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A Principle Centered Approach To Technology
May 6, 2008
We get calls all the time from people wanting merely to “replace” their existing technology. This most often happens when there is equipment that has gone “out of service”–a fancy way of saying there are few parts available for it.
Recently, I was asked by a prospect about our approach to this and we talked about 3 principles that govern any recommendation we make.
1. Complete and Utter Analysis. We have something we call SPA, Systems and Procedures Audit. It’s a way for us to be “on target” with what we recommend. In other words, we want to make darn sure we’re solving the right problem. If you’re merely looking to replace what you have, you may be solving yesterdays’ problems and not preparing yourself for tomorrow’s.
2. Business Application. Part of this Audit is to understand the business drivers. Yes, we will want to know more than ‘how you answer your phone.’ We’ll want to know your plans for growing your business. It used to be that technology was a convenience–now it can be a “competitive advantage.” So for us NOT to ask those questions could rob you of future market advantage.
3. ROI. As far as we’re concerned there needs to be a financial ROI on your investment. If there isn’t, then you shouldn’t spend any money. This ROI is divided into Hard Costs and Soft Costs. Hard Costs are easy. But Soft Costs is where the real financial windfall comes. We will ask you many questions so that our recommendation makes financial sense for you.
Do other companies do this as well? Of course. But if you’d like to see our SPA (audit) then call us and let us know if you want to go through it.
Pete DiPaola is the Chief Executive Officer of G3 Technology Partners and a contributor to this site. He can be reached at pete.dipaola@g3tp.com
Tech Tips Coming Soon!
May 3, 2008
Stay tuned for ‘G3 Tech Tips’ which will offer you useful tips, tricks, and how-to’s related to better managing specific applications and technology products. Our project managers, engineers, and technical support personal possess a wealth of knowledge that we’d like to share so you can make the most effective use of your time, resources, and technology.
If you’d like to request a specific topic or technology to be addressed, leave a comment to this posting and we will work on developing a post targeted toward your interest!
Change Management. A Big Deal In Implementing Technology
May 2, 2008
In the following audio podcast, Ray Hoffman, G3 VP Operations, discusses change management throughout a technology journey. He says there are four things you really need to think through: “What is your vision?” “Do I have the right people in place?” “Are they going to help me get my business where it needs to be?” And “How much change can your organization withstand?”
- How to know when there is too much change
- Get acceptance from user community prior to going to phases two and three
- Technology is never ending - there will always be additions
- Must have a change control process - more important now due to many converging forces
- Why people want to fight change - negative energy
- With implementation of technology, there will be some level of temporary productivity loss for a few weeks.
Other Areas
- Senior management must have buy in and “believe” that there is an ROI
Make sure you have the right people in place - understand the “vision.”
Select correct technology, and the right partner, so you can quickly get to productivity gains - How we used to sell technology - strictly phones. Today, this is not so.
Now, we find we deal with C-level execs on health of business, marketing and sales department heads, inventory control people, IT, database people. Each one must be committed to change.
Technology today is about interaction - not telephones. The question is, “How do your customers want information so they may utilize it best?”
Ray Hoffman is the Chief Operations Officer of G3 Technology Partners and a contributor to this site. He can be reached at ray.hoffman@g3tp.com
Increasing Billable Hours By Better Tracking. How One Law Firm Increased Revenue.
April 29, 2008
To a legal firm, communications with clients mean billable hours. Tracking every phone call, voice mail, e-mail and fax that crosses a desk generates potential revenue. Optimizing your invoices to clients, however, requires managing each type of communications media accordingly.
1 Tracking
Most law firms look for the tools to supply cutting-edge connectivity between their attorneys and clients and can overlook the lost billable hours they spend with each interaction.
Your ability to accurately capture the quantity of your billable time directly affects the total amount of time you spend working. Your ability to accurately describe the quality of your billable time will allow your firm to craft timely, persuasive bills that stand the best chance of achieving every lawyer’s ultimate goal in every billable matter through each interaction, phone, fax, web, and wireless mobility.
We’ve helped numerous law firms overcome this by providing the tools to track all interaction through technology.
Technology has evolved during the last decade into dynamic business ventures designed to meet today’s fast-paced business environment. Key to this change has been the effective use of technology in providing our clients with additional value.
2 Disaster Recovery
Your Disaster Recovery Plan is the most important item in your business portfolio. It is what you will turn to if there is indeed a disaster or other serious incident.
Having a back-up communication platform will allow you to continue serving your clients. With most Law Firms communication is the core of their business. Hopefully, you will never have to use it, but if you do, it can be the difference between the loss of your organization and its survival. It is therefore absolutely critical that it is workable. How you continue to operate day to day will help guide you through the crisis.
That’s what we do at G3 — help you plan a communication platform that will provide the communication interaction you will need during a disaster.
3 Attorneys Well-Connected With Clients
Your law firm could be using state-of-the-art technology to promote collaboration between your clients and attorneys. Not only will you be delivering outstanding customer service, but you will be better able to bill appropriately. Your Clients benefit in many ways, including efficiencies in attorney and staff productivity.
Pam Ottinger is a specialist with G3 Technology Partners and a contributor to the blog. She can be reached at pam.ottinger@g3tp.com
Technology as a Business Strategy
April 24, 2008
When you think of business strategy, you think competitive advantage, or pricing, or promotion. But what if Technology could actually give you an advantage in growing your business?
When we talk with business owners/presidents/leaders, we ask the very simple question:
“Based on what you want to accomplish over the next few years, what are some of the strategies you will engage in to get to that vision.”
What we are looking for is how technology can actually help quicken the process from your Current Reality to your Future Reality.
One company we know told us their vision was to be the largest producer of their product in the state. In order to get there, they had to invest in infrastructure so they could grow quickly.
Fortunately for them, there were distinct advantages that technology could bring them–one of which actually helped them bring more customers - which was part of their goal.
Your business strategy can include many things–but technology just might be something that can touch other elements of strategy. Thus, it makes your path to your vision quicker and more efficient. G3 is committed to understanding what’s most important to your business and takes a future oriented approach to reaching your objectives. The bridge below helps illustrate this ideology.
Of course your objectives may differ from those in the model and that is where we can help. G3 adapts to your situation to provide you with the most ideal technology solution to realize your vision effectively.