| Many small businesses subsist on a small but | | | | His attempt to find an equivalent replacement |
| manageable profit margin. Most small businesses | | | | server only met with laughter from the local |
| are run by do-it-yourselfers. When there is such a | | | | computer shop. His inquiry as to whether his |
| fine line between profit and loss, most owners will | | | | backed up software and data could be loaded and |
| opt to rely on themselves rather than bring in | | | | run on a Windows network also met with |
| professional resources. Unless they know for a | | | | laughter, all the more when he disclosed that his |
| fact that a computer system vendor or | | | | backup was on 5.25 inch floppy disks. It ended up |
| consultant is reasonably priced, ethical, and capable | | | | that he spent an immense amount of time, not to |
| of remaining within the budget, they will opt to | | | | mention way too much money, on a new |
| assign a low priority to what may appear on the | | | | hardware platform, new software, and a |
| surface to be a non-critical consideration. | | | | computer technician to put it all together, train |
| Oftentimes, they will backburner a project that | | | | employees, and salvage data. Ouch! Big hit to the |
| doesn't need attention right this minute just to | | | | bottom line, and big hit to the customer base due |
| keep the daily work flow on track. This can | | | | to all the downtime. |
| become an issue when there is a need for a | | | | Ending #2: Several years earlier, when the |
| capital expenditure that was not carefully planned | | | | software vendor retired, he was kind enough to |
| for. It not only can dig significantly into the | | | | let the owner know that a system failure of aging |
| bottom line, it can disrupt the normal course of | | | | equipment could have devastating effects on |
| business. | | | | business. The owner wisely took this to heart. He |
| Let's take for example a make-believe business. I'll | | | | and his employees began to review |
| call it "A+ Clown Store". The A+ Clown Store is a | | | | demonstrations and talk to other retail owners |
| retail store that has been in business for thirty | | | | about available point-of-sale and inventory control |
| years. They pride themselves on customer | | | | software, and identified the most suitable |
| service, and have a loyal customer base because | | | | replacement software for the future. He hired a |
| of their consistent ability to provide product | | | | recommended computer consultant to provide |
| rapidly. This trait has enabled them to continue to | | | | him with a plan. Since the owner had no desire to |
| be competitive, even though they do not have a | | | | make any major changes while everything was |
| website. They market to existing and potential | | | | going so smoothly, the consultant recommended |
| clients through mail campaigns. | | | | a hardware backup device that could interface |
| They have one server and two workstations that | | | | with the old hardware, as well as with current |
| are networked together that they purchased | | | | hardware technologies. It would be used for a |
| used fifteen years ago. The software is a DOS | | | | data only backup, since the owner was aware |
| based point-of-sale and inventory control system. | | | | that once there was any system failure, the old |
| They have an aging impact printer that is used | | | | software would be unusable, but the ability to |
| for multi-part invoices and packing slips. They | | | | convert the data to a new software application |
| have a fairly new laserjet printer used for letters | | | | would be critical. The plan also provided a method |
| and flyers. Everything works. However, the | | | | of implementing a new hardware network, loading |
| software vendor retired several years ago, so no | | | | new software, and converting existing data in a |
| software support. But that's okay, right? | | | | timely and efficient manner. Given a reasonable |
| Everything works. The owner knows enough to | | | | estimate, the owner increased his monthly feed |
| occasionally clear unused files from the hard drive, | | | | to his capital expenditures account. He also |
| run defrag and diagnostic utilities, and backup. | | | | devised a down-time plan describing how his |
| The problem is that eventually hardware | | | | business would operate manually in the transition |
| components fail. One grim day, the trusty old | | | | period. So when that fateful day finally arrived, he |
| DOS based server powers down for the last | | | | was ready! Small hit to the bottom line, and no hit |
| time. Let me present to you two possible endings | | | | to the customer base. |
| to this unlucky event. | | | | The moral of this story is "if it ain't broke, don't |
| Ending #1: The owner knew, deep in the back of | | | | fix it". However, do maintain it, do upgrade as |
| his mind, that this might happen someday. | | | | possible, do have an action plan, and do have |
| However, his luck had held out so far, and he | | | | funds stashed away. Do not get caught |
| didn't consciously consider that it might one day | | | | unprepared. I assure you that this will help keep |
| change. He did not have a plan in place, even | | | | your profit margin intact, and your customer base |
| though his old software vendor has warned him. | | | | satisfied. |