If you were to ask most business owners and executives what to look for in an outsourced IT provider, they would likely recommend that you closely examine things like certifications, or perhaps technical areas of expertise. While these are good starting points – you certainly want an IT team that understands the hardware and software you use – they shouldn’t be your most important criteria.
In fact, if you want to choose a technology partner that you’re going to be happy with months and years down the road, then what you should really look for is a reputation for service and fair pricing.
The reasoning behind this advice is surprisingly simple: Any good IT team can work on common types of technology, and can probably even learn about any specialized or custom technology you might have. What is harder to find, however, is a vendor that is reliable and responds to your questions and requests in a timely manner.
If you don’t believe us, look at the reviews for some well-known IT companies. You’ll find that the best ones stand out not just for what they know, but the way they deliver value to their clients month after month. They do the job and fix problems, but they also stay in touch and have consistent billing practices.
Are you judging IT vendors on the right criteria?