Fashionable Technology: Do More with What You Already Have

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of commercials featuring Tim Gunn, the steely-haired fashion guru generally beloved by my wife and reality-TV addicts across the globe.  I’ll be honest, I don’t follow his guidance, as anyone who follows me can attest. 

However, he’s come to my attention as the spokesman for Tide’s “Total Care” brand of detergents, a line of more expensive products that promises to keep your clothes looking newer longer.

I’ve noticed this marketing trend showing up everywhere: times are tough, money’s scarce, so instead of buying brand new stuff, spend a few extra dollars to take care of what you already own to make it better.

Sales of Tide are proving that the idea appeals to economizing families. The snowballing reduction in IT spending shows the idea has also occurred to businesses. Companies are concentrating on finding ways to make the most of the software they’ve got – attempting to make existing IT processes respond faster, cost less or provide agility to the business. 

That makes projects that accelerate and streamline existing systems particularly attractive. For example, instead of tearing out your existing help desk and change systems, use an Alert Management platform to make them faster. Instead of struggling to staff extensive monitoring systems, allow Alert Management’s Mobile Gateway aspect to mobilize your workforce. In a time when you’re probably stuck with the system you’ve got, anything that makes it function better should be looked into. As Tim Gunn would say, “make it work.”