Choosing the right information technology consultant for your organization can be a critical business decision. The computer and network support company you decide on directly impacts your productivity, your flexibility, and even your bottom line. Technology plays an integral role in today’s business world. Blackberries, laptops, email and instant messenger have all become tools of the trade when communicating with clients. But what are the results whenever your email goes down? Or once you can’t hook up to the net to gather time-sensitive data for a customer? The advantages of technology can come at a high price, and it is times like these when businesses, especially smaller companies, need a reliable IT partner who are able to reduce downtime. You might think the main criteria when selecting an information technology consultant should be expertise. Although expertise happens to be a deciding factor, a possible computer and network support company’s customer care approach should be thought about closely as well. All things considered, what good is a professional once you can’t get touching him to repair your critical IT issues?
The Difference Between an IT Partner and a Vendor
It could look like semantics, but there’s a real difference between a network support company that signs on to be your IT partner and an information technology consultant that’s yet another vendor selling applications and services. An IT partner must have a customer care model that aligns with the long-term goals of its clients and is centered on helping to cultivate clients’ businesses.IT-Service Düsseldorf
Many computer and network support companies’ method of customer care leaves something to be desired. You call to schedule an on-site visit because your network is having issues, and it is slowing your turn-around time down seriously to a snail’s pace. You get a phone back four hours later from a worker that you have never spoken with before. They are able to come, however it will need to be tomorrow or perhaps Monday, because all of their guys work on a network issue at a significant law firm. To these vendors, your company is just another small fish in a sea of bigger clients.
To an information technology consultant that’s a true partner, your organization, whether large or small, is their business. A network support company that take the partner approach does not take technical issues lightly since they realize that IT will make or break a company. Somebody takes the full time to access know the ins and outs of your organization from day one. They understand what your company needs, from a technological perspective, to be successful, and they will not just provide that, but also provide advice on the best way to use technology to cultivate your business. Overall, this type of information technology consultant provides a great deal more than services – they act as an extension of one’s business.
Signs of a Dependable Computer and Network Support Company
When looking for the best computer and network support company, you ought to watch out for some tell-tale signs which will provide insight into whether the partner you are considering is a great fit for the company. First, ask the next questions when researching potential partners:
- Will my company be assigned one individual who will act as our primary information technology consultant? If the potential computer and network support company says no, then there is a great chance you will be speaking with someone different every time you call in with an issue. This can get tricky because when more than one person is responsible for your account, your requests can slip through the cracks. Also, the blame game will probably occur with this scenario – “I thought Bob said he would call you back.”
- Can you tell me about your escalation process when working with client issues? This is a vital question because some issues are far more time-sensitive than others and, if your information technology consultant is unavailable, you need to know what back-up plan measures come in spot to expedite resolution of one’s issues.
- Will my IT contact manage to break up technical jargon into something I can understand? The majority of us are not as technically savvy as our IT consultants – in the end, that’s why we hired them! There is nothing worse than paying top dollar for technical expertise although not being able to understand a phrase the expert says. And, some consultants come off as down right egotistical once they fail to notice that you will be lost since they are describing your network infrastructure. An excellent information technology consultant gets the technical smarts but knows how exactly to communicate in order that even the smallest amount of technically savvy person in the group can follow.
Use your instincts – you are able to usually glean a lot from your first conversation with a possible IT and network support company. If your questions appear to stump them or, when they act as if they are hurried, expect more of exactly the same behavior in the future. A network support company whose focus is on partnership will probably play an integral role in achieving your company’s long-term goals. That is why it is vital to deal with the study and selection process as if you are hiring on a full-time employee.
Conclusion
There are many factors to take into account when looking for the best information technology consultant. The selection process will be unique to a particular extent for every company, but asking key questions about the potential computer and network support company’s service should help single out the best candidates. Most companies will agree that the mixture of expertise and a reliable customer care model make for a great IT partner.