Rob Rudd 2m 564
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
IT service providers are there to do all the dirty work when it comes to your business technology so you can concentrate on the really important tasks. Sounds like a great way to make your life easier doesn’t it?
Well when you get the right provider it can be a business dream come true, but when your accountant tells you that you’ve got a bigger bill for your IT services than you’ve budgeted for it can come as a nasty shock.
Here a few tips to avoid being stung by unpredictable prices when it comes to your IT services provider.
Should I do it myself?
You might think that fixing your own IT problems is a great way to save money, but unless you’re an IT expert chances are you’ll only make the problem worse.
To keep your business booming you’re going to need to keep your eye on the ball, and trying to fix your own IT problems is just a waste of your time. You’re far better off getting a professional to do all the hard stuff for you.
Go with an outsourced IT provider
These guys provide IT services for many businesses on an on-going basis. This means that they’ll take a long hard look at your business and make sure they know about problems before they arise.
This also means that they’ll be able to give you a good idea about how much you’ll be charged for them to maintain and fix any problems you might have with your business technology.
Tell your provider everything
You’ll get predictable prices for your IT services if you give the company an accurate assessment of your IT infrastructure. This will help the provider match you to the right expert in their company and make sure you get the correct kind of support.
By taking the time to tell them everything you can you could save yourself a lot of money, making it well worth your time. It’s great to know that you’ve always got someone on hand to answer your questions and help you solve issues.
Can I get it for free?
Well there aren’t many things in life that come for free but depending on who supplies your technology you might be entitled to free or low cost help and problem solving.
Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, and PC World have how-to sections on their websites or instant chat features so you can talk to an expert without having to spend hours on the phone.
Google, Youtube, and online technology forums are also useful if you need on the spot help without having to pay an expert provider.
Getting the right kind of support for your business is vital to it succeeding, and you’ll find it easy to find IT support all over the country, not just in big cities like London. Finding the right provider could be difficult, but all the time and money you’ll save by finding someone to deal with your IT will make the search worth it.
Rob Rudd has been working in the software industry since 1995 and has had his fair share of IT problems. His experience tells him that problems get solved faster and impact productivity less, if you have an IT helpline – whether it’s in house or outsourced.
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