Novelty is a very common theme in the world of computers and technology in general. Companies and developers seem to always be working on something new that will make the user experience better and some are lucky enough to stumble upon innovations that change the way they do business on a massive scale. One such change that is hoping to do the latter is Microsoft and its introduction of Windows 8. Microsoft scored some victories with Windows 7 and now, they are looking to make their operation system the standard, from your desktop computer to your tablet. One way to look at it could be a much-needed simplification for businesses, giving their IT departments much less to worry about. While there are chances of getting a return on investment and improving business processes, there are other things to think about. If you are thinking of making the change to Windows 8, here are a few things to take into consideration.
Is it a worthwhile investment?
If you have made your assessments and determined that moving to Windows 8 is not only feasible but beneficial as well, you will have to think of what it will take to make the move. Make sure to employ a broad perspective as it may require the company to get rid of old computers to accommodate the new operating system.
Will it improve performance?
If employees have to deal with only one interface for most everything they operate at work, this will drastically reduce the learning curve and give them time to work on more lucrative tasks. This may lead to increased productivity thanks to the time saved, as well as lowered costs for idle time and training.
Is it compatible with your applications?
This is clearly a big factor when it comes to making the decision of whether or not you should migrate to Windows 8. If it is not compatible with your applications, that will cause you a lot of grief in terms of updating or replacing a lot of things. The better choice would be to stay with your current operating system. However, if you are determined to make a change, you can use the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to determine if each and every single one of your applications is compatible.
Does your company use social media heavily?
Windows 8 was created around the idea of collaboration and interaction, so if your business relies on social media, Windows 8 may prove to be a great operating system for your company.
Does your business use Microsoft Office?
Some businesses may use the free alternatives to Office, such as OpenOffice or Lotus Symphony but Microsoft owes a large chunk of its market share to Microsoft Office. Fortunately, most versions of Microsoft Office are still compatible with Windows 8 even though they are the more recent ones. Since the platform is supposed to be uniform on all devices, you might want to consider getting Microsoft’s answer to the iPad which is called Surface. It has Office already loaded into it, giving it an edge over the iPad when used for business purposes.
