If you are a small business in Suffolk, you may be looking at how to get the right IT infrastructure in place. You may have initially set up your IT system yourself. But if your business has grown or you have recruited a team of employees, your system may no longer be providing the right technical capabilities.
It can be tricky to know when to hire an outsourcing company to manage your IT.
As an IT company in Ipswich, we work closely with many small and medium-sized businesses throughout Ipswich, Colchester, and Norwich (and beyond).
Often, our clients approach us because they have realised that they have grown their business to the extent that they can no longer manage their IT themselves. They need additional support to help them maintain (and enhance) their technical infrastructure.
So, how do you know when it’s the right time for you to outsource IT support?
Here are five reasons why it may be the right time to prepare a business case for hiring an IT support service.
Managing your internal IT is taking up too much of your time
An easy way to consider whether it’s the right time to search for IT outsourced services is to look at the ratio between your time and your costs.
If your time spent dealing with minor issues is impacting your ability to do your day job, then you could find that the time/cost balance has swung in favour of outsourcing your IT. You can see that the financial outlay of working with an external team is far more cost-effective than the time spent trying to manage your issues by yourself.
You need access to the latest IT technology.
Working with an external IT team isn’t just about having someone who can manage your IT helpdesk for you.
Many companies in Suffolk are looking for an outsource solution because they need additional support with cybersecurity and disaster recovery. If they are working in a rural area, they may need help improving their business broadband or take advantage of structured cabling solutions.
As a managed IT services provider in Ipswich, we also work as a proactive maintenance service.
We continually assess clients’ infrastructure to ensure that they have the latest software upgrades and are not working with legacy systems.
If your company has many users, it can be tricky to know which laptop or PC has reached its end-of-life or when you need to start budgeting for replacements. Our clients appreciate that we always proactively identify when replacement devices are due. This approach means that the businesses we work with have peace of mind that they are benefiting from the latest technology.
You’re looking for a way to manage your monthly IT budget
At Lucid Systems, we offer value for money for our clients.
We believe that technology shouldn’t only be available for businesses with big budgets.
We know that if local businesses in Ipswich can flourish, then it can have a hugely positive effect on our local economy.
Our outsourced IT support services are tailored to each client. We will listen to what you need your IT to do. We can also create bespoke recommendations that are designed with your business needs and your budget in mind.
For small businesses in Ipswich who need to keep track of every penny, our fixed-price IT agreements mean that you know exactly how much you’ll be spending each month, with no hidden surprises or lengthy contracts.
You need additional help to work alongside your in-house team
Did you know that we often work closely with in-house IT teams to offer additional resourcing and support?
Perhaps you are working on a big project, such as a new installation or a relocation to a new office – in which case, you may need additional assistance to help your team cope with the workload. That’s where business IT outsourcing can make a massive difference to the success of your project.
Our value in working alongside in-house teams is that we can often make suggestions for new ways of working. We can make independent recommendations that aren’t based on “how things have always been done…” Our clients value our suggestions and input because we can offer a different perspective on how a project could be successfully managed. By freeing up time for your internal personnel, you’ll have more confidence that your project remains on time and within budget.
You may decide that you want your internal teams to manage their existing day-to-day tasks. We can offer complete end-to-end project management support, as well as IT consultancy services.
You want to future-proof your business plans.
Finally, one big reason that could tell you it’s the right time to work with an IT outsourcing service is that you want an infrastructure that has the agility to adapt to your business needs.
Our approach to working with businesses in Ipswich and Colchester is to take a long-term view. We don’t just explore what IT requirements you need now; we anticipate what you could need in the future. This means that you can invest in a business IT system that is designed to grow with your business.
To help you with your next business plan, why not ask yourself the following questions?
- How many users do you currently have? Is this likely to change in the near future?
- What does your IT support team need to do? Are you looking for IT helpdesk support, or do you need someone to monitor your entire digital infrastructure?
- How old is your IT equipment? Is it coming to its end of life? How are you planning on upgrading your systems?
- Do you anticipate any changes to your business? What is your five-year business plan, and have you considered how your IT infrastructure will help/hinder you?
- What is your budget? Do you need someone part-time or full-time? Do you need continual support or ad-hoc assistance? When is the best time to outsource your IT to an external team?
We provide expert IT Support for Ipswich and Colchester Businesses.
Streamline your operations and enhance productivity with our comprehensive IT outsourcing solutions.
Phone 01473 355199 today for a free IT consultation.
