New technological achievements in your organization could work either against or for you. Can you increase your company’s profitability by hiring an external IT firm?
It can be beneficial to outsource IT support and other essential company operations. The reasons are simple: it eliminates staff lost productivity, it is more cost-efficient than hiring full-time IT personnel, and you can work directly with a tech company whose prime focus and expertise is IT.
Most would think such an investment would be expensive, but if used correctly, Managed IT Services can work to your advantage, while increasing your bottom line.
Step 1: Select the proper partner
The most critical component to keep in mind when selecting a Managed IT Service provider is VALUE. Who can give you the most bang for your buck? This shouldn’t be confused with hiring the cheapest partner, rather, it means choosing a provider whose services offer the most VALUE to your company.
A reputable Managed IT Service partner should feel like one of your employees. You should hear and see them on a regular basis. They should schedule on-site visits to understand the essential elements of your company, so that they can make it more efficient with the technology they can provide. They should be advocating on behalf of your organization, and go above and beyond ensuring potential tech issues don’t happen (and be prepared for them if tech issues occur).
Does the IT Company you currently use feel like a natural part of your business? Do they come across as completely committed to maintaining the efficiency of your company the way a full-time IT employee should?
If you’re unsure how your company would run without the IT support provider you currently use, it’s time to move on, as you are not receiving the VALUE you should be getting.
Step 2: Delegate
You’re not getting VALUE from the current IT support provider if you’re paying them to solve a tech issue here and there. Management and non-IT staffers shouldn’t be spending valuable time on tech issues when experts assigned to those specific duties can handle the job efficiently, effectively and quickly. Doing so can result in lost time, profits and productivity for your company.
You can keep your company profitable by having your staff focus on generating revenue, rather than fixing tech issues.
Make sure your staff are using the support your IT support team provides if you’re paying for it. It may be time to replace that IT team if you’re getting charged for every little thing they do, or if they can’t provide the solutions you need in the time-frame you require.
Step 3: Stop Downtime
Any business owner who has experienced downtime from tech issues know how detrimental it can be for the company. Those who don’t should consider the following:
How many salaried staff members are dependent on an internet connection or electronic devices, including computers, to perform their duties?
Could such downtime result in lost sales and potential customers?
How would your business be impacted if your data was unable to be recovered in the event of an IT disaster?
As you can see, downtime issues can be a lot costlier than you think.
The IT partner you employ should have a proven data recovery strategy prepared for in the event of a technological catastrophe. Such a plan should be maintained, tested and backed-up on a regular basis. Your company should have protocols in place to ensure your business misses minimal downtime when events like this happen. Ask yourself:
- How long ago was your BDR plan tested?
- In the event of an IT catastrophe, how fast can your IT support team get you back up and running?
- Are regular backups of important data being made properly?
Not having a plan in place for IT disasters can prove to be debilitating to your company’s bottom line and overall operation of your company.
Be sure that your Managed IT Services team provides absolute VALUE if you want to keep your company running smoothly. Select a provider than can keep your employees running seamlessly. The absence of downtime will not only boost your bottom line; it will give you a leg-up over competing businesses that have IT support teams less efficient as yours.