As your startup grows, there’s a good chance you’ll need to change up your technology and implement new tools. Technology can help you save time, get organized and streamline operations, but it can also help to facilitate further growth.

When it comes to buying new technology, it’s important to not only think about what tech to choose but how you’ll roll it out and get your team on board with a new system or process.

In this article, we’ll detail the steps you should take, from strategic thinking and team feedback to research and testing.

Think strategically about your business needs

The first step is to introduce new technology slowly but surely. This might sound obvious, but it’s all too common for founders to skip the strategic thinking phase and dive right into testing. 

It’s likely that you’ve got a long list of technologies you’d love to try, but it’s important to figure out what the top priority is for your startup and work from there.

Start by identifying your most pressing business challenges, both from an internal and customer-facing perspective. Do you spend too much time on admin or struggle to get a real-time overview of your cash flow? Are roadblocks in the buying journey dissuading customers from making a purchase?

Once you’ve highlighted the main challenges, you can then go on to research technology that will help to solve these issues.

Want to learn more about how IT leaders are addressing the top business challenges of today? Dell’s Tech Talk webinar series shares insights from leading experts on how to overcome these challenges – catch up with episodes here.

Communicate with your team

You might have one idea of what new technology your business needs, but your team might have a completely different opinion. It’s vital to involve them early on in the process and find out what they think should be improved in the business.

Involving employees will give you a more holistic view of your business and where any inefficiencies or bottlenecks are. As a founder, you might think you know your startup’s needs inside out, but your employees will usually be the ones interacting with customers and using your existing technology on a daily basis.

Make sure you seek out everyone’s opinions and take their feedback seriously. It’s important to get them on board with any new technology investment to help streamline the implementation later. 

If you’re a solo female founder and don’t have employees, that doesn’t mean you can’t seek out other opinions. Reaching out to peers who are at a similar stage is a useful way to find out which tools they’re using to solve similar challenges and what they’d recommend. 

You can also connect with mentors or experienced tech advisors for an expert opinion. To get advice tailored specifically to your business, book a call with a Dell Startup Tech Advisor.

Do your research

Once you’ve decided what type of technology you want to implement in your business, you’ll need to research the various options available. 

Some things to consider include:

• Is the new technology affordable? Make sure you balance the upfront costs with the long-term return on investment.
• Can it grow with your business? It’s better to choose a slightly more powerful laptop or software program than what you need right now, rather than buying technology that you outgrow in a few months’ time.
  
• Does the company offer good customer support services? Check their contact hours and know how you’ll reach them if there’s a problem.
• How easy is it to use? Look for something that’s user friendly and can integrate into your business seamlessly.
• Will it help to solve multiple challenges? Explore the capabilities of new technology and think about different processes it could positively impact. The potential time and cost savings could help you justify something more advanced. 

Try before you buy

Most technology tools out there offer free trials, so that new customers can try out the product before making a purchase or paying for an annual subscription. 

Testing out the tool can give you an idea of its functionality and whether it’s something that works for your specific business. During the trial, you should also involve relevant members of your team, especially if they’re likely to be using it frequently. 

Don’t forget to set aside time in your calendar to test out the tool. There’s nothing worse than signing up to a free trial that expires before you’ve had a chance to give it a try. Make sure you also remember to cancel after the trial period to avoid any unwanted charges.

Provide training for your team

Once you’ve chosen your new technology, it’s time to roll it out to your business. Schedule plenty of time to integrate it with your other technology and processes, and train your team on how to use it effectively.

Don’t forget to keep a line of communication open between you and your team, especially in the first couple of weeks. Changing a process and using new technology can be stressful, and you may find that some team members are embarrassed to speak up if they don’t understand it. 

Give employees an outlet to share any questions and, if in doubt, it’s always better to offer more training than what’s really needed. This will help you sort out any teething issues quickly, so that you can continue working as seamlessly as possible.

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Connect with other entrepreneurs

Introducing new tech into your business can be stressful, so it’s valuable to have a network of entrepreneurs who can advise and guide you.

The Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) brings women entrepreneurs together from all around the world to help them connect with each other, scale their businesses and ultimately succeed. 

As a member of the DWEN community, you’ll be able to access tailored content and technology resources, as well as experienced mentors to support you on your journey. Find out more here.