With entire industries decimated by the pandemic, 2020 is a year that many of us can’t wait to wave goodbye to. But while there’s finally some real hope on the horizon, some things won’t be going back to the way they were before, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the pandemic highlighted many problems that existed before, such as a lack of adaptability to the rising trend of remote work and the almost universal importance of eCommerce.
As companies shift their focus from mere survival to long-term recovery and growth, now is a perfect time to start rethinking the way your business approaches modern technology. Cloud-based platforms and managed services offer solutions to many of the problems businesses have been experiencing over the past year and even before that. With the right digital strategy, every company can become more adaptable and resilient in the face of uncertainty.
What is IT outsourcing?
IT outsourcing is the practice of partnering with an external service provider to deliver various IT services. Some of the most popular services include data storage, information security, and infrastructure management. Outsourcing is especially popular in the service-based economy, where smaller companies can access the same technology resources and expertise that were previously only available to large enterprises with fully staffed IT departments.
Why should you outsource IT services?
Here are five reasons to consider outsourcing in the year ahead.
1. Stay up to date with the latest developments
If there’s only one constant in the world of computing, it’s change. The landscape is changing all the time, with new hardware and software products alike constantly entering the market. A lot of these new things are hyped up far more than they deserve, but others give businesses a huge competitive advantage. Outsourcing your IT gives you access to that knowledge and expertise to help you determine what’s best for addressing the unique needs of your business.
2. Overcome skills gaps in your organization
One of the biggest challenges companies face is the widening technical skills gap. There are now millions of unfilled positions around the world in cybersecurity alone, which also means hiring a full-time security leader, for example, is far beyond what many smaller businesses can afford. Moreover, most small businesses simply don’t have the funds to run a fully equipped and staffed in-house IT department. Working with a knowledgeable service provider who has experience in your field can fill those skills gaps at a fraction of the price.
3. Let your employees focus on their core roles
Technical problems are among the most common complaints among today’s employees. Staff left unable to work because of things like endless loading screens, glitches, and other technical issues will soon end up demotivated. Some might even be tempted to use risky workarounds. All the while, these issues hinder their focus on their core roles, which increases turnover and reduces efficiency. Outsourcing your IT lets someone else take care of these challenges, so you don’t have to.
4. Maximize service availability and uptime
Unscheduled downtime results in reduced customer loyalty, lost sales, and no small amount of frustration among your employees. If your business primarily or exclusively operates online, problems like your website or email accounts going offline can bring everything to a grinding halt. Outsourced IT services are based around service level agreements (SLAs), contracts that guarantee a minimum level of service and a maximum response time to requests for support.
5. Reduce capital expenses on technology
New hardware is expensive and vulnerable to rapid obsolescence, and it needs regular upgrades and maintenance. Before long, it becomes a major cost that simply isn’t justifiable for most smaller organizations. One of the main advantages of partnering with a managed services provider (MSP) is that it reduces these costs by proactively caring for your IT and assisting in your migration to cloud-based computing.
Complete Technology proactively manages and maintains your IT assets with a dedicated and experienced team. Contact us today to shift the burden.
