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Does Managed IT Really Help Businesses?
We talk to businesses almost every day who wonder if managed IT would actually be beneficial to their business. The answer? Yes. Whether the IT expert is hired in-house or through an external partner, a great IT system is something every business should have in place in 2021. For example, externally managed IT services help businesses to decrease overhead cost, less risk, and an overall increase in employee and system efficiency. In this article, we will discuss 5 of the top ways that externally managed IT services can help increase overall business productivity.
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SKIP THE LINE:
Increased Employee Productivity
Preventative Solutions
Higher Level of IT Knowledge
Fewer Surprise Costs
Free Up Resources
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Increased Efficiency
Employee efficiency is often hinged on technology each day. Was the computer slow to start? Are systems loading properly? Is it connecting to the proper printer? A great managed IT provider helps to maintain regularly scheduled software updates, monitored system speeds, data recovery, and data backup services, among other things. Having these systems in place helps businesses avoid unnecessary downtime and increases overall productivity.
Technology can also help companies simplify tasks that may be taking days of your employee’s time, such as filing paperwork manually, retrieving those files, and data entry. If this is something that is preventing employees from getting to those pressing tasks in a timely manner, we recommend looking into document management services.
Preventative Solutions
Secure network support is essential to the prevention of cyber-attacks and threats. From the safety and security of a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC), managed IT providers can offer proactive remote network monitoring to precisely identify potential issues, avoid complications from slow servers, prevent security breaches, manage data spikes, and eliminate server or application crashes. Having a team of experts by your side ensures that critical issues are caught prior to them happening, keeping your systems and data safe from outside viruses, malware, hacking attempts, and more. When network support is paired with help desk support for daily issues, your business will flow efficiently and allow you to focus on your day-to-day operations.
Higher Level of IT Knowledge
Systems are changing at a more rapid pace than ever before. It can be hard for one or two-person teams to maintain the education needed on all systems. The Google algorithm alone updates 1-2 times per day, according to most experts. For this reason, as a small to midsize business, it is best to have a team of dedicated experts on your side. Using local IT teams can help prevent any delay in communication and be there for necessary in-person fixes. Common day-to-day support services include:
- Password resets
- Software Updates
- Network Errors
- Printer Issues
- Frozen Screens
- File Recovery
- Workstation Power Issues
Overall, we have seen many businesses thrive when they do not have to worry about potential security breaches, can have common problems solved quickly, and have quicker systems to work with.
Related Article: Outsourced vs In-House IT Services
Fewer Surprise Costs
Finding a managed IT provider with a contract that includes a transparent, fixed monthly fee can be a major asset to your company. While many IT companies charge by the hour or project, a fixed monthly fee avoids most of these situations. Examples of additional charges with a fixed package would include special projects and out-of-scope services, which should be spelled out in the contract.
Free Up Resources
Do you have an in-house “guy” who is the go-to for all IT issues, but should be working on their actual job? Free up some of their time and let them get back to business with an external IT partner.
Investments in hiring, training and resources are required for in-house IT staff. Consider how much in-house vs. outsourced IT services will cost in the long run. Outsourcing IT services may appear more expensive at first, but the ongoing costs of hiring in-house staff are higher.
Want a customized solution based on your needs? Not quite sure where to go from here? Let the experts at Ford Office Technologies give you a hand at 1-800-633-3673 or by emailing info@fordtech.com
