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Originally Posted On: https://www.startupguys.net/managed-it-company/

 

The US managed service market could grow by a CAGR of 6.3% between 2020 and 2025. Successful deploying managed services could reduce IT costs by 25 to 45% for your business. It could increase operational efficiency by as much as 65%, too.

Are you ready to streamline your business with managed IT services? Here are a few tips that can help you find a managed IT company you can trust.

With these tips, you can simplify your search. As a small business owner, you can spend more time focused on your customers and less time on IT issues. Read on to discover how to find the best managed IT specialists today!

Talk To Other Professionals

Start your search for managed IT services on the right foot by turning to your professional network. Gathering professional recommendations can help you save valuable time and stress. You can find an IT management company other businesses already know and trust.

Talk to other small business owners within your network. Ask if they’ve hired a managed IT services company in the past year. If they have, ask about their experience working with the company.

Consider drafting a list of questions you want to ask ahead of time. For example, you might ask:

• Is the company experienced and knowledgeable
• Do you work with a dedicated technician
• What services do you request
• How do you communicate with the company
• How much do their services cost

Make sure to ask each small business owner if they’ve encountered any problems after hiring the managed IT company, too. If they did encounter issues, ask how the IT company solved the problem. Look for a company that strives to offer the best possible customer service.

Otherwise, start making a list of which IT companies to avoid.

Talking to other small business owners could help you gather valuable insights you otherwise might not find online.

If you’re unable to gather personal referrals, begin your search online instead. Start drafting a list of companies to vet further.

Don’t make the mistake of hiring the first company you find in the IT industry, though. Instead, use the rest of these tips to vet your options.

Look For Larger Companies

There are currently over 844,600 IT tech support specialists within the US. The job outlook is expected to increase by 9% between 2020 and 2023, leading to an increase in 72,200 specialists. Some professionals have more experience in the IT industry than others, though.

Before choosing a managed IT company, determine how long the company has run and operated. Find a long-established business with years of experience helping businesses like yours.

An established business likely already has an efficient process in place. As a result, you’re less likely to experience customer service issues.

Larger companies are also equipped to handle multiple clients at once. A smaller company, on the other hand, might have long wait times. You could struggle to receive the help you need right away as a result.

Consider looking into the company’s industry-specific experience, too. Try to find a managed IT company that specializes in helping businesses within specific industries. Have they helped businesses within your niche in the past?

These businesses likely have a better understanding of the technology and equipment you use. They likely have a better understanding of your customers, too. They might have an easier time meeting your needs and expectations.

Consider Their Areas Of Expertise

Why do you want to request managed IT services? Take a moment to outline your specific needs and goals. Then, determine if the company’s areas of expertise align with your needs.

For example, you might want to hire a company that specializes in fixing or improving IT equipment. Perhaps you want to find ways to boost your company’s efficiency.

Make sure the company you hire offers the areas of expertise that can help you accomplish your goals. Otherwise, they might waste your time and money with services you don’t need.

Check For Response Times

Ask each managed IT company about their current response times. How long does it take for them to respond to a ticket?

The longer you wait for help, the longer your team will experience downtime. You could lose customers who are experiencing issues with your company as well. Instead, make sure you find a company that can respond quickly.

Their quick response times can boost your team’s productivity.

Determine if the company offers 24-hour monitoring services, too. What if you’re not at the office to fix the problem? Your customers will continue experiencing issues, even when you’re unavailable to help.

An IT company that offers 24-hour monitoring services will troubleshoot the problem immediately, minimizing issues and downtime. Then, you can improve your customer’s online experience and ROI.

Read Client Reviews

You can learn more about each managed IT company from the businesses that were once in your shoes. Take the time to read client reviews for each business on your list. Check their BBB and Google Business listings for client reviews.

Make sure the company you’re about to hire has a strong reputation in the IT industry.

If you find a number of complaints filed against the business, remove them from your list.

Explore Their Services

Over 40% of all cyberattacks currently target small businesses. Fewer than 15% of businesses are ready to mitigate their vulnerabilities and risks, though.

Meanwhile, 60% of these businesses go out of business after an attack.

Consider the specific managed IT services you need. For example, you might want to improve your security and strengthen your firewall this year.

Perhaps you’re more concerned about disaster recovery planning after a fire, outage, or flood.

Maybe your team is prepared to work remotely instead. In that case, find a company that can offer cloud computing services.

Make sure each company on your list offers multiple services based on your needs. Otherwise, you could waste money outsourcing to more than one team.

You can explore these Business IT Support Services to learn more.

Consider Levels Of Support

Take a moment to consider the specific levels of support you need as well. For example, you might consider:

• Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
• Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Talk to a managed IT company to review the costs and benefits of each plan. Make sure they can customize your plan based on your goals and budget. Otherwise, you might pay for services you don’t need.

Every company has unique IT goals and requirements. Choose an IT company that can help you meet those needs. They shouldn’t push you to choose services you don’t require.

Instead, they should help your business prepare to scale as needed. Then, you can avoid wasting resources and money.

Request A Dedicated Technician

Ask each company if you’ll work with a different technician each time or the same technician during each call. Working with the same technician every time could save you stress. You won’t have to explain the problems you experienced in the past.

If you keep encountering the same problem, your IT technician will have a better understanding of the situation.

Otherwise, you might feel frustrated or stressed having to repeat yourself during every call.

Try to learn more about your dedicated technician if you can. How long have they worked in the IT industry? Consider the businesses they’ve helped in the past, too.

Otherwise, determine if they have any specific certifications that can speak to their areas of expertise.

Try to find a technician who understands your industry, technologies, and goals.

Ask About Their Process

Before hiring a managed IT company, make sure you understand their process.

First, determine how you’ll proceed if you encounter IT issues. For example, how will you submit a support ticket? Will you call, email, or submit a form online?

Make sure the company has an efficient process in place for helping its customers. Otherwise, you could remain on hold longer than expected. Remember, long wait times can cause unnecessary downtime and reduced output.

Make sure the company already has a user-friendly setup in place.

Determine if you’ll have the ability to contact your dedicated technician directly, too.

Look For Remote Management

Before requesting managed IT services, determine if the company offers remote management services. Remote services will ensure you don’t have to wait for a technician to arrive to fix the problem. Instead, they can review your infrastructure from anywhere in the world.

Choosing remote services could save you time, money, and stress. You won’t have to wait for the help you need.

Choose Innovators

Make sure the business you choose is filled with innovative specialists who are ahead in their industry. These teams will understand new technologies that can benefit your business.

If they’re behind the times, you could fall behind, too.

Review The Contract

Ask each company for an itemized list of their services to compare costs. Otherwise, ask for a copy of their contract. Review it in detail before signing an agreement.

If you discuss any terms over the phone, make sure it’s in writing.

Awesome IT: Find The Right Managed IT Company For Your Business Today

Choosing a managed IT company shouldn’t feel tedious or stressful. Instead, use these tips to find the best managed IT services for your business. With these tips, you can find a reliable, innovative team.

They’ll help boost your company’s efficiency and bottom line.

Searching for more tips? You’re in the right place.

Explore our latest articles today.