When your business is dependent on technology to run effectively, you need to be sure you have the support you need to keep your IT systems working efficiently. When IT problems and system downtime strike, you can be left with unhappy customers and lost revenue. Research shows that the average hourly cost of system downtime is $301,000 to $400,000.
Avoiding these IT issues is essential to keep your business running successfully. Having the right IT support to help your business is crucial, so finding a good IT company is a significant decision to make.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing an IT company to take care of your technology needs:
Cost
Cost is a crucial consideration when choosing IT support. Some IT companies charge a flat monthly rate, which is helpful for companies that want to know how much they will pay for support each month so they can effectively manage their costs.
Although cost is a crucial consideration, it is essential it is not the only factor influencing your decision. To add value to your business, you need IT support that matches your needs, and to get that, you may need to pay a little more, but the value you gain will make it worth the cost.
Level of Support
Deciding on how much IT support you need is essential before you start looking for an IT company. Do you want a full-service IT company that takes care of all your system upgrades and manages your servers? Or, do you simply want IT support that is available when an issue strikes?
Some IT companies also offer additional support and will guide you through strategic IT planning to facilitate the long-term goals for your business.
Availability
Different IT companies provide different levels of support and availability. Some provide support simply during regular business hours, but this can cause issues when an IT problem strikes in the evening or on the weekend.
There are also IT companies that provide support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This round-the-clock service provides businesses with the extra peace of mind that their technology issues can be solved regardless of the day or time.
Experience
When looking for IT companies, it is helpful to check how much experience the company has and specifically, how much experience they have with similar businesses to yours. Having an IT support company that understands the unique challenges of your specific industry can prove invaluable, especially if this is combined with extensive experience.
Scalability
If you plan to keep driving your business forward towards even greater success, you may want to look for an IT company with the capacity to scale up its support. As a growing business, you need an IT company you can depend on to be with you every step of the way.
Growing your business can present unique challenges, so it is a huge advantage knowing that your IT support can be scaled up to provide you with ongoing support.