An IT support provider should no longer be ‘a guy’ you can call when the printer breaks down or you’re not receiving emails; technology is growing at a rapid rate, and for your business to do the same, your underpinning IT strategy needs to be on-form.
If you find yourself wishing your IT support provider was a little more proactive or a little more invested, you could be putting up with a sub-standard service. Your IT support provider should be with you on your journey to meet your business goals, and if they’re not, you could be in a partnership that’s costing your business dearly.
Time To Switch IT Support Provider? The 6 Signs You Can Look Out For:
#1 You’ve been with them years
For many SME’s, the challenge of switching IT support provider is loyalty. You’ve been with the same provider since the start of your business and better the devil you know, right?
But consider how your business has grown and changed over those years; think about what you’d like to achieve with your business in the future. Your IT partner may have served you well when you were a smaller outfit with simple needs but, as your business and your reliance on technology builds, you may simply outgrow them.
When considering your IT support, think about not only the service you require now but also new technology you may want to implement in the future and be sure your provider can help you grow your business continually.
#2 It ain’t what it used to be
If you’ve been with your IT support partner for many years, it’s fair to say the relationship you build can cause things to slip a little. If you find response times are falling, it’s always worth looking back at your original SLA (Service-Level Agreement) just to make sure it’s still being met.
Of course, it may just be that your business needs have changed and that the SLA no longer suits your needs. If this is the case, speak to your provider and explore an alternative higher-level IT support contract package if one is available from them.
#3 You want to grow
If you feel something is holding you back from growing your business, you should start by looking at your IT systems.
A successful business is one that embraces new technologies and trends, whether it be VoIP telephone systems to modernise daily operations, Cloud services to enhance data security, or digital workspaces and communication platforms to encourage flexible and collaborative working.
Whatever your vision of your business moving forward, run it past your IT partner; if they don’t get excited with you and feed you even more ideas, it’s safe to say, you need a level of support your current provider cannot give.
#4 Off the ball
Your IT support provider should not be providing the service of a tech handyman; a good IT support provider should do far more preventative work than repair jobs.
You should expect nothing less than pro-active monitoring that keeps your IT systems running smoothly, advice on evolving tech and how your business can benefit, and communication of the latest regulations applicable to your business and how to implement best practise.
If you’re paying for a monthly fee for an IT support contract that offers anything less, it’s time to shop around.
#5 It’s happening again
Those re-occurring niggling issues that frustrate your staff and slow down day-to-day tasks; systems running slow, networks not connecting, we’ve all been privy to them at some point.
These persistent issues rob your business of time, and with reports suggesting UK businesses lose around £3.6 million a year to IT downtime, it’s time you can’t afford.
If your IT support provider is struggling to resolve reoccurring IT issues, you have to consider that they may simply not be equipped to meet the needs of your business. Switching to an IT support provider with a broader skillset and fresh perspective can put all these niggles to bed.
#6 It’s all about the confidence
When you call your IT support provider to report an IT issue, are you confident they’ll solve it? If you can’t put down the phone and go about your day without checking hourly if the problem has been fixed, then you have to question how they would handle a disaster recovery. If the thought gives you palpitations, you’ve got your answer.
A good IT partner has got, not just your IT needs, but also your business needs, in their best interests. When you can imagine an IT disaster in your business without feeling sick, you know you’ve got the right support.
Jupiter IT Is More Than IT Support – It’s IT Consultancy
We make switching IT support provider easy; we handle all the communication with your current provider and ensuring a seamless transition.
If you’d like to learn more about our unique IT support contracts, give us a call; we’ll give you a free audit of your systems and a rundown on how we can make your IT better.
