| Small businesses often employ a haphazard, shotgun | | | | a feel for your organization's culture. Likewise, access |
| approach to their IT and web services needs. This | | | | to the provider's staff and resources is equally |
| "putting out fires" method of management can be | | | | important. The relationship is going to be much more |
| costly to business growth and function. This article | | | | effective when that company has a mandate for |
| outlines the great benefits that small businesses can | | | | personalized service and an open door to |
| reap by identifying and partnering with a web and IT | | | | communications. |
| solutions provider. Then, it offers ten clear steps for | | | | 4. Due diligence |
| selecting and working with the best IT and Web | | | | Think of hiring a solutions partner for information |
| partner for one's business. Do you often feel stuck in | | | | technology services like you would hiring someone for |
| the computer abyss when it comes to managing your | | | | your staff. Look for a company that is seeking a |
| company's needs for web or information technology | | | | long-term partnership. Ask for references. Then find |
| services? Businesses with fewer than 50 or 60 | | | | out how long the company has been in business, who |
| employees often find themselves struggling to keep | | | | you will have access to for a problem or project and |
| pace with their basic web and computer support | | | | how the provider charges for its computer support |
| services and miss out on effective small business IT | | | | services. |
| solutions. | | | | 5. Cohesive approach and good facilitation |
| Without the guidance of an information technology | | | | The partner that you select should want to take a |
| services provider, small businesses can end up | | | | cohesive approach to understanding your business or |
| wasting time and money on computer support | | | | organization and help you come up with a customized |
| services because they aren't in touch with the best | | | | plan for your technology and web needs, be it a |
| technology tools and practices for small business IT | | | | long-range strategy or a specific project. The |
| solutions. Even zero-employee companies can benefit | | | | difference between "Joe-I-Fix-Anything-PCs" and a |
| immensely from a computer support services partner | | | | provider of complete information technology services |
| who shows them how to standardize their practices, | | | | and solutions is someone who can do a good |
| save money with the right hardware or software and | | | | discovery about your organization and its goals, |
| develop effective websites. | | | | facilitate the project and help bring together providers |
| Putting Out Fires — Who Needs Dedicated | | | | for the components outside their expertise. Also, a |
| Computer Support Services Anyway? | | | | one-stop shop can provide you with benefits. Keeping |
| The approach often taken by small organizations | | | | your hardware and software purchases, web and |
| when it comes to information technology services is | | | | computer support services together can provide you |
| one of putting out fires. No one has time to update the | | | | economies of scale combined with the convenience of |
| website, the network is cobbled together with wiring | | | | single point of support and access to someone who |
| strung across the floor, and you're not sure when the | | | | knows your business. |
| last backup really ran. Then, a hard drive starts going | | | | How to Get the Most Out of the Relationship |
| click-click. You call that guy you occasionally use for | | | | 6. Identify key problems, goals and areas to improve |
| computer support services, "Joe-I-Fix-Anything-PCs," to | | | | efficiency |
| get the computer booting. That's when to your horror | | | | Once you partner with a provider of information |
| you discover that the tape in the drive since last | | | | technology services and solutions, the first and most |
| Tuesday wasn't really backing up and the click-click is | | | | important step is an analysis of problems. The more |
| the sickening sound of your QuickBooks data being | | | | you can communicate about your company, current |
| eaten by the dying hard drive. | | | | practices and areas to improve, the more effective |
| There is a Better Way: A Solutions Partner for Web | | | | your solutions partner can be in coming up with a |
| and Information Technology Services | | | | computer support services plan designed to keep |
| It isn't that "Joe" can't spot you some quick computer | | | | things running smoothly, maximize your assets and |
| support services and get you up and running again. It's | | | | move your organization forward. |
| the point that the "bargain" hard drive failed without | | | | 7. Set up best practices |
| warning, your data wasn't backed up and you didn't | | | | Typically the biggest challenge small organizations face |
| even have a centralized data management practice to | | | | in being successful is getting out of their own way, |
| begin with. Wouldn't it have been great to avoid all the | | | | seeing the big picture and making the changes |
| headaches by using best-practice guidelines for | | | | necessary for improvements to happen. A good small |
| business management and making informed purchase | | | | business IT solutions partner can help you set up best |
| decisions? That's where a good small business IT | | | | practices to get most out of your investment in |
