What is Business Technology?

I am amazed when people talk about Business Technology but actually have no idea what they are talking about! They overuse the term to the point where it has lost it's meaning. So, let's break it down and try to understand it better.

According to the Wolfram Alpha knowledge engine "technology" is:

The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems; the practical application of science to commerce or industry

Therefore, in order to qualify as "technology", it must:

1. Have a basis in scientific knowledge
2. Solve or address a practical problem
3. Have a commercial or industrial application

Now, most technology consultants specialize in Information Technology. This is the discipline of storing, retrieving and transfering information. Technically speaking, paper and filing cabinets qualify as information technology. However, in modern times, information technology has come to exclusively refer to computers and telecommunications.

Business Technology, on the other hand, encompasses every technical tool your business relies on every day. Everything from telephone systems, to computers, copiers, Internet, printers, cell phones, electrical systems, climate control and even plumbing. It covers every last bit of technology that you need to run an effective business in the 21st Century.

A good business technology consultant knows how to work with many different engineering disciplines to identify the root causes of your problems. He knows how all these tools should interact to make your business run better. Instead of just treating the symptoms of your problems, a business technology consultant knows how to identify the real causes. This means once a problem is fixed, it stays fixed.

Sadly, there are many Information Technology practitioners that claim to be Business Technology consultants. Don't let them fool you! If they don't understand how building electrical systems work, or the importance of proper ventilation for equipment, then they're just computer techs trying to be clever. Business technology consulting is not a marketing tool but a valuable business professional that can help you achieve a real competitive advantage.

Find out more at R-Squared Computing's website.