Are you experiencing a lot of difficulty with your technology and don’t have the budget to bring on more IT people? Does your staff need constant assistance? With the rapid increases in technology and the reliance modern businesses have on technology, it’s no surprise that businesses are starting to look at finding more IT support. It’s estimated that between 2010 and 2020, the IT industry will grow 6.1% every year. If you’re finding the need for more IT support, one option to consider is outsourcing IT work. Whether it’s getting managed cloud hosting or hiring a whole team of remote IT support services, outsourcing IT support definitely has its pros.
What Do IT Consulting Firms Do Anyway?
An IT consultant can be like a magic wizard, fixing any technical errors and sometimes even troubleshooting what’s wrong with the equipment. However, consultants often also assist businesses with the planning of large projects and work with the business to troubleshoot any errors. In this way, the development process runs faster and more efficiently. They also serve as technology advisors of sorts: they know the best way to use the tools that IT provides, in a way that benefits the business. They not only fix bugs as they come up, but they try to also anticipate any problems that may arise in the future and develop a sound working plan for your company’s technology.
So Why Outsource IT?
Many businesses have considered outsourcing a smart move-between 2011 to 2012, the average budget for outsourced IT companies grew by 23%. In 2013, 39% of businesses were making moves to outsource their IT department or expand their outsourced department. Managed cloud hosting has also become popular as a secure and constantly available option for storage. Between 2011 and 2012, outsourced managed cloud hosting grew 37%, because of a higher demand from businesses.
Cost-Effective
Outsourcing IT is generally more budget-friendly, especially if you’re a medium sized company on a lower budget. It lets you find the best IT processes without having to add on extra costs to payroll, like benefits, office space, and an extra salary. It also means your business doesn’t have to raise training costs for employees. IT companies that are outsourced give businesses a much vaster array of services for a fixed price, so there’s less of a need to hire more people for specific tasks.
Accessibility
Outsourced IT firms generally provide 24/7 assistance, which a regular business couldn’t do. Businesses can stay in touch and offer that as a resource to their customers, if needed. The firm will stay up to date on new industry trends and regulations, so the company doesn’t have to. If some members of the business work from home or work odd hours and have a tech question, there’s someone available at all hours of the night or day to consult with.
In essence, choosing to outsource your IT department lets your business focus on what’s really important: running and expanding your business. In other words, you can have your cake and eat it too: you have the time to focus on your main projects and goals and also have an excellent IT department and consulting services at a fixed price.
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