You have decided to go for a managed IT service, there are things you have to look out for. The same way your company has values, the agency of choice for your IT managed service must also have the right values and culture.
Beyond, the expertise that your IT agency can bring to the table, it is important that these values and distinctions be present in your agency of choice. These variables must guide your choice of an agency, if you don’t find these values, you should look further afield for the right agency that can work for you.
Here are the 10 most important variables that you must be on the lookout for:
Attention to details
It is very important that an IT agency pay careful attention to details. The world of Information Technology is one that is intricate – every detail matters. If you have an agency that doesn’t pay attention to details, you are at risk of being exposed to issues that will be detrimental to you and your systems. It is therefore important that your agency of choice has the capability to pay attention to details.
Great customer service
When you are on the lookout for a managed IT agency, you should pay particular attention to how they manage their customers. Are they willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to please their customers? This should be a priority if they want to keep doing business with you. How do they respond to downtime at an odd hour? These are the metrics to watch out for.
Versatility
It is necessary that your IT managed service agency is versatile; they can offer a range of services that can put you on the path for success. There should be no need to have an agency to handle your cloud solution and another one to handle your device wireless services. One agency with the right reach will be able to accomplish that.
Right Pricing
As a business, it is a must to have a budget. While pricing should not be your first port of call in picking an agency to managed your IT services, it would come into the conversation at some point. The right price is going to determine if they are the agency for you or not.
Pool of talents
With diversity and range comes the need to have a pool of talent that can be trusted to offer cutting edge services as required by your business. You must ascertain that the agency knows what they are doing and that they have the required manpower to pull it off.
Adaptability
Your IT agency of choice should be flexible and adaptable to your own specific needs. The agency is expected to service your need, not the other way round. If you find an inkling of any pressures from the agency trying to bend you to their way of doing things, you should look things over. They can give advice, of course, but it should be clear that they have to help you with whatever path you choose.
Reputation
You want to pick out an agency that has stood the test of time. For how long have they been around? A few months? That is not good enough! You should be looking at IT agencies that have a credible reputation. It is necessary if you want to be sure of things running smoothly.
Industry expertise
How well does the IT service agency you are picking know your industry? Do they service other clients who work in your industry? You might want to look into this, it is not enough to have the right infrastructures, the application must be in line with what your specific industry needs. Is the agency aware of this or they want to start learning on the job?
Proactive support
One key difference between a managed IT agency and a repair shop is the fact that a managed IT service will always provide proactive support. You can rest easy knowing that your networks and infrastructures will run as intended. That overwatch support makes all of the difference.
Your success is a priority
How well does the agency understand your business goals? Are they confident that they can help you reach those goals or they are just working in order to get paid? Of course, they would give you the answer you want to hear, it is left to you to find out.
Do not run over the process of vetting your IT agency, take your time. If you are not really sure of an aspect, ask questions and observe keenly too. In the end, the truth will be plain.
10 Things to Look for in a Managed IT Service Provider