Choosing a technology provider isn’t always easy, and it can be a substantial commitment. It’s important to choose a provider who has a vested interest in your mutual success! Here are five things to look for when choosing your next IT service provider:
1. Security First Mindset
You don’t have to be an IT or cybersecurity expert… But your technology service provider does! With the never ending stream of security threats facing your organization, it’s important for security to be top of mind for your IT service provider. At SquarePlanIT, we believe that cybersecurity is a foundational requirement for all technology solutions. We’ll spare you the techno-babble, but we take a zero-trust approach that balances security and productivity.
2. IT Strategy & Budget Planning
Just because you’re not an IT expert doesn’t mean you don’t have to budget for IT expenses. In addition to supporting your team day to day, your IT service provider should be helping you forecast your IT spend as it aligns to your business strategic goals, just as if you had a team of IT resources in-house. At SquarePlanIT, we operate as your vCIO (Virtual Chief Information Officer) to assist with strategic technology and budget planning.
3. Business Process Improvement
Best in class IT service providers are not only aligned with your strategic goals; they’re also intimately familiar with your day to day operational processes, allowing them to work with you to simplify and optimize your workflows through technology. At SquarePlanIT, our mission is to empower business growth through innovative technology solutions.
4. Value Added Services
When choosing a technology service provider, make sure to look at the value added services that they provide in addition to day to day user support, strategic planning, and business process improvement. Value added services can include things such as training, webinars and other resources. At SquarePlanIT, we offer training for business productivity tools to empower your team to be more collaborative and productive. Working across industries gives us the ability to connect you with other professional service firms when you need them. Need a CPA, revenue management firm, or maybe an architect? We can recommend one!
5. References
Check references! Just like you wouldn’t hire a new employee without a thorough interview and reference check process, you shouldn’t blindly hire a professional IT services firm to manage your technology. Make sure to do your due diligence when selecting a new IT service provider. At SquarePlanIT, we thrive on the referrals of our satisfied clients, and we’re always happy to provide references. These are real world clients who are happy to answer questions about their experience with our services.
Next Steps
Don’t spend another day frustrated by technology! Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to see if we’re a good mutual fit!
