5 Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Full-Service Managed IT Provider
Selecting the right IT provider for your Phoenix area business is a critical decision.
It’s not like shopping for a new car; you can’t simply see the product and know it’s the right fit. Finding the perfect IT provider requires careful consideration because not all providers are created equal. Unfortunately, most business leaders have a hard time figuring out how to properly vet an IT business and resort to making their choice based primarily on price. While price and budget are important, price should not even be close to the determining factor.
Imagine if you were choosing a physician for an important medical procedure. Would you base your decision solely on price? Of course not. The same applies when hiring a key employee for your company. You wouldn’t hire a new CFO based on the lowest hourly wage.
Choosing the wrong IT support company can have serious consequences that are challenging to overcome. That’s why it’s important to know how to identify the best IT firm for your business.
To help you navigate this decision, we’ve compiled five common mistakes to avoid when selecting a full-service managed IT provider. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can find an IT partner that will enhance your business’s productivity, security, and overall success.
Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Looking for The Right IT Provider!
1: Choosing Based on a Single Phone Call
One of the most common mistakes businesses make when selecting an IT consultant is basing their decision solely on a single phone call.
While a phone conversation can provide a preliminary impression, it’s never sufficient. Take the process further. Invite potential consultants to your office and ask for a written proposal tailored to your business needs. This way, you can gauge their suitability as partners for your business success.
Meeting them in person lets you gauge their professionalism, communication skills, and overall fit for your organization. A competent IT consultant should offer to audit your network before providing any recommendations. They must demonstrate that they know what they are getting into because one business is different from another. When it comes to IT solutions, it’s never a one-size-fits-all kind of situation.
Similar to hiring a full-time employee, have face-to-face interaction and gain confidence in their abilities. It’s up to them to convince you. Not the other way around!
2: Failing to Check References
Another critical mistake is neglecting to check references when selecting an IT consultant. Something that most businesses never forget to do when hiring employees.
Perhaps most business leaders are probably in a hurry to hire an IT firm that “seems” competent because they don’t want to navigate the intricacies of their technical know-how.
Whatever the case, ask for references as they provide valuable insights into the consultant’s track record, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
While a salesperson may provide positive assurances, speak directly with several current clients. Request at least three to four references from clients similar in size and industry to your business.
These references provide better insights into the consultant’s capabilities, responsiveness, and overall quality of their services. They speak in your language, which is in terms of the overall business value.
A reputable IT consultant should be willing and able to provide references. If they hesitate or cannot provide references, treat it as a red flag about their performance and customer satisfaction.
3: Overlooking Remote Monitoring and Support Capabilities
In today’s digital age, remote monitoring and support capabilities are essential when selecting an IT consultant. Of course, on-site visits are necessary in certain situations, but a competent IT provider should offer robust remote monitoring and support services. You can ask the references provided about the firm’s remote monitoring and support capabilities.
But why is it important?
Remote monitoring enables proactive identification and resolution of potential issues before they escalate, ensuring maximum uptime and minimizing disruptions to your business operations.
Furthermore, remote support allows for faster response times, immediate assistance, and quick problem resolution, which is crucial in an increasingly interconnected business environment. Choosing an IT consultant with remote solid monitoring and support capabilities helps optimize your network’s performance, enhance security, and reduce downtime.
4: Not Prioritizing Defined Processes and Results
Choosing an IT consultant without a defined process for supporting and managing your technology is a significant mistake. An exceptional IT service provider should have well-defined systems and procedures to deliver consistent, reliable results.
These processes ensure your technology infrastructure is efficiently managed, secure, and aligned with your business objectives. A structured approach to service delivery sets great IT consultants apart from average ones.
Before deciding, inquire about their methodologies, service frameworks, and incident management processes. By selecting an IT consultant with a clear and defined approach, you can have confidence in their ability to consistently meet your technology needs and drive positive results for your business.
5: Failing to Select a Specialized Healthcare IT Provider
For businesses in the healthcare industry, choosing an IT consultant with specialized expertise in healthcare IT is imperative. But why’s that?
The healthcare sector has unique regulatory requirements, such as protected health information (PHI) security and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. An IT consultant who understands these requirements makes it easier to protect patient data and maintain compliance. Compliance is vital to any healthcare institution; overlooking it can affect its continuity.
A healthcare-focused IT consultant will have in-depth knowledge of practice management software, electronic health records (EHR) systems, and other industry-specific technologies. They will understand the critical nature of these systems for your practice’s operations and patient care.
By entrusting your network and data security to a healthcare IT specialist, you can ensure that your IT infrastructure aligns with industry best practices, ultimately reducing risks and avoiding costly compliance violations.
Additional Tips for Hiring the Perfect IT Provider for Your Business
To access more valuable tips on selecting the perfect IT company for your business, download our Complete Guide to Hiring an IT Consultant. With this guide, you’ll learn everything to know about hiring an honest, competent, responsive, and fairly-priced computer consultant.
Takeaway
Selecting the right full-service managed IT provider is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact your business’s efficiency, security, and success. It’s a decision directly connected to your business’s lifeline.
By avoiding these five common mistakes—choosing based on a single phone call, failing to check references, overlooking remote monitoring and support capabilities, neglecting defined processes and results, and not selecting a specialized healthcare IT consultant—you can make an informed decision and forge a beneficial IT partnership.
Contact us for a 15-minute phone call to explore how our services can help your business thrive with technology.
About AZCOMP Technologies
AZCOMP Technologies provides Managed IT services and technology solutions for Mesa/Phoenix metro area businesses.
Do you wish IT was easier? We do that!
We make it easier for you to get help. We make it easier for your employees to be productive. We make it easier for upper management not to have to deal with IT frustrations. We make it easier for you to leverage technology in your service or product delivery. We make it easier for you to be secure and compliant. We help your technology improve and become a driving force for success in your business.
We make IT easier so you can make your patients happy, run an efficient business, AND never have to be stressed about IT again.
AZCOMP Technologies has provided business technology solutions and cybersecurity services since 2000. AZCOMP offers these services in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Glendale, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Gold Canyon, and more.
