How to Choose an IT Company
Choosing an IT support company to take care of all the computer-related needs of your business can be very difficult, particularly if you don’t know where to start. There are many companies out there, and each one of them claims to offer the best services. Follow the suggestions listed below to get the right IT Company for your business.
Define What You Want
The best way to begin looking for an IT company is to define and understand the specific needs of your business. Outline what you hope to achieve, the timeline within which you want to achieve it and the overall budget before you contact any company. After that, come up with a Request for Proposal (RFP) to help you lay out the terms of the engagement, timeline, objectives and the budget. The RFP should not be long, but it must state clearly the specific needs of the business.
Consider Area of Specialization
Once you come up with a list of what you want, you need to get a company that can help you achieve your targets. You need to look at the areas of specialization of the company and see if they match the needs of your business. If you run a large business, consider a company who specializes in large, medium and small enterprises. If you use Windows for your system, consider a company who specializes in applications that run on Windows. The same applies if you use Ubuntu, Mac or Linux.
Do Some Research
You need to research the company both online and offline. Reach out to IT experts and ask them whether they know about the company. Reach out to the IT staff within the business and get their views too. Visit online review platforms and see what other people say about the company. Avoid companies who have negative reviews and poor ratings from past clients.
Consider Availability and Support
When something goes wrong within your IT system, you need a company that can address the problem and restore normalcy as quickly as possible. This is very important because system downtimes can derail the production process and expose your business to cybercriminals, leading to huge losses. Ask the company which communication and assistance methods they offer. This may include onsite support, email support, remote support or phone support. Let them tell you whether they have emergency response services or if you need a ticket to lodge a complaint.
Ask For References
A good IT company should give you a list of clients they have worked with in the past. You need to contact each one of these clients to help you know more about the company. Ask them about their overall relationship and whether the company worked to their satisfaction. Let them tell you how the company addressed their urgent needs and whether the customer service team was prompt and professional. This will help you know exactly who you are dealing with.
Consider Price
While it makes sense to cut costs, it is not a good decision to hire an IT company who offers the lowest price. It could be that the company is using the attractive price to compensate for their lack of expertise in IT support. It could also mean that the company is planning to use defective tools to install, monitor and maintain your IT system. However, this does not mean you go with the company that charges for every bit of service they offer.
When looking at price, consider whether the company sets prepaid monthly pricing or whether they have hourly rates for onsite support. You should also consider the minimum amount of money you will spend on onsite support or remote support. Also, take into account the periodic increments and call-out fees. From this, you can choose the company with the most favorable offer.
Consider Experience
Experience really matters when it comes to selecting an IT company for your business. An experienced firm has been in the field for many years and knows all the ins and outs of IT support. Working with them will reduce the risks of down times, wasted money, time delays and security breaches. To be on the safer side, choose a company that has been in the business for a period not less than three years.
