While the versatility and availability of different IT options will allow you to find what works best for you, sometimes too many different options can be overwhelming. With all the options out there in the market these days, that might be enough to make your head spin. Do you hire an internal staff member to take care of your IT needs, or are you outsourcing a managed IT support company? What work should you do?
The idea of in-house IT support can be attractive, but there are many reasons why a company chooses to outsource an IT service provider. But, when exploring different companies, how do you determine which company you choose?
We are here to help you remove some of that confusion.
Locally managed services can help your business say that you have already decided to take advantage of managed IT support. A wonderful! But now which one? While there are many factors to consider when choosing a company to work with, the thing that businesses find particularly important is the location of the company.
With so many IT service options available, it appears that you can choose an IT service provider that operates virtually anywhere in your area. In fact, since most IT work these days can be done remotely, you can even explore companies located outside of your country. However, if you decide to go with a managed service provider, it would be a good idea to get one in your area.
Take Chapel Hill City as an example. IT support services at Chapel Hill NC appear to be a dime a dozen, not to mention all of its companies in North Carolina and the United States. However, many companies find that the nearby location is an important factor when choosing their tech support services. Generally speaking, you will find that the best option for a growing business is to choose an IT service provider that operates in or near your city.
Here are five reasons why choosing local support is the best solution:
1. On-site support
IT difficulties are the ultimate thing your business requirements. Unfortunately, they do tend to pop up from time to time, and when they do, you want to make sure there are technicians in place who can fix it. It is important to keep in mind that if you choose to go with a remote service provider, they will only complete their work remotely; You will not receive any face-to-face contact and will not come to your location if you need to solve a problem. Your local service provider will still work remotely when it comes to managing your day-to-day operations. However, should a problem arise, they will be able to send someone to you due to their proximity.
Some IT issues can require personal assistance. When required,
You will need a technician from a managed IT service provider to be near you. This way, you can rest assured that the issue will be addressed as soon as possible. This means that you waste less time trying to solve the problem, and you and your employees can return to your priorities.
Remember that your IT can be unpredictable, but a reliable on-site solution doesn’t have to be.
2. Staff training
Your team members may have the most recent information or knowledge of the latest technology; Other employees may struggle with the technology and how it is being implemented. Either way, your company’s technology and software can pose challenges for your employees. One of the advantages of using a local IT management company is that they may be able to lead on-site training for your employees so that your team is better equipped to handle your company’s technology.
3. A personal touch
Although the focus is on hardware, having a human component in your IT management company can be very important. After all, this is the company you trust regarding some of the most valuable information for your business! Although it may not seem necessary at first, having a company that can actually send someone to your office and sit with you face to face is an advantage that long-distance companies cannot provide. The personal attention that accompanies a local company helps it to stand out from its competitors over long distances.
4. Growth opportunities
Local services help companies grow When thinking about the IT service provider you want, it can be helpful to imagine where you see the direction of your business in the next few years. This may seem like a premature step when you are just setting up your IT department, but if you are If you perceive your business as expanding and seizing new growth opportunities, this likely means that your technology will need to expand as well. The local IT service provider will be able to accommodate the technology changes that will be required as your business expands as they can provide on-site support.
5. The best of both worlds
Having an IT service provider locally combines all the benefits of taking advantage of an outside IT company and combines them with the direct benefits that an in-house technician will provide. Ultimately, by searching for a locally managed IT service provider, you can save IT costs while still reaping the benefits of prompt and efficient service.
As you can see, there are many reasons why it can be a good idea to maintain a locally managed IT service provider in your area
However, as you already know if you are looking for IT service providers, your options may be limited if you restrict your search to local companies. Depending on where you are, you may only have a few options.
If you are still on the fence about whether a local company would benefit or restrict you, consider the following questions:
1. Do you see your business expanding in the future?
If yes, you should consider finding a local company to grow with you as we touched on above.
2. How much budget did you allocate for IT needs?
It has managed its services for the sake of budgets while IT is not the place to be short, the truth is most people are working on some kind of budget. If your budget is on the smaller side, the managed IT service provider is likely to give you the most money as many IT service providers work on a fixed price model. Ultimately, this will likely end up being more affordable than paying an internal employee salary.
Although a non-existing IT service provider in your city will save you money initially, you can incur additional costs once the attention is needed on the site. If you need on-site support, you need to find and hire a technician in your area. This means an additional cost on top of what you are actually paying, which is a long-distance IT management service provider.
If you choose a local service provider from the start, they will be able to send someone to your site from their own company, thus saving you extra rent. Who does not like to save money?
3. If your website or servers suddenly fail, how immediate would you need to get them up and running again?
If the answer is terrifying, “Immediately!” Then you should consider going with a local company. As mentioned earlier, some issues may require a technician on site. Instead of searching for the closest IT company with immediate technician availability, you can save yourself from the hassle and hire a company in your area right from the start.
4. What does your interior technology look like?
Managed IT service provider
Some businesses do not rely heavily on technology. If all you have are a few computers and a router, it may be possible to contract with a company that is not based in your area. If your job is too little
IT needs, even a long-distance service provider can cover the basics.
Plus, without the restriction of looking at only local businesses, you can explore more options and allow you the freedom to compare stores.
5. Do you have any technical expertise yourself to handle small issues should they arise?
If you or someone of your employees happens to have the knowledge to fix computer problems, you may also consider an IT service provider that is not in your city. If you have someone to deal with the problems, having a technician fix the problem isn’t a concern for you. As we mentioned above, this gives you the flexibility to shop and get the best rate.
We hope this information has cleared any confusion you might have about deciding which IT support service to use.
