Managing a small business can be tough, but rewarding work. If you oversee one, you probably understand the constant highs and lows of dealing with different emergencies and work matters throughout the day. If you also oversee the company’s IT platforms, this can leave you with little time to focus on growing and innovating your business.
Hundreds of small business owners like you have also faced the challenge of deciding whether or not they should outsource their IT management. Some owners might not have experience working with a firm or they worry that hiring one is too expensive.
But as your business grows and matures, you will have less and less time to tightly manage non-core business activities. That’s why most small businesses hire an experienced consultant or IT firm to assist them. Read on to learn more about the benefits of outsourcing your IT department now.
Top 5 Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT Support
1. Big savings
Experienced IT professionals are in high demand. But hiring and training new staff members can be costly. Full-time workers also need to receive benefits like pensions, paid holidays, sick days, and 401k matching. If you are a small business, these costs can quickly add up for you.
If you’re company isn’t large enough to require a full IT department and you need to stick to a tight budget, working with an external IT firm is your best option for the time being. By paying only for specific services, you are able to work with a more adaptable and flexible budget.
2. Reliable support from experts
Unless you are an IT expert, you are going to need some extra help managing and overseeing your business’s IT systems. This may include your company’s:
- Work computers
- Point-of-sale (POS) systems
- Cloud computing platforms
- Employee portal
At some point, these systems will need to be updated or fixed should they ever break down or glitch. The last thing you need to deal with is a broken POS system or glitching computer on top of your regular job duties as an owner. Having a professional IT firm who is experienced with addressing these issues will save you lots of stress and time in the long run. Because many of them offer 24/7 support plans, you can expect your IT issues to be handled right away.
3. Increased productivity
Many IT firms will work with owners to develop new systems that will improve their company’s productivity and efficiencies. By leveraging their years of expertise in the IT industry, they might implement central databases, file servers, or other platforms that can help cut down on time and costs.
If you already have an IT staff member, you can outsource tedious, low-level tasks to an IT firm. This allows your IT staff to focus on the long-term picture of your business rather than getting bogged down with technical difficulties that your staff or customers are dealing with.
4. Better security
Cybersecurity is a huge concern among businesses. A professional IT firm can assess your network for potential vulnterabilities, create new security measures, and develop a disaster recovery solution.
To help further protect your company, the firm can also train your employees on best practices for security. By learning how to identify viruses and other dangerous malware, employees can help reduce the risk of a security breach at your company.
5. More free time to focus on business development
As a small business owner, you might be used to having a hand in every part of your business. Learning to let certain parts of it go under the supervision of specialized employees or experts can be difficult for some people. But by delegating these tasks, you are giving you and your employees more free time to explore the big picture goals of your company and develop a clearer path toward achieving them.
How to Hire the Right IT Service Firm
Now that you’ve decided to work with an IT firm, you will need to find a company or consultant that is experienced in your current IT needs. Staffing agencies, employment sites, and even personal referrals can be great resources for finding the right IT partner for you.
But before you start talking to new companies and consultants, you should evaluate your current needs. Do you need help with your company’s network security? Are you looking to build an internal portal for employees? By figuring out what exactly it is you need, you can find expert IT firms that can address your specific needs.
Once your company hires an IT firm that fits your needs and budget, you can refocus your energy on business development and finding new growth opportunities. Instead of worrying about internet problems and updating old software, you can now leave those issues to your professional IT partners.