10 IT Cost Optimization Techniques for Small Businesses

What is one IT cost optimization technique that a small business can use to help manage or reduce their IT expenses?

To help small businesses optimize their IT cost, we asked small business owners and tech professionals this question for their best techniques. From outsourcing IT services to utilizing open source software, there are several insights that may help you manage or reduce your IT expenses for years to come.

Here are ten techniques for IT cost optimization:

  • Automate Business Processes
  • Adopt Low-Code Automation
  • Outsource IT Services
  • Optimize Your Existing Workforce
  • Pay Annually Versus Monthly
  • Prolong Server Life
  • Utilize Open Source Software
  • Start With Email Addresses
  • Move to the Cloud
  • Analyze Technology Integration

Automate Business Processes

The place that some people might not think to look at when it comes to optimizing or reducing IT cost is at the business processes. There are undoubtedly some tasks that are repetitive and inefficient for a person to continually do. Looking into automation of those processes can help reduce costs. Start small by looking into chatbots. They can handle some of the FAQ stuff, but also direct a customer to a human if the question is more complicated. According to Deloitte’s Global RPA Survey, ROI was seen in about 12 months and there was a cost reduction.

Randall Smalley, Cruise America

Adopt Low-Code Automation

Business leaders should consider adopting a low-code development platform, such as ours. We provide outcomes that optimize business processes with solid business and IT structures. Our low-code automation platform enables our clients with significant cost-savings and increased productivity. With unlimited customization and integration, we have IT solutions that not only address an organization’s needs holistically but also have the benefit of cost reduction.

Spiros Skolarikis, Comidor

Outsource IT Services

Many small companies do not need to hire full-time IT staff. Having a good contractor will be enough to run most smaller businesses, unless you are in the IT industry. Those contractors often can get discounts on hardware and have enterprise licenses for many software types (i.e. antivirus). In my opinion, this will surely reduce IT expenses and increase security.

Maximilian zur Muehlen, CustomPlasticPart

Optimize Your Existing Workforce

Use workforce management application capabilities, like automation of manager experience or virtual assistants for routine and common tasks to reduce staffing costs. Implement bots to augment the capabilities of human workers and enable a more productive work environment.

Heloise Blause, Home Kitchen Land

Pay Annually versus Monthly

Many tech providers offer a hefty discount for annual payments. If a business is certain that they’ll rely on the technology for the next year, sometimes it may make sense to prepay the annual amount to receive a discount. Twenty percent of four or five figures can add up, especially if there’s a level of certainty that nothing will change with the tech stack.

Brett Farmiloe, Markitors

Prolong Server Life

One thing you can do to optimize your IT environment is prolong the life of your servers. Instead of refreshing your servers every 3 years, you can extend the warranties on these servers, upgrade the memory, and use them for another 2 years. This will help reduce capital expenditures and optimize your IT expenses.

Chris Gadek, AdQuick

Utilize Open Source Software

I highly recommend using open-source software. Not only does this software give you more freedom to make modifications but it’s way less expensive. There’s no annual maintenance cost because you have the power to control when and how often to maintain the software. Your business won’t be tied to the software provider for help so there are options for assistance. The ball is in your court when using open-source.

Brandon Brown, Grin

Start With Email Addresses

If you are a small business owner and are looking for ways to save money on your IT spend, you should look into consolidating your two or three email accounts into one. This is the first step in reducing your communication overhead by eliminating the need to log into multiple inboxes. Additionally, this will help reduce the amount of email that comes across your desk as well as creating an easier way for you to keep track of all emails coming in from different sources.

Adam Garcia, The Stock Dork

Move to the Cloud

Moving to cloud based applications has saved us on the costs associated with having our own physical systems. It has streamlined our processes, increased our security, and made our applications easily accessible from anywhere. Another big benefit has been the elimination of application down time when having hardware problems or updating systems.

Keesjan Engelen, Titoma

Featured IT Asset Management Software

1 Zoho Assist

Visit website

Zoho Assist empowers technicians to manage IT assets effortlessly. Automate administrative tasks via script or batch files, control the running status of a program, and view and manage hardware drivers, software, users, groups, and printers, with features like command prompt, task manager, and device manager.

Learn more about Zoho Assist

2 SuperOps.com RMM

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SuperOps.ai stands as a game-changing IT Asset Management software, seamlessly integrating automation for software and Windows management through intelligent policies. Its unique feature lies in built-in asset management within the ticketing and helpdesk system, ensuring a holistic approach.

Elevate your asset management strategy with SuperOps.ai and experience streamlined operations, proactive compliance, and unmatched efficiency.




Learn more about SuperOps.com RMM

3 Motadata ServiceOps

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Motadata ServiceOps is an ITIL compliant IT Service Management platform built on DFIT (Deep Learning Framework for IT Operation). It is an AI-enabled platform that empowers IT organizations to rapidly adopt changes across People, Processes, and Technology to significantly improve service delivery in the era of digital transformation. Motadata ServiceOps, a unified platform, includes PinkVerify certified Service Desk, Asset Manager, and Patch Manager.

Learn more about Motadata ServiceOps

Analyze Technology Integrations

Many technologies and types of enterprise software integrate well with their approved third party programmes. Although it’s not always possible to predict the exact tech stack, making a reasonable effort in that direction can pay off tremendously. Prioritizing the company needs backed up by objective analysis can help make conscious choices instead of relying on the personal leanings of the decision-makers or employees.

Michael Sena, Senacea

Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published. 

Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing addresses the technology needs of small businesses, which are defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees and/or less than $7 million in annual sales.

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