This is typically the time of year when small and midsize businesses start planning their IT strategy and budget for the year ahead. Lately, as I listen to their concerns and obstacles, the conversation increasingly centers around cost. Many business owners are tightening their belts right now and of course, they want to do so without sacrificing the quality of products/services they provide. IT always plays a big part in business operations and therefore, an organization’s approach to it must be weighed very carefully.
There are a few options on how to handle your organization’s IT: Hiring and maintaining an internal IT staff/department or outsourcing your IT to an IT Service Management company (ITSM).
When attempting to decide between the two, it’s critical to first assign values to each one of your options. (If you need a good place to start on assessing your needs, click here.) If you’ve been through the process before, you know this: It’s not like comparing apples to apples.
So, let me lay out the high-level Pros/Cons list to help you begin your planning:
The Apples: Internal IT
Pros: On-site presence, deep understanding of company culture, system integration, and customization.
Cons: Higher costs (salary, benefits, training, equipment), limited expertise, resource constraints.
The Oranges: Outsourcing IT Vendors
Pros: Cost-effectiveness, access to specialized expertise, scalability, 24/7 monitoring, focus on core business.
Cons: Communication hurdles, reliance on vendor reliability, quality variations, hidden costs.
The Pears: Outsourcing to IT Partners
Surprise! There’s a third option: IT partners.
You may be wondering what the difference is between an IT vendor and IT Partner. In a nutshell, it boils down to the level of involvement, communication, and strategy you receive in your Service Level Agreements (SLA).
Here is what you get with a true, IT partner:
- A dedicated partner experience team
- Security solutions to safeguard your business
- Transparent pricing, including onsite support for new equipment installation
- A liaison with software and tech vendors for issue resolution
- Technology roadmap aligned with your business goals
- Ongoing education on evolving technology
The best part is that if it simply boils down to costs, you’ll be surprised to know that approximately 75% of the companies we engage with end up reducing costs and receiving enhanced services compared to their current IT management approach.
Regardless of what you may decide, we can guide you through the process and provide you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision that’ll be more sustainable for your organization. (You don’t have to choose us – we just aim to be in your produce basket!)
Connect with us here and let’s begin the dialogue about where you are and where you want to be with your IT for 2025.
As always, we’re here to provide you with unparalleled support!
