How to Pick the Right IT Service Provider

| October 26, 2015

How to Pick the Right IT Service Provider

Today, almost all businesses use IT in one way or the other. There are businesses that are completely dependent on IT, like e-commerce stores. There are some businesses that don’t use too many IT tools, but the ones that they do use are vital for their day-to-day operations. Maintaining and managing IT is not everyone’s cup of tea.

In such cases, it’s better to hire an IT service company to manage your IT. Managed IT services are fast gaining popularity because they allow business owners to focus on their business. The companies manage everything from hardware and software installation and maintenance to Cloud services and security. The key is to find the right company. For that, consider the following points:

Decide What You Want

The first thing to do is to understand your needs and what you might require for your business to run effectively. For example, if you’re an e-commerce business, your requirements would be different from other businesses. You might need managed cloud services, server maintenance, networking services, etc. When you have an idea about what you want, you can look for a company that provides the services you want.

Pick the Right Size of The IT Service Company

You might wonder why this is important. Shouldn’t the size of your company matter more than the size of the IT service? The answer to that question is: not really. The size of your company and the IT service is connected. If you’re a small company with minimal demands, it’s a good idea to stay clear of the big IT service providers. The reason for this is that the big companies would prioritize their bigger clients and won’t give you enough support.

Their tech support and assistance wouldn’t respond as quickly as you’d hope. Smaller companies would be able to provide more dedicated service. On the other hand, if you’re that big fish and have intense IT service demands, it’s a good idea to hire a big company. They should have enough resources and manpower to be able to handle your IT demands, after all.

Speak to the Sales Professional

The sales professional and the pre-sale engineer are a good resource for you to understand the company you’re dealing with. You need to remove companies with inept sales staff immediately from consideration. The sales representative should be able to understand your questions and answer them precisely and succinctly. They should also listen to your concerns and ask good, thoughtful questions. They should be responsive, willing to research and go that extra mile to give you the right answers.

The Management Team

Before you sign the contract, you need to speak with the management team and get to know them. You’ll be working with them directly after all. You need to check how responsive they are, how intelligent and professional they are. You should ask for a meeting with the management team before the signing.

If the provider arranges the meeting without prompting, they might be the right company for you. IT is an essential part of your business and picking the right IT service provider is important. You can find the best one on the Hotfrog Canada’s IT Services page.