IT support – getting value for your business
How do you decide which IT support firm to use?
If you’re looking for IT support for your business, you need to be sure that you’re getting exactly what you want. Needs vary from one business to another, depending on several factors, including:
• The size of your business
• The number of computers
• The degree to which you rely on computers
• Whether you are part of a larger organisation
• How complex your current IT systems are
For many businesses, using external IT support is far cheaper than recruiting someone to look after your IT in-house. You should do a cost-benefit analysis first to make sure that you’re picking the most cost-effective option for your company.
Getting the right IT support
When you’re talking to IT support companies, double-check that they can offer the level of service you’re looking for. Things to watch out for in your IT contract include:
• Hardware maintenance & replacement – do the terms of your contract cover the repair and/or replacement of hardware? Many contracts do not, because it’s rarely the hardware that causes the problem, and because offices with older hardware are more likely to run into problems. You should be prepared to commit to buying new hardware yourself and asking your IT support company to install new machines and troubleshoot and problems.
• Prices – your IT support contract will cover certain basis support elements, but you may have to pay extra for additional or unexpected work. Make sure you are happy with what’s included as standard on the contract, and that you know what the rates are for anything that falls outside your agreement.
• Response time – many companies rely on their computers to help them operate efficiently and cannot afford long periods of downtime. Check if there is a response-time laid out in your contract and ask what happens if that response time is not met.
• Contract length – will you need to renew the contract every year, or will it last for longer than that? Make sure you know when your contract is due to expire so that you can re-negotiate it. You don’t want to be left without any IT support cover. You should also make sure that you know what your obligations are under the contract – you don’t want to put your agreement in jeopardy because you haven’t done the tasks the contract requires you to do.
• Homeworkers – an increasing number of companies are encouraging employees to work more flexibly. This means that they are working from home or remote offices. Find out whether your IT support company can cover people in these locations – even if it’s mainly through telephone or online support.
For a completely new approach to IT support, contact IT Bug. It’s a pay-as-you-go way to get the IT support you need. Just pre-purchase credits of 1 hour IT support and give us a call when you need us. Any un-used time is held on credit so if, for example, you’ve purchased 2 hours’ support but your job only takes an hour and a half, you can carry your extra half hour over to the next job. Online, email and phone support are available for home and business – all you need to do is sign up today or call us on 0845 33 11 35 7.
More Information - Articles - Contact Us - Sign Up - Online Chat
