Business First of Columbus:

lebexab.wordpress.com
Picking the right provider of those services is easiert andmore problem-free with carefu l research. Many companies turn to consultants for exper adviceand guidance. A consultant is able to independentlyt evaluate the many addressing such issues as the effects of rapidlyuchanging technology, installation of all products and how to make sure the companuy can utilize the full capabilities of the technologyt it purchases. As a "people no longer look for hardwar eand software; they look for solutions. Consultants are the glue that integratesa technology and give the computetr user the benefits of thetechnology they'vw purchased," according to the Independent Computerf Consultants Association.
The failure or succesw of any particular system is often more related to the huma element than to the actualequipmenf components, said Steven Epner, founder and past presidengt of the association, a St. Louis-based trade group that representes the interests ofmember firms, maintainx ethical conduct standards for the profession and offerws a consultant search feature on its Web www.icca.org. "There are mediocrew systems that succeed and excellent systemsthat fail," Epner said. It's important to remember that hardware and networking systems arecomplezx and, as a result, there are no perfecft answers as to what to pick.
There are also many partse to the process, so companies may need assistance with employeer training and other needs beyond theinitiall purchase. "It helps to make sure that as larged a group as possible has inputf into theselection process," Epner If one individual makes the that person is on the hook if the outcome is less than Independent computer consults have one to help a client companyh narrow the possible choices to the point that any of the top pickx will help the compang succeed in its mission, Epner said. It's also importantf for the company to act on a decision in atimelhy manner.
"Any decision process that is more than six month s in length will probably be because things arechanging rapidly," Epner said. The changse is occurring not just in hardware ornetworking products, but also in the distributiomn and manufacturing processes of that equipment. "It's importanr to compare major vendorsand distributors," he said. On the software other factors come into play when making a decisiojn about which productsto use. Softwar e piracy is a growing proble m and tools are now available for tracking and combating according to the Software InformationIndustry Association, a trade associatioj based in Washington, D.C.
, that urgese companies to make sure they have enough softwaree licenses to cover the number of softwarre programs installed on company computers. The groupo handles issues related to code and content in the industry and has conductes a successfulcorporate anti-piracy program for its softwarew company members for nearly 20 Companies should always go with reputable vendorz with choosing computer softwarse and hardware. Not doing so can prove "If you go on the Internegt and look for agood deal, you mighgt find one that appears to be too good to be true," said John director of Internet enforcement for the Businesa Software Alliance, a Washington, D.C.
-based organizatiobn that represents the interests of the commercial softwaree industry and the hardwar companies that partner with The group also promotes copyright protection, cybed security and other related issues. When purchasing companies should be mindful ofseveral points, Wolfe said. The company should know the sources of the software and who will stansdbehind it. Software sold without the proper labelingh and packaging also will lack the codes needed to activatr it or to access technical supportt afterthe sale, he added.
Choosing a reputable software vendoe will help the company assure that thesoftware doesn't come with potential problems such as viruses and "It can be a real risk, " Wolfe said, adding that a company chief executives officer may not be fullh aware of the risks that come with such a decision, but ofte a quick consultation with an internal information technology department or a consultant will turn up some strongb cautionary advice. A bad decision has several possible Wolfe said. The software may not work correctlty and the problem may notbe fixable. In some the company's only long-term solution may be costlyg as the company may be forced to buyreplacementy software.