Choosing the right IT support provider for your business can feel like wading through a maze of smoke and mirrors, but discovering the right team that will put a smile on your people’s faces AND power your business’s success doesn’t have to be a long game of scrabble!
Beyond getting the bits and bytes right for your business, you want a provider that really gets you – one that can turn complexity into sweet simplicity; a team that can really feel like an extension of your very own. When you’re looking for a provider online, this can be tricky, so we’ve compiled a guide to help you to sort the wheat from the chaff.
We’ve created this guide for you based on our own experience and knowledge of the industry. With every business and provider being different, we know we’re not going to be the ideal choice for everyone, but in any case, we hope this can help you find an IT services company that can do justice to you and your team.
If you’re in a rush, no sweat. Here’s the list of what to look out for in an IT support provider, with more details about how to verify each point further below:
- They have a great culture and a distinct personality
- They walk their talk and minimise risk for your business
- Their clients and the numbers reflect what the provider says about themselves
- They can tailor-cut their IT support solutions to your business
- They understand your industry, business, and your goals
- They Do ‘Can-Do’ IT
First Things First: It’s Not Just About Value, It’s About Culture!
Every IT support provider has some business value to give to you, and this is important, but the culture is key because it sets the tone for the whole relationship and how your business will be served across the board.
Picture this: you jump on a potential provider’s website, and they put their people, ethos, and core values front and centre, it’s an indication that they are invested in their purpose and their ability to make a difference.
There’s a force driving behind what they say, what they do, and how they feel across their day-to-day work. A provider that does not seriously nurture and protect its culture is at a much higher risk of struggling to give a service that your team loves, time and time again.
They Walk Their Talk By Minimising Risk For Your Business
Everybody wants to say they are the best in the business, but think of it this way; if you really were, you could bet on yourself with confidence. Right?
The same logic applies to a great IT services provider; if they know they can deliver exceptional service and value, they can take away risk from their potential clients and place it on themselves.
Thing is, as long as they can match their words, there isn’t really risk for them, so they can make it easier to earn your trust and then show you why you gave it to them in the first place!
Of course, not all great IT providers necessarily do this, but if an IT support service is able to provide more value upfront and offer guarantees, it’s a sign they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is and that they trust themselves to deliver great results, consistently.
Their customers and the numbers reflect what the provider says about themselves
So, you’re on a managed IT service company’s website and they tell you that they put proactive service at the forefront of what they do. You think, ‘Great, that’s exactly what we need!’.
You then go to their Google Business Profile, and low and behold, there’s a few reviews claiming the exact opposite. You don’t know exactly why this is the case or who’s telling the truth, but one thing is for sure: there’s a discrepancy.
So a big green flag is that customer feedback aligns with their claims across their reviews and testimonials, both on and off their main website. Ideally, they might also openly display some numbers to back it up, like their average response time and ticket satisfaction rating for example.
They can tailor-cut their IT support solutions to your business
If an IT service for your business cannot be tailored to meet your needs, it’ll be unlikely to offer the most bang for your buck. So, you’ll likely best benefit from a provider that can meet each of your unique needs.
On top of this, the flexibility to add-on new services and scale existing ones with your evolving needs is also a big plus. After all, you want an IT partner that can grow with you, one that also treats your business and team with the upmost care and dedication.
They understand your industry, business, and your goals
This is a key point that relates to how they serve your business, as well as your industry more broadly.
In terms of service, the IT support provider should speak about and demonstrate a commitment to understanding your business. It’s not just about your workflows and systems, you’ll also want a provider that can be on a first-name basis with your team!
They may offer a dedicated account manager, be local and committed to meeting in-person for on-site issues, but also to discuss your strategic goals, for example.
It’s a big plus if they understand the nature of your business and your industry more broadly. A specialised provider will be more likely to really ‘get it’ when it comes to any industry-specific compliance, operational, and cyber security needs that you have, and harness their service and IT solutions to meet those needs accordingly.
Finally, they also take the time to connect your strategic goals with technology solutions! They can sit down with you regularly, talk about your challenges and what you want to achieve, and help you practically get the outcomes you want using tech, without dragging you into the bits and bytes around it.
They Do ‘Can-Do’ IT
In other words, does the provider talk about going above and beyond in both their service and IT solutions for their clients? Is there evidence this is the case?
This is a key point because most IT support providers will tell you they are proactive and will help your business to thrive, but some will go further beyond the call than others.
Some providers may say, ‘Nope, we can’t do that,’ when their clients approach them with a new challenge or need, or perhaps they are unwilling to stay behind to ensure a critical issue is fixed, for example.
IT is so integral to your business and serving your clients that a provider that truly demonstrates a ‘can-do’ attitude will make all the difference. In fact, we feel it’s the special X factor that every IT service provider should bring to the table!
Business Advice for Selecting an IT Support Provider In Bristol, Bucks & London
We’d just like to touch on how to go about engaging with potential IT support providers for your business. You’ll want to consider your needs, how they make you feel, and how they package their offering.
You can use the checklist below for verifying if an IT support provider is right for you. Each business is different; some of these items will be essential for you, others not so much.
Selecting Your IT Support Provider: A Checklist Before You Pull The Trigger:
- Their services cover all your IT support requirements and can evolve with your business. These can include for devices, infrastructure, business continuity, and more.
- Their services are tailorable and packaged transparently, with no sneaky fees.
- You’ve met with them at least once and have a gut feeling that they ‘get it’/IT and you get along with them. You trust that their team will give a great service to yours.
- They offer standards such as SLAs, that provide an accountability framework you can lean on.
- Their contracts are clear and structured to take away risk for your business because they have confidence in their own service.
- They offer industry-specific solutions and support for your business.
- They can provide localised support for you and nurture an in-person relationship.
- They offer solid cyber security services that can ensure the protection of your whole IT environment.
- They offer strategic IT services that go beyond powering your team’s success in the day-to-day, but also the wider goals of your business.
- They offer what we call the ‘&More’ element; it’s crystal-clear that they are a provider that will exceed your expectations, consistently!
We hope this checklist gives you the pointers you need to pick a provider that your business will love working with.
Need a hand with evaluating a potential IT support provider around Bristol or want to see if our IT services would be a match made in heaven for your business? Either way, we’ll be happy to help you take the next step towards great IT! It’s all about you; that’s the Cloud&More way.
We’re IT Service Providers That Live And Breathe Exceptional Service For Bristol, Bucks and London
We’re in the business of delighting teams and creating better outcomes for them using the combined power of exceptional, personalised service, with great technology. Everything that you would expect from an IT support provider, our ethos is that it’s all about you!
We know your name, keep the lights on while helping your business to change and evolve, and don’t need to be called to take every step that we can to give you the best IT experience possible. Ready to see the &More difference for your business? Get in touch with our team and we’ll be delighted to meet you.
Experience IT support where people and communication come first.
Join businesses across the home counties, and Bristol who trust Cloud & More for our personal, relationship-driven approach to IT. Let’s transform your IT experience – get in touch today!
