In 2022, there’s no debate whether outsourcing your IT services is a good idea. Only the biggest enterprises can afford to keep an in-house IT team and even these enterprises often choose to outsource this to a specialist agency. However, even after you decide to outsource, you need to think carefully about how you can recognize and hire the right agency. Here are six major issues that you should take into consideration before hiring IT services (or even making a shortlist of potential candidates).
1. Identify your needs
Whenever looking for partners, you need to keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong. Only right or wrong for your particular scenario. So, how do you determine whether someone’s the right match for your enterprise? It’s simple – you identify your needs and define your objectives. An agency that can help you with this and meets these criteria is usually the right match. Know what kind of services you want and, even more importantly, set a budget. Even the best agency won’t matter if you can’t afford their services. There are several considerations that you have to make and you need to be extra careful about how you approach this.
2. Factors to focus on
The key considerations you need to focus on are things like availability and cost. You want to know that they’ll be at your disposal at any given moment, as well as that you can actually afford their services. According to industry veterans in providing IT managed services, you shouldn’t underestimate the legal aspect of the collaboration either. You want a contract and a confidentiality agreement signed. Remember, people handling your IT services will have the access to a lot of confidential data. It is important that you can trust them and being safe is always better than being sorry.
3. Previous experience
The first thing you want to inquire about is their previous experience in this field. Ask to see their resume and even ask for a reference. Ideally, you want them to have experience with companies similar to yours (in both size and industry). Also, keep in mind that credibility/reputation and experience go hand in hand. If they have working experience, they’ve proven themselves one way or the other. Without experience, there can be no credibility, only your trust in their skills. Needless to say, this is not the most reliable basis.
4. Talk to them
You should never underestimate the importance of an interview. Have a prepared set of questions and try to get to know the people you’re going to be working with. Sure, you may be choosing an agency but behind every agency, there’s a team and its individuals making these teams that you’ll be working with. This method, nonetheless, has some shortcomings. Sure, good interpersonal skills are not a requirement for one to be a good IT expert, however, they will play a major part in your future collaboration. Insisting on this will make your future cooperation more effective and give you significant peace of mind.
5. Will they train your employees?
While they will do a bulk of work, the majority of your employees will have to dip into the IT sector, as well. At the very least, they need to adopt a basic knowledge of IT security. You need to make your staff resilient to phishing, as well as enable them to solve some of the problems on your own. How do you achieve this? Well, one of the ways to do so is to invest in an extensive employee training program. Better yet, you’ll have the outsourcing agency that you’re working with do this for you. So, before you sign anything, inquire about this prospect.
6. Maintenance plan
What if you’re hiring them to help you handle a one-time project? What happens after the project is done? In a scenario where something goes wrong in the aftermath or if there’s an update required, will they be back to help you out? In other words, do they offer an elaborate maintenance plan after the project is finished? This might cost extra but it may also be included in the base price. It’s a question that a lot of people fail to ask but it’s also something that will determine the future course of any project.
In conclusion
Hiring IT services is one of the most cost-effective decisions you’ll ever make. It’s also the most reliable way of boosting your IT processes and growing your business as a whole. In 2022, it’s impossible to do business without a proper IT infrastructure on your side. In short, it provides you with flexibility, scalability, and consistency. If you find the right partners, you’re set for years to come. With the above-listed six tips on your side, you have a much better shot at getting this right.