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Most of our customers have previously been working with outsourced IT for a while, and thus are already convinced of the benefits. However, now and then we sit in front of a potential client, who is weighing up the benefits of outsourcing their IT management versus managing their own with an internal resource.

If you already work with a provider and is considering making a switch, we have an article explaining how to facilitate that transition and explain why Switching is Easy.

For an SME, this question is even more trivial, as every resource must bring maximum value for customers and stakeholders. Our experience from working with clients in many different models suggests that outsourcing technology support works well, and this post will bring some of the main benefits it has against an in-house department for Small and Medium Businesses.

Outsourced IT Versus In-House

The question is not a simple one to answer, as there are many ways in which IT can be managed or co-managed. Some companies will need to hire a dedicated expert to think strategically about technology, while others will rather have that expertise in the form of a close partner.

Same goes with staffing, as some businesses may prefer to have one person in full time, while others will be happy with remote support staff or people coming a few days per week.

4 reasons why outsourcing technology works

IT hiring is unfocused

“Just hire an IT guy, and everything will be sunny!”. This phrase could not be further from the truth, and it often leads to a mismatch between expectation and requirement. To even understand your IT Needs, you need at least some level of knowledge over the field, but gaining the technical know-how to understand it inside out takes years.

Managed IT services act as your on-demand team, so you don’t have to go through the hiring process for IT professionals. Plus, it brings specialised IT knowledge to the table at a fraction of the cost of an employee.

Making the Best Use of your Resources

Companies generally have no means of measuring their tech staff’s productivity. We rarely see proper issues/problem reporting and time management. Without these tools, no-one knows if the resource is bringing value to the table.

Full-time employees get paid whether they’re working on projects or not. How much downtime would your IT staff have at your small business? You only pay for the support you need with managed IT services, rather than breaking the bank on an idle worker.

Training and Career Progression

If left in place an untrained IT resource can do more damage than good and get in the way of progress. It is common for an IT manager to slip into a status quo arrangement where years can pass by without any relevant education. Technology moves fast, and your IT staff need to keep up to date, or your business may fall behind.

Apart from that, no formal training in place to develop the technical resource’s career may lead to staff turnover or worse – disenchanted staff members.

Strategic IT at the Board Level

Lower end IT resources are not strategically minded and find it challenging to present their ideas at the management level. This is a common issue and can have a severe negative competitive impact on a business. Staff tends to spend their time focused on issue-solving and may not dedicate enough efforts on upgrading your infrastructure.

You have your eyes on the future, and you don’t want to run into a situation where you outgrow your technical support. Managed IT service providers grow with you, allocating the right resources to your business at each stage of your journey.

How to Choose your IT Provider?
Download our Checklist and learn what to seek in a partner

Conclusions

In general, hiring and managing an internal department brings an extra onus on employers of technical staff to lead that resource to its full potential. That means time management, productivity reviews, strategic company alignment, keeping their skills sharp through relevant training and a say at the boardroom table.

Your company has IT needs, but you don’t need someone around all the time. If you didn’t have to worry about bringing on a full-time person to take care of your systems, you could make investments elsewhere in your business.

If you do have employees on hand to manage your technology, managed IT services can take the burden off them. You don’t have to stretch your resources thin and compromise your growth plan to afford an in-house IT department. Use managed IT services to supplement your expertise gaps, and get reliable technical support and advice on-demand.

Our team supply Irish SMEs with the IT support and services that they need every day. If you want to learn more about the way we work and the practical benefits, check our links below:
The Benefits of Proactive Monitoring of IT Services – the primary daily function of an IT Managed Services Provider.
How to Choose your IT Provider – a Checklist with everything you should ask and consider when choosing your IT Partner.

Feel free to get in contact with us for a quick chat about your IT pain points. We will be happy to provide advice on your needs.