IT outsourcing doesn’t mean you’ll lose your job - Quartet Service

IT outsourcing doesn’t mean you’ll lose your job

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IT outsourcing doesn’t mean you’ll lose your job

Since the beginning of the tech boom, IT staff have been opposed to outsourcing from managed service providers. They fear that MSPs could replace their existing jobs, but this could be farther from the truth.

 

Today, outsourcing IT services isn’t meant to replace staff, but enable them to do more for their company. It gives them access to the skills and expertise that end up being a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time employee.

 

The majority of IT staff believe that outsourcing is about cutting costs, specifically, salary expenses. This can create long term damage in a company as it cultivates a toxic culture, alienating employees and making them feel undervalued. Plus, dealing with multiple outsourced IT services creates instability over time.

 

Here’s a look at some of the misconceptions of outsourcing that the majority of your staff might experience.

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1. Outsourcing Doesn’t Replace, It Supports
Let’s face it, the majority of SMBs focus only on select core expertise such as finance, law, real estate, mining and health care. So when it comes to other areas in their business, they will lack the skill set to help their company strive.

This is where outsourcing comes into play. It allows businesses to take advantage of expertise outside of their core skills set. Supplementing with outsourced IT staff also allows your existing staff to focus on more important projects, rather than mundane day-to-day tasks. It also saves you from purchasing expensive tools that an MSP will purchase for you, such as Pure Desk™, helpdesk,  security, hosted serversnetwork management, and hosted VoIP.

The wrong way to use outsourcing is to completely replace your IT staff. A more effective strategy utilizes both internal and outsourced IT personnel to create a team with a diverse set of skills.

 

2.Generalist vs. Specialist.
Let’s face it, technology is constantly evolving, making it difficult for businesses to keep up with the latest updates. The change is so frequent that businesses become unaware of newer, cheaper and more effective tools that enter the market. This also affects your staff’s scope of knowledge, making it hard for them to become generalists on the topic of technology. Doing so can stretch employees past their limits, reducing their productivity and costing you thousands of dollars for subpar quality work.

An evolving landscape requires specialist workers who are experts in a specific channel of technology. This is why it’s important to take advantage of outsourced IT consultants. They offer in-depth knowledge on a broad range of topics, which is more effective than constantly training staff on new technologies. This is especially helpful for companies who do not focus on IT.

 

For more information on this topic, check out this whitepaper today: “Is your IT Department Built for 2016 or 2001?”

3. Choosing the Right MSP
Going for the cheapest MSP can prove disastrous for any SMB, as price doesn’t always equate value. This can lead to problems down the road with poor quality of service, inefficient business operations and bad communication.

When choosing an MSP, find a provider that both aligns with your company values and prices according to the quality of work and value you receive. This will get you the best bang for your buck and ensure that you’re investing in the right services to support your IT staff and infrastructure.

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Finding the right MSP is important to your company’s success. Interviewing different IT companies is a great strategy that will help you find the best fit for your business. Ensuring that your values align will prevent issues in the long-run with miscommunication and broken business relationships. Highlighting your expectations in the interview process will also guarantee better collaboration and cooperation.

 

4. Get Everything In Writing
When outsourcing your MSP, it is important to clearly outline the responsibilities of the service provider. This prevents any miscommunication in the outsourcing process, whether its regarding specific services, deadlines on projects or the number of staff dedicated to your SMB. Getting this in writing will provide clear and detailed expectations and a point of reference for all future engagement between the two parties.

This also protects you and outlines clear ownership rights, which has been a problem in the past. Many SMBs have had to dispute their rights after the completion of a project due to miscommunication between the company and the MSP. Having a clear understanding of permissions and services on record will prevent future problems.

 

5. Outsourced vs. In-House Expertise.
Having a clear idea of what you’re looking to outsource or keep in-house is important for any SMB. Keeping your strengths in-house and outsourcing your weaker skills will maximize employee efficiency and get you the best bang for your buck. For example, if your expertise is in cyber security, it’s probably in your best interest to keep it in-house, as you already have the resources to excel in this area. If you lack the skills in helpdesk, it may be best to outsource this service instead of constantly training your staff to learn new skills.

 

Outsourcing can be a huge benefit for any SMB looking to take advantage of expertise outside of their core skills. It helps their business run more efficiently and effectively. Make sure you don’t miss out today.

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