By FM
When it comes to running a successful business, there may come a time where you decide to outsource some or all of your IT needs. Having IT professionals by your side can help you in numerous ways, such as storing and managing data or protecting your operation against cybercriminals. However, finding the right company raises all kinds of questions.
Whether it’s the cost, how much experience they have, or if they can scale to meet your demands, here is a guide on how to select the best IT support company for your business.
Location
Once you’ve decided to work with an outsourced provider, having onsite support is a key benefit. Should any problems arise, choosing a local IT support company will mean you will get a faster service. For example, if you have trouble with your server and it needs replacing, you could be waiting days for this to be fixed if you pick a business that isn’t geographically close by. Therefore, sticking with a local IT company means an engineer can be dispatched and resolve your problems in a quicker timeframe.
Experience
Regardless of what kind of business you run, you will want to pick an IT support company that has vast experience working alongside similar companies. The tech and software each industry uses may differ, which is why you must pick a provider who knows the A-Z of your industry’s technology. Before you make your final decision, there are several questions you should ask yourself, such as whether the business services other organisations in your industry, and if they’re certified in your field’s technologies.
Response Time
When selecting the right IT support company for your business, you must choose a provider that offers guaranteed response times. If a problem occurs, knowing someone will address the incident quickly will put your mind at ease. In the business world, every second counts, so to avoid losing money and revenue, finding an IT support company that offers reassurance about how quickly they can get your IT systems back up and running can make all the difference. If your company relies heavily on your IT systems, the response time is critical.
Skills
In addition to having the right experience, your potential IT support company must possess the right skillset. When going through the decision process, any provider must be willing to provide evidence of qualifications and training they or their team have undertaken, alongside specific skills they have learned along the way. Above anything else, the company you pick must be certified for a variety of network and business systems. All reputable IT support companies will have transferable skills like effective communication and time management to ensure your needs are put first.
Testimonials
When researching IT support companies, they will all naturally showcase themselves in the best light possible on their website. However, just because they talk the talk, it doesn’t mean they can walk the walk. To get a real insight into whether they’re right for you, you must look into past and existing clients of theirs to check whether they’re up to the job. Ratings and reviews are vital for making your final choice, so make sure you read lengthy and detailed feedback as this will hold more reliability over brief messages.
Partnerships and Certifications
To get a better idea of how reputable an IT support company is, you can check whether they have partnerships with major manufacturers like HP, Dell, and Microsoft. Impreza IT is a Microsoft gold certified partner, meaning it has earned the highest level of company customer care and has a close working relationship with the brand. You can check out their IT support services, which boast quick response times and 24/7 system monitoring. And if you’re unsure on whether to take the plunge, this IT Support Kent provider has a 3-month trial period, which allows you to try out their services risk-free.
Cost
No matter how much experience you have in business, keeping costs down and watching every penny is critical for success. When it comes to finding the best IT support company on the market, you shouldn’t necessarily jump to the cheapest provider, as you may find they lack the credentials and experience you’re looking for. There are many factors you must take into consideration regarding the cost, such as the size of your business, whether you need out of hours emergency cover, as well as if you need engineers to physically come to your premises to resolve problems. If you want the quickest response time, expect to pay more.
Once you’ve decided to outsource your IT needs, there are many concerns and questions you will have before making your mind up. To ensure you find a company that matches your companies’ requirements, reading the guide above should make the decision easier.
©FM
