There's something impressive about the way families prepare for a new school year.
Backpacks get packed. Supplies get purchased. Schedules get adjusted. Transportation gets figured out. And somehow, after the change of pace that comes with summer, everyone gets back into a routine.
Businesses go through a similar transition this time of year.
Summer vacations are winding down, employees are getting back into their normal schedules, and suddenly there's only one quarter left before the end of the year.
That makes September a good time to look around and ask: Are we ready for the rest of the year?
You don't need an elaborate planning process to answer that question. A simple checklist can help you identify a few things worth addressing while there's still plenty of time to do something about them.
Review Your Q4 Priorities
Start with the business, not the technology. What does your company need to accomplish before the end of the year?
Maybe there's a revenue goal you're working toward, a major customer commitment, a project that needs to be completed or something you've been planning to implement before January.
Then ask another question:
Does everyone who needs to know understand those priorities?
It's easy to assume we're all on the same page, especially in a smaller business where people work closely together. But priorities change throughout the year.
A short conversation now can make sure everyone understands what matters most heading into the final few months.
Take a Look at Your Technology Budget
Once you know where the business is headed, take a look at what your technology will need to support it.
- Are there computers that should be replaced?
- Software licenses or warranties coming up for renewal?
- A project you've budgeted for but haven't started?
- Security, backup or compliance improvements you've been meaning to address?
None of those automatically means you need to spend money right now. The point is simply to know what's coming. Most businesses would rather plan for a technology expense than discover it unexpectedly when they're trying to finish the year strong.
This is also a good time to start thinking about next year's technology budget. If you're already beginning your 2027 planning, understanding what needs attention can help you make better decisions about where technology dollars should go.
Make Sure Your Team Is Ready
Summer has a way of changing things. People take vacations. New employees arrive. Responsibilities shift. Someone figures out a better way to handle a process, but nobody ever writes it down.
By September, the organizational chart may look exactly the same while the way work actually gets done has changed.
Take a few minutes to ask:
- Do new employees have everything they need?
- Are responsibilities still clear?
- Have important processes changed?
- Is there anything one employee knows how to do that someone else should probably learn?
- And if something unexpected interrupted the business, would everyone know who to contact and what to do?
These aren't necessarily technology questions. They're business continuity questions, and technology is often only one part of the answer.
Clean Up a Few of the Little Things
Every business has them.
- The old employee account that was supposed to be removed.
- The computer that's been acting strangely for six months.
- The process everyone agrees needs to be documented.
- The software nobody is quite sure whether they're still paying for.
- The project that keeps getting moved to "next month."
Individually, none of these may seem particularly important. But September is a good time to knock a few of them off the list before everyone's attention turns toward year-end priorities.
You don't have to fix everything. Pick two or three things that have been hanging around longer than they should and get them handled.
Sometimes that little bit of housekeeping makes a bigger difference than starting another major project.
Ask One Preparedness Question
September is National Preparedness Month, so there's one more question worth adding to the checklist:
If something unexpected disrupted our business tomorrow, would our team know what to do?
You don't have to imagine the worst-case scenario.
It could be an internet outage. A power problem. A software platform that's unavailable. A failed computer. A key employee who unexpectedly can't come to work.
Would people know how to respond? If the answer is yes, that's great.
If the question produces a few "I'm not sure" answers, you've identified something worth discussing. That's exactly what preparedness is supposed to do: help you find the questions while you have time to answer them.
Have a Business Conversation With Your IT Partner
September is also a good time to talk with your IT provider about something other than an open support ticket.
Tell them what the business is trying to accomplish during Q4.
Ask what's coming up with your technology.
Talk about equipment that may need replacing, projects you're considering, security or compliance requirements, and anything that should be included in next year's budget.
And ask whether your backup and recovery plans still match the way your business operates today.
A good IT relationship shouldn't only be about calling someone when something breaks.
Your IT partner should understand where your business is going well enough to help you make thoughtful technology decisions along the way.
That's the relationship we try to build with our clients at Literati IT.
Before the Bell Rings
You don't need to spend September preparing for everything that could possibly happen. Think of it the same way you would getting ready for a new school year.
Check the important things. Make sure everyone knows what's expected. Take care of a few things you've been putting off. And make a plan for what's coming next.
For businesses throughout Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg and North Central West Virginia, September is a natural opportunity to do exactly that before the final quarter of the year gets underway.
And if technology is one of the items on your checklist, we're happy to help you sort through it. Feel free to give us a call at 304-296-8026.
No pressure. No technical jargon. Just a practical conversation about where your business is headed and whether your technology is ready to support it.
