When your business is in need of new technology, you need to create a proper plan for the integration of the new technology into your business, otherwise you could experience disastrous results.

So how do you go about creating a proper plan for new technology? There are several steps you can take when you plan to add and integrate new technology into your business.

1. Audit Your Existing Technology

Before you even purchase that first piece of new equipment, it's vital that you know what you already have in house. Some of your existing technology might not even need replacing and could be used with your new equipment very effectively.

2. Map Out Where You Want To Go

This is perhaps the most fun you will have in the planning phase. Identify what your goals are with the new technology for your business, and plan what equipment you need to purchase to accomplish those goals. This could be anything from new computers, mobile technology, back end systems and more.

3. Examine Your Budget

Sometimes we dream a little too big, but now that you know what you already have and what you want, you can make decisions about whether any of the new technology can be cut from your plan while still meeting the needs of your business.

4. Ensure Compatibility

Now that you have a list of technology you can realistically purchase and implement you need to do a little homework. Research the new technology and your existing technology to be sure they are compatible with each other. If you find they aren't, you might need to revisit step 3, to either cut out some new technology or replace equipment you planned to keep with yet more new stuff.

5. Inform Your Users

Users do not like surprises. So it's wise to prepare them for the upcoming technology investments so they are aware of what is happening every step of the way. That in particular means your staff and key suppliers and clients.

6. Plan The Implementation

Now that your users are aware of the upcoming upgrades and you know exactly what you are keeping and what you are replacing, it's time to map out exactly how you will implement the new technology.

There are many factors you need to take into consideration during this process. It's almost impossible to roll out everything all at once, so during technology upgrades you will most likely find yourself rolling out your new equipment in phases. For the rollout, you will need to map exactly what must be installed first and then map out how to upgrade all your users. When upgrading your users, it's critical that you plan it to maximize the up time of your users and ensure at least minimal compatibility with other users that have not yet been moved to the new technology.

7. Make Your Purchases and Begin Configuration

Now that you have a plan of your new technology roll out in place with all your users informed, it is time to order your new equipment and begin the configuration process. When you receive your new equipment, try to configure as much as you can before you begin rolling out any of the new technology. This will ensure that you are well versed in the new technology as well as make the switch much easier for both you are your staff and customers.

8. Plan For the Worst

Even though you have done all your homework and configured everything ahead of time, sometimes issues still arise that prevent you from making a smooth transition. Be prepared to deal with these problems should they arise and have a backup plan that you can fall back on in case of a big emergency.

Now that you have all your new technology configured and tested with your existing equipment, you can now begin your plan of implementation. If you have done all you can ahead of time, the actually roll out process should be relatively painless. Remember, you do have a backup plan in place in case everything doesn't proceed exactly as you hoped.

One of the biggest mistakes that people often make when implementing new technology is poor planning. The planning stage of your new technology should take as long, if not longer than, the implementation phase of your upgrades. Poor planning can lead to incompatibilities, extended downtime and can even cause you to go way over budget. Creating a proper plan will help you track the implementation of your new technology every step of the way so you can ensure a smooth transition with the maximum up time for your users while