Technology Assessment

There are a number of events that may cause you to consider a technology refresh, including lease expiration, software compliance audits, cost-reduction initiatives, regulatory requirements, or simply an outdated fleet that requires constant maintenance.

Prior to jumping in and purchasing the latest computer models and software versions of your current fleet, it is important to take a step back, assess your current technology situation and discover how it can be improved.

Defining End Users

At MCPc, we believe any technology assessment must start by evaluating your end users. Working closely with management and IT, we segment end users based on their job descriptions and technology needs. Some common segments include:

• Executives
• Road Warriors
• Heavy Users
• Remote Office Workers
• Designers
• Software Development

We ask a number of probing questions to guarantee the right technology goes to the right users at the right time. For example, what do their job duties require of their technology? What types of systems are necessary to optimize their performance? Is a manufacturer’s warranty adequate or should an extended warranty be considered?

At this point, we begin planning specific software profiles or images for end users. We look at core and departmental applications that must be included, identify those software programs your organization prefers employees use, and even drill down to discover which programs individuals favor.

Evaluating Available Technology and Planning

Next, we look at the current state of your entire technology fleet. In doing so, we identify what hardware or software is near the end of its life, what type of data disposal is required, what software licenses can be harvested and what equipment can be repurposed or sold.

We then survey our vendors to assess any new technology product rollouts planned over the upcoming months. For example, at times it will benefit your organization to hold off on purchasing new units or applications because an upgraded version will be available in three months, or a certain operating system will stop being supported the middle of next year.

Documenting Findings and Establishing a Project Roadmap

At the end of this initial stage of the technology refresh process, we provide you with a thorough report outlining all of our findings, including:

• End user segments with descriptions and technology needs
• Evaluation of your current technology fleet
• Future technology considerations

This report is included in the original scope of work developed at the onset of the project, and guides the remaining steps, including procurement, imaging and staging, deployment and end-of-life management.