Revenue growth is the driving force of any company, whether they’re just starting out of the blocks, or are seasoned experts in the business. But whatever size, shape or age of a company, an investment in proper IT support is rarely wasted. In fact, according to a recent study by the Internet Data Centre (IDC), the ROI on outsourcing IT support over a 3 year period came to 224%.
But how exactly does an investment in IT support provide such tangible returns by way of revenue growth?
We’ll explore what issues an IT support company actually resolves, and how its services translate into cost-effectiveness and long-term financial returns to your business.
What issues does an IT support service solve?
When you’re running a business, there are a million and one things to take care of, and a big part of that will be maintaining your IT systems and hardware.
From setting up new computers, installing software, printers and scanners, managing and securing your data, and keeping your systems and network safe from cyber threats, there's a lot to think about. And that’s before anything goes wrong.
In addition, one of the most difficult parts of running your IT is not knowing what’s available to help you run your businesses more efficiently.
Every modern business knows that time is money, and time spent trying to diagnose tech issues and get them fixed has a financial impact. Scale that up and the cost of your company going into downtime can be significant.
A recent Gartner study demonstrated that downtime costs the average company $4600 (roughly £3,300) per minute. Other reports suggest that on average, IT downtime costs UK companies about £3.6 million per year in total.
Whilst outsourced IT support will not stop issues from arising, they will be able to work with you proactively to ensure you have the right systems in place to detect problems before they become catastrophic.
Why you should invest in IT support?
When you invest in IT support from cmitsolutions, you can expect to be relieved of all the day-to-day tasks that take up your time. They will install and configure your hardware, software, systems, and networks and give you advice - and even good deals - on the latest tools and equipment that will improve your business efficiency.
Additionally, should things go wrong, you have a support desk lifeline to give you a quick and efficient diagnosis and resolution to your IT problems. They’ll be at the other end of a call to log and process support requests and come up with a prompt resolution.
Enhanced security
Cyber threats are a big deal for businesses. SMEs, in particular, bear the brunt of 43% of attempted cyber attacks, with only 14% being sufficiently tooled up to withstand a successful attack.
The last few years have seen a rise in ransomware, hacking and data theft, with cybercriminals becoming increasingly more sophisticated in their techniques and tactics. This has left many businesses unable to keep up.
When you outsource your IT support to a company, they will reduce your vulnerability to security threats in a number of ways.
Firstly, a decent IT support company will provide staff training to ensure that every member of your team is up-to-date with the latest best practice to reduce the chances of successful cyberattacks.
Secondly, your IT support company will be able to recommend and install the most appropriate software to monitor your systems and detect threats before they become a problem and cause catastrophic damage to your business.
Thirdly, they will ensure that all your systems and data are backed up so that, should a successful cyberattack occur, they can help you get your business back on its feet quickly.
Financial benefits
The cost-efficiency of outsourcing your IT support can be described in terms of the time and money you save yourself on a day-to-day basis as well as the costs saved of hiring an internal IT resource.
When you hire internally, whether that be a full-time Finance Director or a small team of IT executives, the costs are significant. There’s the cost of recruitment, the salary, the expense, training and the list goes on.
Operational benefits
When you outsource your IT, you pay a certain amount each month for the hours you need. In return, benefit from a whole team of experts, each with their own speciality, who are at the top of their game.
Minimal downtime
Network downtime is costly to businesses, yet disaster planning is something most SMEs scarcely think about. In fact, in a recent study, 33% of SMEs said they tested their disaster recovery plan “infrequently or never at all”, 58% only once or less per year. That’s 90% of SMEs paying very little attention to their action plan, should the worst happen. To put this into perspective, given that minute of downtime costs around £3,300, this is a serious blind spot for businesses.
When an IT support company secures your network, monitors and maintains your systems and works with you to create a robust and up-to-date disaster recovery plan, you can rest assured your business is kept in good hands.
How to choose an IT support company
The financial benefits of outsourcing your IT to an external support company are clear to see.
Not only do you stay in control of your monthly budget, only paying for what you need, but you avoid the costly (not to mention risky) process of hiring an internal resource. But most significantly is the unknown costs you might save yourself by avoiding the catastrophic damage a security breach or extended downtime can cost your business.
Most of all, however, outsourcing your IT support frees you and your staff up to focus on what you do best and growing your business revenue.
To find an external IT support company that’s right for you, these are a few things to consider:
Can I trust them?
What are their skills and experience?
What are their response and resolution times?
Are they flexible with their service offering?
It’s also recommended that you speak to them directly. A phone call will help you discuss your needs, your budget, and how they’ll work with you to support your business growth.
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