| solutions provider comes in, not only to avoid disaster | | | | information technology services. However, making sure |
| but to save money. For example QuickBooks could be | | | | those practices are implemented and followed rests |
| integrated with your shipping and credit card | | | | squarely on your shoulders, not on those of your |
| processing which saves three employees 30 hours a | | | | computer support services provider. |
| week in order fulfillment. Then you might implement a | | | | 8. Avoid costly mistakes - Don't make impulse |
| web solution for online orders which integrates with | | | | purchases |
| QuickBooks. A good information technology services | | | | Whereas large companies tend to have a formal |
| partner makes computer support services a value | | | | evaluation and approval process in place for making |
| proposition. | | | | technology purchases, many smaller organizations |
| Small Business IT Solutions — Hiring a Partner | | | | make impulse purchases. Let the company you've |
| So what's the best way to find a great web or | | | | hired for information technology services do its job and |
| information technology services partner to work with | | | | provide you its expertise on purchases. If the company |
| and then get the most out of that relationship? | | | | resells hardware and software at competitive rates, |
| 1. Look for a company that specializes in small | | | | purchasing from it can be worthwhile. You'll have a |
| business IT solutions | | | | single point of purchase for computer support services, |
| Computer support services companies that specialize | | | | and the company can recommend hardware and |
| in small business will be more in tune to your particular | | | | software from manufacturers it has partnerships with |
| needs and challenges. They will understand budgetary | | | | and expertise on as well. All of that translates to |
| constraints for computer support services and the | | | | added benefit to you. |
| need to use resources very efficiently. Because | | | | 9. Choose managed information technology services |
| technology developers and manufacturers are now | | | | designed for business |
| seeing a large and relatively untapped market of small | | | | Small organizations have a tendency to operate off |
| business customers, there are some terrific tools | | | | the cuff, looking for freebies or grabbing cheap |
| emerging for small organizations. A technology partner | | | | services not really designed for business. This |
| focused on small business IT solutions and information | | | | approach to information technology services can |
| technology services will help your company grow and | | | | come back to bite you. If you want to grow your |
| succeed. | | | | business, approach your needs for computer support |
| 2. Do you need a local information technology services | | | | services like a bigger organization would. If your IT |
| partner? | | | | partner makes recommendations on computer support |
| Not necessarily. If the goal here is to find a provider of | | | | services that you think you can find cheaper |
| information technology services to help you manage | | | | elsewhere, take a hard look at what you are getting |
| your website, make purchase decisions and facilitate | | | | and how it can really benefit your business. Once you |
| projects, it doesn't have to be local. With sophisticated | | | | weigh all the benefits, you may find the value to your |
| remote tools and web-based collaboration, many | | | | business growth and offerings far outweighs the cost. |
| problems and projects can be addressed remotely. | | | | 10. Can I still do it myself? |
| The key is to find a good fit. For onsite service such | | | | Working with a good provider of information |
| as network installation or hardware swaps, a good | | | | technology services doesn't mean you can't do |
| solutions partner can identify and schedule local | | | | anything yourself. In fact, a reputable and innovative IT |
| computer support services as needed or works with a | | | | company should educate you on how to better |
| nationwide network experts for repairs, rollouts or | | | | manage your technology needs and investments. |
| other onsite computer support service. If the company | | | | There are still a lot of day-to-day tasks you can and |
| isn't local, ask what provisions it has in place for onsite | | | | should do within your organization, depending on your |
| service. | | | | skill level, time and desire. The point is to keep your |
| 3. Personalized computer support services | | | | computer support services partner in the loop and use |
| One of the stigmas attached to the tech industry and | | | | their expertise and input on major technology decisions. |
| a common complaint about providers of computer | | | | Conclusion So, what's in it for you? By partnering with |
| support services is lack of personalization. A good | | | | a provider of information technology services, you'll find |
| provider of information technology services wants to | | | | a more thought out, comprehensive approach to small |
| get to know you, your processes and your employees. | | | | business IT solutions that can increase efficiency, save |
| The staff should ask questions about what your | | | | you money, generate revenue, and help your business |
| company does and who the key contacts are to gain | | | | succeed. |