There may come a time when you decide it’s time to expand your growing business to another location. How do you connect your locations together so you all share the same data? The answer is a server. A server is a computer that allows all your locations to connect and share the same files and information. So what kind of computer can become a server? You may be tempted to use one of the existing computers at your establishment thinking that a computer is a computer. However, to truly understand what you’re dealing with let’s pretend the computer is actually a sandwich.

A standard computer is designed for one person, much like a six-inch sub. You can eat that sub and feel pretty satisfied and able to get your work done without being hungry. Now imagine you wanted to share that sub with the two-other people in your household. Now this sub is feeding three people and is divided into 2-inch sections. You eat that tiny slice and it’s barely a snack. You slow down and become unreliable because you’re still hungry there aren’t enough resources to go around. In some cases, there are rules set in place by the sandwich’s creator that it can only be shared by one other person. That could put you in quite the pickle.

So, you need something better. You work together with your IT person to create a server that fits the size of your business. Now this server computer is like a 36-inch party sub. Everyone can take a slice and there’s more than enough to go around. Everyone can work productively because they have enough sandwich to eat and you don’t have to worry about running low on resources because party subs are designed to be shared.

Whether single location or multiple stores, it’s important to find the right tools to streamline your business. IT can get you part of the way there, and we’re here to help you with the rest.