If you've struggled to manage your own IT in the past, then you have probably realized by now the benefits of having an outside firm do it for you. Not only can outsourcing this task save you money, but it can also give you the extra time you need to focus more energy on marketing and satisfying your current customers. But believe it or not, not all IT management firms will be able to deliver the performance you'd expect. Even the best and most reliable companies will have faults that could end up costing you money instead. If you need a little help in making your decision, then below you'll find a few of the top warning signs of a bad company, as well as some of the positive signs that you should be looking for.
Warning signs of a bad IT management firm
Unacceptable follow-up: One of the best signs of a bad IT management company is poor or slow follow-up. The very nature of the IT environment requires quick adaptability and performance by management personnel in order to insure that any downtime you may experience due to technical problems gets corrected immediately. Not doing so could become very costly. This will not only cost you new customers, but can also annoy and drive away the customers that you may already have. If your IT management company takes days just to respond to a simple inquiry, then just imagine how long it could take them to respond if a major problem were to develop.
Placing a big emphasis on "free" consultations: T This may come as a big surprise, but not all "free" consultations are necessarily free. The majority of IT management firms use this as a ploy in order to upsell you on expensive services. This is done by telling you that you have major problems with your IT, and then offering you a guaranteed solution that only they can provide. While "free" consultations aren't always necessarily a bad thing, you should be on the lookout for suspicious "problems" and services that they will likely recommend.
The signs of a good IT management firm
Expertise followed by a real portfolio: The ideal firm for your business will not only have extensive education and experience, but they will also have a rather large portfolio of current or past clients that have also used their services with success. This is very important, because certifications and education mean nothing, if a company cannot deliver on promises and expectations. When asking to see a firms' portfolio they should also be willing to allow you to contact the companies that have used them in the past so that you can get a good idea of what to expect.
Fast communication: When you first contact an IT management firm it is important to pay attention to just how fast the company follows up with you and answers your questions. If you find a company that is very speedy in this regard then this is a definite sign that the particular firm could be a winner.
A dedicated account representative: When selecting a firm, it should be obvious that you won't be the only client that the company is working with. This is why it is so important that you have your own dedicated account representative that knows all about your business and your needs and will be able to work with you directly. Not only does this cut out the "middleman" process, but it also cuts down on internal confusion and frustration.
As you can see, choosing a good IT management company does not have to be complicated at all. In fact, it can be very easy if you stick to these tips and compare multiple services. Not only will this help you to pick the right firm, but it will also make the entire process less time consuming than it would be otherwise.
Warning signs of a bad IT management firm
Unacceptable follow-up: One of the best signs of a bad IT management company is poor or slow follow-up. The very nature of the IT environment requires quick adaptability and performance by management personnel in order to insure that any downtime you may experience due to technical problems gets corrected immediately. Not doing so could become very costly. This will not only cost you new customers, but can also annoy and drive away the customers that you may already have. If your IT management company takes days just to respond to a simple inquiry, then just imagine how long it could take them to respond if a major problem were to develop.
Placing a big emphasis on "free" consultations: T This may come as a big surprise, but not all "free" consultations are necessarily free. The majority of IT management firms use this as a ploy in order to upsell you on expensive services. This is done by telling you that you have major problems with your IT, and then offering you a guaranteed solution that only they can provide. While "free" consultations aren't always necessarily a bad thing, you should be on the lookout for suspicious "problems" and services that they will likely recommend.
The signs of a good IT management firm
Expertise followed by a real portfolio: The ideal firm for your business will not only have extensive education and experience, but they will also have a rather large portfolio of current or past clients that have also used their services with success. This is very important, because certifications and education mean nothing, if a company cannot deliver on promises and expectations. When asking to see a firms' portfolio they should also be willing to allow you to contact the companies that have used them in the past so that you can get a good idea of what to expect.
Fast communication: When you first contact an IT management firm it is important to pay attention to just how fast the company follows up with you and answers your questions. If you find a company that is very speedy in this regard then this is a definite sign that the particular firm could be a winner.
A dedicated account representative: When selecting a firm, it should be obvious that you won't be the only client that the company is working with. This is why it is so important that you have your own dedicated account representative that knows all about your business and your needs and will be able to work with you directly. Not only does this cut out the "middleman" process, but it also cuts down on internal confusion and frustration.
As you can see, choosing a good IT management company does not have to be complicated at all. In fact, it can be very easy if you stick to these tips and compare multiple services. Not only will this help you to pick the right firm, but it will also make the entire process less time consuming than it would be otherwise.
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