Whether you’re a small company, mid-size company or large company – one thing remains the same: tech support is important. In fact, finding the right support can save headaches and money in the long-run with less downtime during the unexpected events, like power outages.
Perhaps you already have an IT support company, and you’re looking to make a change – or you’re in the market for a new one. Either way, avoiding these seven mistakes will support a stronger business.
Mistake #1: Getting by with as little IT help as possible. This can create additional stress for staff, but also trickle down to clients and customers.
Mistake #2: Not adapting to changing IT needs. What you need from an IT company is likely evolving, and you need a partner with the ability to adapt. For example, an IT support company can handle high-level challenges, such as establishing a cloud-based backup or unifying communication across all devices, such as desktops, tablets, notebooks and smartphones.
Mistake #3: Not recognizing the breaking point. While you may be able to get by with minimal support for a five-person startup that needs only the occasional tune-up or yearly guidance, as your company grows – you need to adapt before you reach the breaking point.
Mistake #4: Not getting enough choice in services. The most expensive options aren’t necessarily the best. Be wary of a partner who presents one technology as an end all, be all solution. Ideally, you’ll have a variety of choices and price levels to choose from.
Mistake #5: Utilizing tools that don’t fit the size and industry of your business. For example, if you’re shopping for an IT support partner for a financial firm, your data needs extra layers of protection to comply with privacy regulations and laws.
Mistake #6: Not paying attention to credentials. Does your IT support partner have credentials for the services they provide? These credentials give support providers additional knowledge and skills, which benefits your business.
Mistake #7: Not enough questions are asked about your business at the start of the partnership. Before working together, there’s a lot of questions an IT support partner should ask. If they don’t ask, you might not be getting what you need. For example, where is your email hosted, what operating systems are you using? And what software, antivirus tools, smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops do your employees use? Asking questions upfront helps to avoid problems in the long-term.
Avoiding the Pitfalls
Regardless of your industry, you are likely to be in business for one reason: to serve your clients and customers. But without the right IT support partner, it’s difficult to give customers what they need. And that can cause a ripple effect throughout your organization. Keeping these common mistakes in mind when partnering with an IT support partner will help strengthen your business.
