Outsourcing your IT services is a powerful way to save money while maintaining control over your organization’s technology. However, before you outsource, you must understand the benefits and risks associated with doing so. This article outlines five reasons why you should outsource your IT services, as well as how you can save money while maintaining complete ownership over your organization’s technology.
Saves Money on Staffing Costs
One of the biggest savings opportunities that come with outsourced IT services is the reduction in staffing costs. Computer support groups, network engineers, and application support workers are often required to work on a contractual basis, rather than being on salary. As a result, they often find that they can freelance or work with teams that specialize in providing these types of services. This can save your organization money in the long run by reducing the need for expensive hiring and retention issues. To find the best cost savings, consider how often you need to outsource services and how much you are willing to outlay to obtain those services. For example, if you only need support regularly, you will likely benefit from outsourcing more frequently.
Achieves Better Customer Service
Another tangible benefit of outsourced IT solutions is the improvement in customer service that you can achieve as a result. When a customer contacts your support team with a question or issue, you want to be able to help as soon as possible. But the truth is, in certain circumstances, you may not be able to resolve the issue on your own—in which case, outsourced help may be the only solution. When a customer is having trouble with their computer or their IT services in general, they are usually quick to call in frustration. A support representative who takes the time to understand the customer’s situation and needs can go a long way toward relieving their frustration. When a customer is experiencing a tech support issue, it is critical to the overall customer experience to have a professional and helpful support representative who takes the time to understand the issue and its cause.
Ability to Test Out New Ideas
Outsourced IT services can be an incredible way to bring new ideas to fruition. When operations are located in a different city or region, you can still avail of the same support resources that you do in-house —even if they are based in another country. When you contract with an outside provider, you can bring their team to work with you to see what they can do. You can then use that information to expand or refine your offerings. This can result in a product or service that is better in terms of both quality and quantity.
Expertise in Specific Areas
Another way that outsourced IT services can benefit your business is by allowing you to acquire expertise in specific areas. For example, when your business acquires another similar business, you can bring your expertise in data storage to help them with their transition. Your IT team can then work on improving their existing system while you focus on helping your new company grow.
Ability to Maintain More Flexibility
When you outsource your IT services, you will generally have more control over the way that resources are deployed and used. For example, with an outsourced service, you may be able to bring your expertise in data storage to a new location, which allows you to better serve your customers. Or, you may be able to bring your expertise in application support to a different location that has more diverse customer populations, which allows you to better serve those customers as well. When you have more control, you can maintain more flexibility. This can allow you to adjust your offerings at will without having to reroute resources or make significant changes to the way that your business functions.
Conclusion
Outsourcing your IT services can be a powerful way to save money while maintaining control over your organization’s technology. However, before you outsource, you must understand the benefits and risks associated with doing so. Outsourced IT services can be great ways to reduce costs and increase flexibility, particularly for smaller businesses that are looking to remain nimble and responsive to changing market conditions. However, before you choose to outsource your IT services, there are several factors you should consider to ensure that the savings produced by outsourcing do not outweigh the potential risks.
