| There is an alarming trend in the IT service | | | | of the time, it comes back to an issue that could have |
| organizations in today's service world. It is the lack of | | | | been prevented with proper anticipation of their needs |
| quality services provided by small business computer | | | | and then taking the proactive support to implement the |
| service and network organizations. Could it be the | | | | needed steps to prevent any downtime. |
| shortage of skilled computer technicians? Or is it really | | | | - Service The Client - Service companies need to |
| the inability for the leaders in these small computer | | | | consistently service their clients. When you have put |
| support companies to see what is happening in their | | | | into place the steps needed to anticipate their needs |
| market? | | | | and then proactively implemented these solutions, small |
| Computer support organizations, especially those that | | | | business consulting companies need to service their |
| focus on the small business marketplace, need to put | | | | clients consistently. Stop servicing your clients and you |
| their focus on their client base. This focus is vital with | | | | might as well hand them over to your competition. I |
| the emergence of larger players in the small business | | | | cannot speak enough about the enhanced level of |
| computer consulting space that are developing an | | | | service that small business clients require--they will |
| interest in servicing your client base. | | | | always depend on the expertise of their IT consultant |
| The three things that all small business computer | | | | the most . Consultants today cannot assume that |
| support companies need to master are: | | | | things are just working at their clients. You need to be |
| - Anticipate your client's needs - Computer Consultants | | | | in there all the time. |
| need to actively anticipate their client's business goals | | | | These are three main areas that today's small |
| now and in the future. Small businesses can change | | | | business consultants need to focus on to ensure their |
| direction on a dime since their decision making | | | | success. If you do not take care of your clients, your |
| hierarchy is very direct. So it is important that the small | | | | competition will. You can bank on it. |
| business service organization has the ability to | | | | Information Technology companies today are so |
| anticipate what their client's needs will be now and | | | | concerned about service metrics, managed services |
| have the ability to foresee their short term and long | | | | and many new trends in servicing clients that they are |
| term needs. An information technology consultant with | | | | failing at one major area--actually servicing them. Small |
| the ability to see the opportunities of their client's needs | | | | Business consultants seem more concerned about the |
| will entrench themselves into their client's business for | | | | perfect service plan, how to charge their clients and |
| a long period of time. | | | | designing the perfect solution. This preoccupation has |
| - Proactive Support - Once you can master the | | | | them leaving the front door open to their competition |
| anticipation of your client's needs, the next step is to | | | | who understands the importance of servicing the client, |
| take the appropriate steps to ensure that the items | | | | anticipating their needs, and taking the proactive steps |
| they have anticipated coming down the pipe are now | | | | to understand their needs, goals and desires when it |
| proactively put into place. Small businesses cannot | | | | comes to technology. |
| work successfully in a reactive mode. When their | | | | It is time to get back and focus on what the client's |
| technology support company does not take the steps | | | | needs are, anticipate their direction, proactively address |
| to proactively service their client base they run the risk | | | | these needs and then service the heck out of them. |
| of their clients suffering unnecessary downtime. Most | | | | |