Being a small business owner in NSW, you’ll agree that growth is intricately tied to technology’s reliability. Any form of downtime due to a technological hitch, such as a minor misconfiguration or a full-scale system failure, can seriously impact our business operations. Downtime affects productivity and, in extreme situations, can result in a complete business shutdown.
So, how do you protect your business and minimise downtime?
The True Cost of Business Downtime
When your business operations stop, so does productivity. To understand the real cost of downtime for your business, you need to consider the number of affected staff members, the impact on productivity, the duration of the downtime, and the cost per employee per hour.
But there’s more. We must not disregard the hidden cost – the potential revenue that your business could lose due to downtime. For instance, if your IT system fails, the negative effects could ripple to create discontent among customers, resulting in a potential loss of future sales.
Preventative Measures to Minimise Downtime
Understanding the cause of downtime is the first step towards finding a solution. Common culprits can be software and hardware failure, weather events, human error, and power interruptions.
Regular Software Updates
Often, software poses a reinstated threat to business operations. However, this is typically an uncomplicated fix. Keep your software up-to-date to ensure optimal performance and reduce the risk of system failures. Cyber threats can expose older systems not equipped to withstand them, so it’s always a good idea to periodically review your software and keep it current.
Hardware Replacement and Maintenance
Hardware hiccups are another common culprit. In a manufacturing context, machinery can bring your operations to a standstill if it fails. Regular preventative maintenance can pre-emptively address issues before they cause a significant outage. Implementing a robust monitoring process is another step to stay ahead.
Focus on Staff Training
Human error is inevitable, but adequate training can substantially reduce its occurrence and impact on downtime. Moreover, potential issues can be significantly reduced when all employees are correctly trained to use technology and software relevant to their roles.
Minimise Downtime, Maximise Productivity
In an era of tech-reliance, safeguarding your business operations from downtime is critical. Recognising the potential causes and implementing preventative measures like regular software updates, scheduled hardware maintenance, and comprehensive staff training can actively reduce the risk and impact of downtime.
