In the age of the internet, information technology has become the backbone of most businesses. It is almost impossible to run a business effectively without IT being an integral part of its operation.
Though most business owners attempt to set up in-house IT personnel or department, at some point it becomes evident that this approach cannot sustain all the required services. It is then up to the business owner to decide whether they should outsource IT to an MSP.
For business owners who are not conversant with the IT industry, it is difficult for them to determine precisely when they should start outsourcing. As a result, they end up postponing the initiative to outsource, which leads to adverse effects on their businesses.
If you are a business person and don’t know if you need to consider small business IT outsourcing, keep reading. We have compiled the tell-tale signs that you should alert you on the need to find business IT outsourcing.
Lagging and out Dated Infrastructure
Have you ever had to make a presentation to a client with a system that keeps freezing or is too slow? If you have, then you understand the frustration of having to make excuses to a client who is already bored.
Apart from boring your clients, lagging and outdated systems waste a lot of valuable time. Sometimes the systems take an eternity to start or even fetch files from the database.
In most cases, this problem occurs because the business owner is not tech savvy or able to keep up with the latest infrastructure and systems. If there is no IT support within the firm, then it is difficult for you to stay informed on new technology.
If this is the case in your business, you need to outsource an IT department.
Frequent System Downtime
System downtime can break your business if it doesn’t get addressed in good time. Downtime causes your company to come to a standstill because neither you nor your staff can access the business’s computer system. As a result, you can’t serve your valuable customers until the issue gets resolved.
If a downtime costs a client their valuable time, or it forces them to miss a business opportunity; they lose confidence in your ability to deliver on time. This translates to your business losing clients, credibility, and money.
If downtime is costing you valuable business hours, it is high time you seek IT outsourcing before your clients opt for other business.
If You Can’t Afford a Fully Functional IT Department
Large businesses often need a wide array of IT support. Sometimes, this translates to hiring many professionals to handle each IT aspect required. This entails hiring a network administrator, a cybersecurity expert, etc.
Considering the high wages of IT professionals, an internal IT department is too expensive. Besides, you also have to factor in the cost of IT systems and infrastructure such as backup servers, on top of the high wages.
Since the IT requirements still need to get met, you will have to outsource.
In a nutshell, if you can’t cover the cost of your in-house IT department, this is a sign you need to start outsourcing the support. Besides, it is also an excellent means of reducing your IT costs.
Your IT Staff Are Not at the Top of Their Game
IT is a fast-paced industry, and new ideas get developed and implemented every day. As a result, it is quite difficult for a small business’s IT staff to stay on top of every little development.
Your staff needs to attend many seminars, workshops, conventions, and training to stay on top of their game. Facilitating all four can be very expensive, especially for an SMB.
However, if your staff is not up to date with current trends, they can’t provide the best IT support for your business like an MSP. IT outsourcing companies make an effort to ensure their employees are well versed in all the latest and upcoming trends.
Hence, if your IT people are not up for the task, it is high time to outsource their work to qualified professionals.
You Have No Clue How to Go About You IT Business Needs
Unless you are an IT enthusiast, you only care about working business solutions for your establishment. Hence, you may have a clue of what your business needs but you have no IT knowledge to point it out.
For instance, an entrepreneur may want to have remote access to their business database, but they are not conversant with cloud computing. In such a case, the individual knows what they want, but they do not know how to approach it.
IT services such as cloud computing and database management can be complex topics if you are not a tech enthusiast. To ease the learning burden, small business IT outsourcing is the way to go for non-tech-savvy individuals.
If Your IT Staff Is Overwhelmed by Work
Sometimes it is useful to have an in-house IT guy for technical support. However, sometimes the amount of IT support required is too much to handle for one individual.
They may be willing to try and handle everything, but if they get overwhelmed, they will perform a shoddy job.
As a result, it is better to outsource, the IT services that are not essential to the daily operations of the business. This will free up the IT managers schedule, and they will be able to perform the remaining tasks with the required due diligence.
Hence, if you notice your IT staff underperforming in their duties, chances are they are overwhelmed by the workload. In such a case outsourcing may be cheaper and more effective than hiring additional staff members.
When Your Business Requires 24/7 IT Support
For businesses that provide eCommerce websites and affiliate marketing, their websites need round the clock monitoring. These types of companies heavily rely on web traffic, and any downtime is considered a loss.
If customers are making purchases on these websites, it would be catastrophic if the payment processing systems are not working correctly. Imagine a situation where a customer can’t tell if their purchase has been debited or not because the system is not responsive. Now picture this happening to many customers, and they decide to publish bad reviews about the business.
Hence, if you have an interactive website that serves many customers, it is essential to have it monitored round the clock. The most effective and cost-efficient way to do so is by outsourcing the service.
When You Need to Compete with the Big Boys
For new startups, it is difficult to compete with already established firms who can afford to house entire IT departments. If you are in an industry where IT support is crucial to the business’s ability to compete in the market, you need to outsource with Be Structured MSP 500 List.
With a suitable IT management service provider, you will have the resources and the expertise to compete on the same level as established firms. Additionally, you will be able to do so at a cost that is budget friendly and suits the scale of your business.
Thus, if you feel like you can’t compete with big business due to a lack of sufficient IT resources, consider small business IT outsourcing.
When You Need to Stay Informed of New IT Services and Solutions
With the growing demand for IT-based business solutions, there are plenty of new ideas circulating the market. As a business person, you want the best for your company, but it can be difficult to determine what the best solution is.
If you don’t want to keep changing up business solutions in a bid to find the Holy Grail, IT outsourcing is your best option.
Outsourcing companies strive to provide the best for their customers. As a result, they make a point to try out all the latest solutions in a bid to discover what works best for which type of business.
Hence, when you approach an MSP, they already have the best options for you to choose from. Additionally, you will also get to learn about many other IT solutions that are available in the market.
Signs You Need to Outsource IT
The importance of business IT outsourcing can’t be stressed enough. Hence, if your business shows any of the above signs, you need to pay attention and take the necessary measures. It would be ashamed to ignore these signs and end up losing out in business over a delay to outsource IT.
Outsourcing IT is a cost-effective way to ensure your business IT needs to get met. It is also the only way small businesses can have the same IT resources as larger businesses without breaking the bank. It is like having an entire IT department at your disposal but for a fraction of the cost.
Remember IT is a critical factor in the success of most businesses. Hence, when choosing a reliable company to outsource to; it is advisable to select a recognized and accredited company.