Is Your IT Support What It Should Be?
The modern world has changed as a result of revolutionary technology. Technology is continuously changing, and it is thanks to this progress that both our personal and professional life are now easier and much more connected than they ever were. Businesses all around the world are gradually integrating technology into every aspect of their operations, some without even realising it. Whether it’s a small family-run company or a huge multinational behemoth, tech is having an impact.
The use of the proper tools and, more importantly, the appropriate amount of support for those tools’ use, could not be more crucial today, as technology is perhaps the most vital component of a successful business.
The influx of business technology has led to an explosion in IT support companies, and aspiring business owners have seen an opportunity. The majority of these companies make outrageous claims like, “We give the best support,” “We approach your IT landscape proactively,” or “We cater our service to you.” How can you even define “the best” IT support? How is it measured? The answer unquestionably depends on the goals you have for IT.
One widespread misunderstanding about IT support is that it is just support. Contrary to the name, it isn’t any longer only support. Yes, there was a period when that was what it meant, but it was only because technology hadn’t advanced enough to meet everyone’s requirements. There was no chance of making future plans. The IT was functional, but that was about the best you could hope for as you had to adapt your business to fit within its constraints rather than the other way around. Fortunately, we can now tailor our IT support plans to each client rather than forcing them to adjust to IT’s requirements.
Modern IT support should do more; it should be tailored to your business and change to meet your demands. The IT professionals who handle your account ought to be concerned; they ought to exert every effort to join your team and work hard to assist you in achieving your business objectives with the aid of cutting-edge technology.
What can a competent IT support professional do for you?
Show interest with proactivity
An IT organisation needs to take a proactive stance. They should be genuinely interested in your company’s future and want to know about its past. When they only seem to show interest or offer any support when an issue develops, the majority of IT suppliers behave more like an insurance provider than a partner. By demonstrating interest, they will be able to plan for the worst-case situation in a way that best suits your particular management style and, consequently, your entire organisation. How can they accomplish that if they are unaware of how your business is actually operated on a daily basis? Since every company in the world is unique, why are we all given the same treatment?
A proactive approach enables you to anticipate situations far more successfully; in the event of an issue that could define your organisation, you and your team will be ready—or at the very least, have developed a plan to keep your team operating. Strategically aligned IT, combined with IT support that reflects it, is crucial because being able to foresee problems prevents small ones from growing into large ones.
Allow for unlimited calls
Any IT provider who restricts the number of calls you are permitted to make to them should be ignored right away. How could you possible foresee how frequently you may need assistance or when that assistance may be required? The premise alone is absurd. If you knew that, you wouldn’t ever require help in the first place.
Effective communication
Tech-savvy people aren’t always the best communicators; while this doesn’t diminish their technical expertise, it does have an impact on the level of service they can provide. Your IT environment, as well as your provider’s relationship, could suffer from inadequate levels or quality of communication. If they don’t accomplish these things, you have little chance of being ready for any potential problems. They must be in continual touch with you, show interest in your future plans, and discuss with you any concerns they have about the general technology landscape of your firm. You won’t even get this far if there is bad communication from the beginning since how else would they be able to understand your worries and goals, let alone assist you in resolving them?
You’ll communicate with the right providers frequently. Of course, don’t anticipate a call every day; a call once a month will do. They must make a concerted effort to learn about you, your team, your company’s operations in general, its history, and your long-term goals.
The top support providers will not only become technically familiar with your company; they will also want to know what makes it successful, what operational issues can jeopardise it, the difficulties you have on a daily basis, and what they can do to assist.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
An SLA is crucial because it outlines the criteria you and the service provider agree upon and outlines the guarantees they provide regarding the service. Take your time to discuss things with potential providers; don’t just accept the first contract that is presented to you. Each supplier has a comparatively unique product.
If the article has the desired effect, it will arm you with the knowledge to make a revised decision about what is best for you, your team, and the future success of your business. The following article will be a checklist of what to look out for in an IT provider, outlining what to look out for on potential providers’ websites.
Need to change IT Support provider?
If you are unsure about any of these areas then please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our experts here at 4TC can help you with your IT Support or any other technical queries.