handle every IT related eventuality. 

When you think of all of the components of the complexity of your IT systems being able to understand who and how your systems are being supported is critical to your design and comfort level.

Software

Every business has several levels of software which are important to the business.

  • ERP or business operations software
  • Network operating systems with components like backup, email security, data management structures
  • Cloud based software pieces including related storage and backup
  • Communications software which may also include phone system software

Hardware

  • Hardware components including workstations, point of input devices like physical security systems, server components, connectivity components like routers, switches and wireless infrastructure
  • Mobile hardware devices including computers and smart tools like tablets and phones
  • Scanning hardware whether stand alone or networked
  • Print hardware including multifunction print devices and tools
  • Related hardware management tools and supplies

Communications

There are several streams of communications systems that every business uses and these include phone systems, email systems, online and in house business transaction systems like shopping stores and inventory management.

Group meeting chat software and tools are also a piece of this area and for some businesses have become the primary ways for widely dispersed employee groups to meet and interact.

The whole network system infrastructure is often a big part of the communication system as cloud based services and tools become more integrated and prevalent.

Production systems

For some businesses a big part of their IT environment is dominated by production related resources.  This is a critical yet specialized part of operations such as manufacturing and other process type industries.

Even in service industries like restaurants, health services, education and others this kind of infrastructure can become a big part of the operation. 

Where is support coming from?

Read More

Topics: IT network, IT support, it, IT connectivity

In House, Outsourced, Hosted, Cloud, Hybrid IT Systems

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Dec 5, 2018 @ 07:12 AM

At one time if a business wanted IT infrastructure it was a process of hiring expertise in house, figuring out what hardware and software was needed to be purchased, decide on a computing platform and then start building it.  The process challenged even the most knowledgeable businesses as the choices to be made and the risks were extremely varied and costly. 

It seemed that it was a never ending road of new purchases, tough deployment and constant training.  I can remember doing an implementation for a client when they were introducing their employees to using a windows based system for the first time )moving from an old green screen package) and they had to get their employees to do some playing with some games software so they could learn to use a mouse for navigation.

Today the options available for a business seem even more challenging as decisions are made on whether to build it themselves or hire out the process to an 'expert' that supports their kind of business.  The range of options are massive with the potential for a business to try to be almost hands off on their IT to being totally responsible and immersed.

While the dollars committed to IT systems continue to grow in businesses the needs for connected services, web support, online purchasing and online communication require an even bigger range of expertise.  Trying to acquire and pay for all of this talent in house has become almost impossible except for very large organizations.

So how well are the offerings available working out?

The story seems to be mixed if recent information is correct.

CanadianCIO Census 2018 reveals outsourcing disappointment is still commonplace

With AWS Outposts, even Amazon acknowledges it’s a hybrid cloud world

These two articles outline some of the thoughts regarding two of the most common ways that businesses have structured use of outside resources to accomplish some of their IT goals.  Reading them shows that all is not perfect and the vendors, even the big ones like Amazon, are finding the need to respond and to provide more options to meet the needs of clients.

As it as always been the world of IT systems support and design continues to challenge businesses as they try to use these systems to support their own goals and operations.  Outsourcing can work, but it can also leave managers wondering whether they have done it right.  In house seems fine but the need to constantly manage upgrades and software changes gets tiresome.  Hybrid models where some is done in house and some outside seem better often, but making sure that nothing falls into the cracks between is important.  

Read More

Topics: IT support, it, IT connectivity

Tech Industry Responses To Trump Travel Ban Shows Global Integration

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Feb 8, 2017 @ 07:02 AM

Whatever your political stripe the broad response of the Tech industry in Canada and the US to the immigration and travel ban proposed by the Trump administration shows graphically how broadly based the industry is when it looks for talent.

Read More

Topics: it, Canadian IT

269.7 Million PCs Means A 6.2 Percent Decline In Sales For 2016

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Jan 18, 2017 @ 08:01 AM

A recent Gartner report looking at the worldwide market for PCs in 2016 shows the fifth year in a row where sales have declined substantially.  In the report it sales that the 2016 level of sales equals that of 2007 almost a full decade ago. 

Read More

Topics: Computer, it

Bitcoins And IT Impacts

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Jun 8, 2016 @ 07:06 AM

Wouldn't it be nice to have the ability to create money?  Well in essence that is what happened back in 2008 when Bitcoins were invented.  

Satoshi Nakamoto is the name used by the inventor (or inventors perhaps) who created this online virtual currency.  For more of the story behind this event follow the link to the Wikipedia reference which outlines it in some detail.  

Read More

Topics: data security, it, bitcoin

Xerox Resets | Does New Structure Lead To Improved Focus

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Feb 3, 2016 @ 08:02 AM

In 2009 Xerox made a large acquisition to be able to move to penetrate the technology outsourcing business on the computer and systems side.  Understanding that much of the growth of business technology systems business required a congruence between the hardware and print business and the network business that was connecting all the devices the strategy was to get a foot in both camps.  

On January 29th Xerox announced it was splitting into two public companies, one focused on document technology (the 'old' print business) and one on business process outsourcing by the end of 2016.  The two companies will be independent with two CEOs, two boards and separate business operations.  It essentially says that the combined strategy has not worked and that a different structure is needed going forward.

It is very interesting to look at this announcement in light of the split that HP has also undergone.  In the HP situation the decision was to create two companies with different market targets based upon size and business type.  HP Inc. retains the personal computer and printer business while a newly formed Hewlett-Packard Enterprise would focus on the services, server and storage businesses primarily focused on larger enterprises.

Whereas HP defined the new roles by market segment primarily by size keeping services and hardware in both new entities, it appears that Xerox has decided to keep its traditional hardware business in one company and spin the technology services business of into a new entity.

Of course both strategies have merit depending upon the strengths of the originating operations and there are businesses that have successfully rebuilt themselves like this before.  One which comes to mind is IBM which has transformed into almost exclusively a services business after selling off its hardware operations to Lenovo, first on the PC side and then in a subsequent deal on the server side as well.

What a new Xerox will end up looking like is anyone s guess at this point.  Will the retrenching of the traditional document focused print side stay as is or will it be able to make changes to compete in an area of business that is very different than it was only ten years ago.  

Read More

Topics: Printer, office technology, it

2016 Hiring Challenge For IT In Canada

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Dec 16, 2015 @ 09:12 AM

Read More

Topics: Software, it, Canadian IT

New Government, New IT, Things To Consider

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Nov 25, 2015 @ 09:11 AM

The Canadian IT World

A little over a month ago Canada elected a new majority government.  To say it has a different view of the country and the issues being faced than the previous one would be an understatement.  Already we can see that in some ways it is going to fundamentally change the way the country operates.  Whether those changes are for good, bad or are just different will only be known as time passes.  

Read More

Topics: Canadian Legislation, it, Canadian IT

Good Practices From Highlights Of Canadian IT News

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Oct 28, 2015 @ 08:10 AM

Read More

Topics: it, Canadian IT