What can you do if you suspect that your IT support is costing you more than it should be in both time and money?
IT support at its best can improve efficiency, streamline your workflow and processes, minimize costly downtime, and save you money.
But what happens when things don’t run smoothly? When the amount you’ve budgeted for IT support is dwarfed by costly delays caused by outdated systems, slow response times, and frequent internet connectivity issues.
Below we’ve outlined some key information on IT support issues and what you can do if you believe that unreliable IT support is costing your business.
What is IT Support?
Let’s consider the different types of IT support and how your business might currently be using them.
The first is in-house IT support, this is when your organization employs IT engineers, specialists, and/or technicians directly. They form an IT support department and this can be as large or as small as your company requires.
A third-party IT support company or managed service provider (MSP for short) is another option, either providing all your IT support needs or used to boost the capacity of your in-house team in a hybrid way.
Each approach has its benefits and drawbacks and the right IT support solution for your business has to reflect your company’s unique needs, configuration, and future plans.
Companies that provide expert IT support can help you to improve your systems with a few simple changes or even a complete infrastructure overhaul, depending on what is needed. Many offer 24/7 help desk support, and some provide both on-site and remote assistance which can be extremely useful.
How can IT Support Become Unreliable?
IT support can become unreliable for many different reasons including changes in staffing either in-house or within the MSP team, large shifts in size or culture in the IT support company or the organization employing it, and of course, changes in technology.
Communication
As with any business relationship, and whether we are considering in-house or third-party solutions, communication is key.
Businesses evolve, change, and move forward in different ways and at different rates. This means that communication of current plans and future goals is essential when considering the IT infrastructure that powers the day-to-day operations of an organization and allows staff to complete their work free of issues.
A relationship and plan that may have started productively, could falter if regular communication, system monitoring, and future planning are not undertaken.
Investment
Financial investment is also a key area for consideration. In terms of the practicalities of keeping hardware and software updated and fit for purpose, some form of investment planning and budgeting needs to be in place. At the pace and rate of technological innovation and evolution, a company that does not plan to invest in its infrastructure and technology is a company that could rapidly fall behind its competitors and loses its customer base.
IT support can become unreliable for lots of reasons and can stem from in-house issues or problems within the organization’s third-party IT support provider. In the former, department training, increased staffing, and investment could help you solve some of the issues. In the latter? Perhaps it’s time to start looking for a better IT support provider, one that can meet the needs of your organization and will create and monitor a modern IT infrastructure that allows your business to grow and flourish.
What is the Impact of Unreliable IT Support on a Business?
From frustrating internet connectivity interruptions to catastrophic data loss and system failure; unreliable or inconsistent IT support can have a huge negative impact on a business and its ability to function.
Immediate and large-scale issues are easier to spot, they affect more people and there’s more noise about them, whether from staff, customers, or both. Smaller, ‘drip-drip’ issues are harder to spot but can be just as damaging long term.
This is why regular monitoring and proactive responses, like those provided by a reputable and proficient IT support company, can help to mitigate both ongoing and emerging issues.
Unreliable IT support can result in:
- Unexpected Digital Downtime – whether through internet connectivity issues or out-of-date software. Not being able to complete daily tasks can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your business and result in lost sales or missed opportunities.
- Loss of Essential Communication – rapid, reliable, and consistent communication between teams, partners, staff, and customers is absolutely vital for an organization to function at its best. When one link in the communication chain goes down due to poor IT support or insufficient response times, the impact can be massive and damaging.
- Cost vs Service Imbalance – when you pay for a service that barely scratches the surface of your day-to-day IT needs, there are bound to be issued. Your IT support provider needs to offer you the flexibility to scale your needs up and/or down as required.
- Reduced Turnover and Unhappy Customers – with technology driving the majority of business transactions, any negative impact caused by unreliable or insufficient IT support can have a lasting impact on your profits and damage your company’s reputation.
All of these and many other potentially dire issues can be caused by unreliable IT support. The solution? Better, more comprehensive, and responsive IT support, either to enhance the capabilities of your in-house team or to provide the full range of your company’s IT needs via a third-party supplier.
Final Thoughts
If you feel that the current IT support you have is unreliable and costing your business time and money and taking focus away from growth, it might be time to switch IT support providers or look for some third-party backup for your in-house team.
Partnering with any MSP needs to be a relationship based on trust and communication. Finding the right IT support provider offering the full spectrum of solutions and services with flexibility and proactive monitoring of your systems to mitigate future issues can feel daunting.
Get some recommendations from organizations you trust and try a keyword search via your preferred search engine that is specific to you and your business e.g. IT support Bristol or IT support South West. This will give you details of IT support companies local to you and you’ll be on your way to better, more reliable IT support in no time.
