Five signs that may indicate your IT Support provider is about to let you down.

As we slowly go in to lockdown restrictions it is important to take stock of your business future and map out plans for continued growth in a different environment with the pandemic. No matter the direction your business takes, security and efficiency are invaluable for the sustained success of your operation. Working during the pandemic and its aftermath has shown us the importance of effective technical support and how an ineffective IT service can be an obstacle to a company’s success.

The five signs given below will help you decide if your IT support provider has what it takes to see your business through these different and difficult times, or if you should consider switching providers.

1. Support during lockdown was not up to mark

Did you experience ineffective IT support during the lockdown period? As businesses went into work from home mode, it was a scramble to ensure a smooth workflow process for employees. Did you enjoy a smooth transition with your IT support provider or were they unable to handle the

changing work dynamic? Did they have the right tools and experience to ensure uninterrupted work for you and your employees and were they able to adapt to the changing needs quickly and efficiently? Keep in mind that working from home or remote working will be the norm for many till such time the pandemic is under control, so it is important to look at the long term support capabilities and adaptability of your provider.

2. Were they able to adapt?

The sudden change to working remotely was a good indicator for many businesses regarding the ability of their IT providers. Was your IT support able to come through and prove their flexibility and adaptability to the sudden and immediate IT requirements that were different to those prior to lockdown? Unfortunately, many businesses had to undergone harsh changes from loss of business to loss of benefits to retrenching staff. All these situations called for a different work ethic both mentally and manually as some had to take on more work to meet company needs. Work hours changed and the need for seamless connectivity became imperative. Did your IT support provider adapt to all these changes and are they flexible in their approach to your new requirements?

3. Lack of proper communication

Did you feel a flow of communication with your IT support team during the lockdown or were you faced with a lot of technical jargon excuses as to why they could not support you properly?

You should not have to chase behind definitions during a time when you simply need straightforward and dependable support. You should have a communication system where you explain your need and your provider will in simple terms explain what you will need to achieve it. A clearly defined and well thought out process reduces a lot of the stress from the decision making process.

4. Was there any value addition?

With the immense changes that most business work environments have undergone business goals and plans have also had to shift and change to survive. Has your IT Support partner been proactive and a supportive and valuable partner during these ongoing changes? Were they helpful with their suggestions and ideas towards enabling your business to handle the sudden environmental changes? Did you experience a proactive understanding of your business goals and path? Basically, your IT support provider should be as invested in your company’s growth and success as you are, as it is in their best interest as well.

5. You have lost confidence

As mentioned before, the lockdown period was a time of upheaval, a make or break situation for many. Those who not only survived but thrived were the companies that were able to get their business online within a short period of time. To do this they would have been supported completely by their IT support partners. If you did not experience this smooth transition to a completely online work platform and if you did not feel 100% supported then you should not really have confidence in your IT support partner being able to support your business goals in the long run. If they do not understand your company objectives and are not proactive in their responses and solutions, then they are probably not the correct partner to guide your business towards continued success.

Times are too uncertain for a business not to have a strong support foundation moving forward.

If you understand that you need to switch IT partners and would like to find out how we can help your business to succeed and grow, then please do get in touch with us today.

7 Benefits of having external IT support for your business.

Outsourced IT support is a smart way to even the playing field for small to medium businesses looking to take their product and business to the next level. By opting for external IT support, you will not only be getting professional IT backing you will also be giving yourself the freedom to focus on your core business and its development, without being distracted by IT issues.

Here are seven main benefits in seeking external IT support for small businesses.

1. Reduced risk

For a small business investing in full time IT personnel can be expensive. Plus, there are further factors to be considered such as market knowledge, latest technological trends, compliance, security, and government regulations. When you outsource, all the above areas are taken care of, as the Virtual Edge has specialised professionals on hand with in-depth industry knowledge to handle such issues. Not only will you experience the smooth management of your IT needs, but you will also not have to worry about risk management either.

2. IT is their competency

With outsourced IT support all your requirements will be taken care of smoothly, as you will be dealing with handpicked industry experts who are well versed in the areas of systems, network administration, security, maintenance, technology management and upgrades. Their work is IT centred and as such are experienced in developing best practices and management tools, which your business will benefit from.

3. Result oriented

For an outsourcing IT company, IT is their product, which is why they are completely focused on being constantly excellent. As mentioned in the previous point, IT is their competency and it is in their best interest to look after the best interests of their clients, to ensure continued business for both parties. As they employ experts in all fields of the IT arena, you will have a whole range of skillsets at your disposal.

4. Downtime reduced

Outsourced IT companies are specialised in finding near immediate solutions for a wide variety of system errors with a whole team geared towards ensuring a quick and long lasting solution to an occurring issue. They have in place smooth mechanisms which can guarantee next to no downtime which is a massive boost for the successful functionality any modern company.

5. Ready made IT team

They already have the necessary personnel, trained and experienced. You do not have to waste time and effort securing your own team, which can also be quite daunting if you are not yourself too knowledgeable about IT. This way all areas of your IT needs are taken care of as they have the resources to do so effectively and efficiently. As a further benefit, compared to hiring experts, when outsourced the company distributes the cost of employment amongst each of their clients, so that it becomes more affordable for you.

6. Financial incentive to perform

As the outsourced company works on a contract basis, they have a financial motive to ensure your continued satisfaction. The better they work for you, the better your company benefits which ensures a continuous workflow for them. Also, you can work out a rate agreement which benefits both parties and it is in the outsource company’s best interests to ensure that everything is maintained professionally and properly. This ensures you a diligent IT team constantly working to keep everything running smoothly.

7. Access to greater technology

Outsourcing gives small businesses access to greater IT resources giving them a competitive advantage alongside larger companies. If you are a small to medium business, you will have access to technology and expertise that you may not be able to normally maintain and afford in-house. Outsourced IT support can give smaller companies an IT resource boost that will help level the playing field.

If you are looking for IT support service in London or Kent , then get in touch with us at Virtual Edge for a personalised approach to outsourced IT support and give your business the IT backing and support it deserves.

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