Don’t Get Sacked by Technology Planning: Your 2025 Playbook Needs to Start Now

Just like a skilled football player,  business leaders need to read the field and do their technology planning to avoid getting blindsided. While everyone’s focused on the fourth-quarter push to close out 2024, the most successful teams are already drawing up their playbook for 2025. At Trust Technology Consultants, we’ve been huddling with our clients about next year’s tech strategy, and let me tell you – waiting until the two-minute warning won’t cut it anymore.

The Hidden Urgency of Technology Planning

If you think technology planning can wait, consider this: We recently worked with a client who lost months of productivity waiting for a simple internet connection permit. What seemed like a straightforward upgrade turned into a slow dance between municipal authorities and railroad companies. Waiting for approval isn’t an isolated incident – it’s becoming the norm. The gap between planning and implementation can keep you from scoring big! Don’t let that happen to you! Review the Trust Technology Game Plan now:

Your Defensive Line: Cybersecurity Insurance

Just as no quarterback would step onto the field without protection, no business should operate without proper cybersecurity coverage. Yet many organizations are running plays with dangerous gaps in their defense.

Key defensive formations to master:

  1. Cybersecurity Insurance
    • Review your current policies with forensic attention to detail
    • Don’t assume your general liability policy covers cyber incidents (many don’t anymore)
    • Start these conversations early – they’re complex and time-consuming
    • Remember: not all cybersecurity insurance providers offer the same coverage

The stakes? A single security breach without proper coverage could cost you the game – and your business.

Your Offensive Line: Connectivity and Infrastructure

Think of your connectivity infrastructure as your offensive line. Without it, even the best business strategy can’t move forward. In today’s digital arena, a single point of failure isn’t just risky – it’s reckless.

  1. Connectivity and Infrastructure
    • Evaluate the need for secondary internet connections
    • Consider SD-WAN solutions for multi-location businesses
    • Account for potential installation delays and permit requirements
    • Plan for future remote work capabilities

Remember: Your infrastructure isn’t just about keeping the lights on – it’s about enabling your entire team to perform at their peak.

Your Playbook: Contract Management

Here’s where many businesses get tackled for a loss: contract management. We recently watched a company take a six-figure hit because they missed an auto-renewal window. Don’t let your contract oversight turn into a costly penalty.

  1. Make sure you know these Contract Management Essentials:
    • Auto-renewal terms (30, 60, or 90-day notice periods)
    • Contract length and renewal periods
    • Price increase provisions
    • Evergreen agreement terms

Training for Tomorrow: Future-Proofing Your Team

Business is evolving, and yesterday’s playbook won’t win tomorrow’s championship. Prepare now for the next generation of business technology, and remember that investing in the latest tools and solutions is the first step. Be sure to plan for team training also! Effective use of the tools can make or break the success of your innovative technology plans.

  1. New Technology to Consider:
    • EV charging stations for employees and customers
    • Innovative office technology for energy efficiency
    • AI integration (like Microsoft Copilot)
    • Modern UCaaS solutions

Learning from Past Seasons

The 2020 season taught us all about improvisation – those ‘bubble gum and duct tape’ solutions got us through, but they were never meant to be permanent. Now is the time to replace those emergency plays with a solid, championship-caliber strategy. Let’s learn from our past experiences and use them to build a better future.

Your Winning Strategy Starts Now

Why make your move before the new year?

  • Beat the January Rush: Lead the pack while others are still in pre-season
  • Smart Budgeting: Give yourself time to allocate resources strategically
  • Strategic Implementation: Make decisions based on strategy, not urgency
  • Priority Support: Get vendor attention before their busy season

Time to Execute

At Trust Technology Consultants, we’re ready to partner with you for a winning technology strategy.

Contact us to:

  • Review your current technology infrastructure
  • Identify potential gaps and opportunities
  • Create a strategic roadmap for 2025
  • Navigate vendor selection and implementation

To learn more about technology planning, watch this Trust Tech Chat.