If you have made the decision to outsource your IT support, you have taken the first step into a brand-new world. But now comes the more difficult part- choosing the right company.
The IT support industry is growing rapidly, and it’s no surprise, given how quickly the technology industry in general is advancing. For a small business to keep up with the pace, it is a smart decision to hire an outsourced IT company to handle your IT needs. Choosing one, however, can be a daunting task.
So, we’ve put together these few tips to get you started on finding the best IT support company for your business.
1. Do they know what they’re talking about?
Raise your hand if you understand the complexities involved in setting up an office network (don’t worry, my hand isn’t up either!). Technology has become more popular and has evolved into a necessity for any business, but that doesn’t actually mean it’s any easier to understand.
You want to make sure that the company you’re dealing with not only is keeping up with the latest technology, but that they are tuned into the industry enough to know what’s coming down the pipe, and how it is going to impact your business.
Try asking them some simple questions like; what they think about the Cloud, or where they think mobile devices fit into a company’s overall business plan. They need to not only understand what is happening in the tech world, but how it will impact your world. That is the only way they will be able to provide you with excellent service.
2. Do they listen to you?
There are a lot of cool tech toys and gadgets on the market today, and new ones come out all the time. But, the reality is that you probably don’t need the newest, brightest, and coolest toys in order for your organization to be successful.
The job of an IT support company is not to push you to buy all the new fancy stuff- their job is to help your business succeed to the best of their ability. They should understand your budgetary constraints and your company needs, and be able to help you figure out a solution that works well without breaking the bank.
3. Can they translate from geek-speak?
The tech industry has a language all their own. If your eyes glaze over sometimes (or a lot of times) when you talk to an engineer, you are not alone.
The mark of a good IT company is one that can translate all the complexities into a language that you can understand. After all, if they can’t even explain it to you, how can you trust that they really know what they’re doing?
4. Do other people like them?
Always ask for references. Look at their website for testimonials and case studies. If they aren’t bragging at least a little bit about the great service their company provides, it is a good idea to dig a little deeper and find out why.
Happy customers are almost always willing to provide a good review and/or a testimonial. If the company can’t even find one customer who will talk to you about the IT support services, that is a big red flag.
5. What is the cost for advice?
The business world has evolved to where a successful company is one that shares their knowledge freely, and is not paranoid about it. We live in an age of information overload, and that is because people want information! They want to be able to learn, get advice, and really understand something before jumping in- and this is especially true for businesses.
If an IT company won’t give out a free network audit or unlimited consulting services, that should give you pause. The best companies are those who are confident enough that they have no hesitations about giving advice. Experts and thought leaders are eager to share information and help teach, so if a company closely guards their advice, it might not be very good advice to begin with.
Hiring an IT support company will impact your business on every level- so if you take care to choose the best one for you, then your business will have the support and necessary technology to really succeed.
What do you think are some other good features to look for when hiring an outsourced IT company? Let us know in the comments!