The Right IT StuffFinding and Working with the Best Information Technology Services Partner for Your Small Business Ilene Rosoff
Do you often feel stuck in the computer abyss when it comes to managing your company's needs for web or information technology services? Businesses with fewer than 50 or 60 employees often find themselves struggling to keep pace with their basic web and computer support services and miss out on effective small business IT solutions.
The approach often taken by small organizations when it
comes to information technology services is one of putting out fires. No one
has time to update the website, the network is cobbled together with wiring
strung across the floor, and you're not sure when the last backup really ran.
Then, a hard drive starts going click-click. You call that guy you occasionally
use for computer support services, "Joe-I-Fix-Anything-PCs," to get
the computer booting. That's when to your horror you discover that the tape in
the drive since last Tuesday wasn't really backing up and the click-click is
the sickening sound of your QuickBooks data being eaten by the dying hard
drive. There is a Better Way: A Solutions Partner for Web and Information Technology Services Small Business IT Solutions – Hiring a Partner So what's the best way to find a great web or information technology services partner to work with and then get the most out of that relationship? 1. Look for a company that specializes in small business IT solutions Computer support services companies that specialize in small business will be more in tune to your particular needs and challenges. They will understand budgetary constraints for computer support services and the need to use resources very efficiently. Because technology developers and manufacturers are now seeing a large and relatively untapped market of small business customers, there are some terrific tools emerging for small organizations. A technology partner focused on small business IT solutions and information technology services will help your company grow and succeed. 2. Do you need a local information technology services partner? Not necessarily. If the goal here is to find a provider of information technology services to help you manage your website, make purchase decisions and facilitate projects, it doesn't have to be local. With sophisticated remote tools and web-based collaboration, many problems and projects can be addressed remotely. The key is to find a good fit. For onsite service such as network installation or hardware swaps, a good solutions partner can identify and schedule local computer support services as needed or works with a nationwide network experts for repairs, rollouts or other onsite computer support service. If the company isn't local, ask what provisions it has in place for onsite service. 3. Personalized computer support services One of the stigmas attached to the tech industry and a common complaint about providers of computer support services is lack of personalization. A good provider of information technology services wants to get to know you, your processes and your employees. The staff should ask questions about what your company does and who the key contacts are to gain a feel for your organization's culture. Likewise, access to the provider's staff and resources is equally important. The relationship is going to be much more effective when that company has a mandate for personalized service and an open door to communications. 4. Due diligence Think of hiring a solutions partner for information technology services like you would hiring someone for your staff. Look for a company that is seeking a long-term partnership. Ask for references. Then find out how long the company has been in business, who you will have access to for a problem or project and how the provider charges for its computer support services. 5. Cohesive approach and good
facilitation How to Get the Most Out of the Relationship 6. Identify key problems, goals and areas to improve efficiency Once you partner with a provider of information technology services and solutions, the first and most important step is an analysis of problems. The more you can communicate about your company, current practices and areas to improve, the more effective your solutions partner can be in coming up with a computer support services plan designed to keep things running smoothly, maximize your assets and move your organization forward. 7. Set up best practices Typically the biggest challenge small organizations face in
being successful is getting out of their own way, seeing the big picture and
making the changes necessary for improvements to happen. A good small business
IT solutions partner can help you set up best practices to get most out of your
investment in information technology services. However, making sure those
practices are implemented and followed rests squarely on your shoulders, not on
those of your computer support services provider. 8. Avoid costly mistakes - Don't make impulse purchases Whereas large companies tend to have a formal evaluation and approval process in place for making technology purchases, many smaller organizations make impulse purchases. Let the company you've hired for information technology services do its job and provide you its expertise on purchases. If the company resells hardware and software at competitive rates, purchasing from it can be worthwhile. You'll have a single point of purchase for computer support services, and the company can recommend hardware and software from manufacturers it has partnerships with and expertise on as well. All of that translates to added benefit to you. 9. Choose managed information technology services designed for business Small organizations have a tendency to operate off the cuff, looking for freebies or grabbing cheap services not really designed for business. This approach to information technology services can come back to bite you. If you want to grow your business, approach your needs for computer support services like a bigger organization would. If your IT partner makes recommendations on computer support services that you think you can find cheaper elsewhere, take a hard look at what you are getting and how it can really benefit your business. Once you weigh all the benefits, you may find the value to your business growth and offerings far outweighs the cost. 10. Can I still do it myself? Working with a good provider of information technology services doesn't mean you can't do anything yourself. In fact, a reputable and innovative IT company should educate you on how to better manage your technology needs and investments. There are still a lot of day-to-day tasks you can and should do within your organization, depending on your skill level, time and desire. The point is to keep your computer support services partner in the loop and use their expertise and input on major technology decisions. Conclusion So, what's in it for you? By partnering with a provider of information technology services, you'll find a more thought out, comprehensive approach to small business IT solutions that can increase efficiency, save you money, generate revenue, and help your business succeed. |
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