Are we too reliant on technology...?

A confession - I'm only writing this latest blog because my email server has crashed...again...and I got to thinking (yes I appreciate that sounds like something out of Sex & the City) about how much we rely on technology.

The answer is a lot - in fact that doesn't do it our level of reliance justice.  Imagine for a second that you have no email, no internet, no mobile phone - in fact no modern technology at all - all you have is a fax machine and landline telephone...would you be able to cope and more importantly provide the level of service your clients and business require?!

The simple answer for Connect is no.  Not because we are not able to speak by phone to people but the fact is that business today is designed to be run remotely, on the move and instantly - all these require modern technology.  You take it away and it's amazing how quickly simple business tasks become rocket science.  The above does not even mention the job that is a server not working...!

You take a server out of the equation and suddenly not only can you not email contacts but you can't access databases, work files and alike.  If you can't access databases then you can't get contact numbers (as you don't have a mobile phone) so you can't call people...sounds scary doesn't it?!  Ok, it's not quite that bad - most of us have folders with contracts in, which of course have the basic contact details...however there is this idea of a 'paperless' office seems to be gathering momentum - now how would that work if systems crashed?! 

So, that question again - are we too reliant on technology?  I tend to try and defend myself against the norm but I have to admit that at Connect we are probably too reliant on technology.  Given the industry we work in - events - we spend a lot of time working remotely and on the move, which is 100% reliant on the supporting technology working.  If our systems fail then suddenly everything we do is harder.  I'm 99.9% certain that we are not the only company that this applies to. 

Is being reliant on technology a bad thing?  Obviously if the technology crashes then yes but at the same time the service we offer is so flexible (and therefore essential) for clients because of technology.  If we removed the wireless connected iPads and laptops, remote servers, 24hour contact, etc then yes we would be able to work when all technology has crashed but for the other 364 days of the year when everything is working our service would be greatly reduced.

The fact is today's world love and embraces technology and we accept the issues that may arise as a result.  If the choice was given to us all to choose between what we have now or what we had 15 years ago I am convinced the vast majority would go for the former.

Right...let's see if I can actually get some work done now...server...nope still down...damn technology!!!