There can tremendous value in outsourcing IT services. Having an outsider maintain and deliver on IT related services is not an easy path to travel. However, hiring a professional IT consultant or managed IT services provider is a daunting task for many business owners, especially if they are not familiar with technology themselves, or if the scope of an IT project is undefined. It requires detailed goals setting and goal planning to execute an effective project. There are some steps you can take to ensure you choose with a trusted consultant who fits your budget and project requirements. In this article, we discuss the important points to follow when hiring a professional IT consultant or managed IT services provider in Perth for your business.
Evaluate your business IT needs
Businesses should discuss the functions to be outsourced within the budget. Are you planning to outsource the whole IT department or just the maintenance? Are you wanting complete managed IT services or individual services such as hardware and software, access to an IT support and help desk, disaster recovery and business continuity, data back-up management, to unify your communications or cloud computing? These are some of the important things to discuss with the team or business partners when planning.
Create a strategic plan
Planning is a fundamental role in any business objective. Once you have decided to outsource the IT function, it is paramount to commence the process by coming up with a strategic plan and budget. A significant part of planning includes defining goals. You may not know exactly what kind of technology your company needs, but you should have already determined what the investment needs to accomplish and how it will help your company meets its core business goals.
Evaluate their experience
What experience does the prospective IT company in Perth have that attracts you to source their services? It is crucial to investigate the firm’s performance in similar industries and projects they have been involved in. Request that they provide some reference sites indicating the client’s address for your reference. This is a very important step as you will be able to determine the skills that make a certain company in Perth more appropriate for your business compared to the others.
Technology suppliers and their certification
There are many IT companies and consultants in Perth. Some offer more services than others. It is important to examine the firm’s offerings and match them to your business needs. Maybe they are competent in IT support and maintenance, but you need a Microsoft server expert. Perhaps you want to upgrade your phones to VoIP and move to cloud computing? If so, you will need to check the list of their technology suppliers and in what technologies their teams are certified in. It is paramount that you realise the importance of checking how well the IT consultant or company connects to your needs.
Have an appraisal conducted and receive a proposal
What approach will the firm take to deliver the services? A trusted and experienced IT consultant or managed IT services company will conduct a complimentary audit and appraisal for your business. Following on from this, they will create a proposal which will outline the current scenario, and recommend a plan including any upgrades that are required. They should be able to answer any questions or concerns. Once you are happy with the proposal, you can choose to proceed.
Tips for getting a better deal. You have to figure out:
- How much do you spend on maintaining your IT environment? Is it efficient for you?
- What type of services do you need most, and have you identified new needs?
- What do you think has worked for you in the past and what hasn’t? Your needs may have changed. What was right for you two years ago may not be now.
- Do you already have a framework with a plan for your IT environment?
- Have you recently had an IT audit, or you would like to get one?
- What type of connection do you need – including the speed of connection?
- What type of hardware do you need?
- Do you feel you need to improve efficiency in your workplace?
- What are the terms and conditions, pricing information and what is and isn’t included in your plan?
- What are the services agreements, the type of contract and expiration date, early termination fees, access charges, disconnection charges and any other possible fees?
These are the important undertakings to guarantee success when outsourcing the IT functions in your business. It is critical that you hire a trusted and qualified IT consultant or managed IT services provider in Perth. To hire a trusted managed IT services provider, contact Xenex Systems today.
