The idea of outsourcing is hardly a new one. We have been hiring people to do the things that we can’t or don’t have time for practically since the start of time itself! But the idea of outsourcing technology to experts outside of your core team has been gaining ground since the early 1980s. And as technologies advance and become both more complex and more critical to a business’ operations, so the advantages of using a team of experts who have a full understanding of IT become clearer.
In this article, we take a look at what IT outsourcing is, the benefits that it’s already offering to companies around the world, and where the future of IT outsourcing is headed in the years to come. We even offer some helpful tips in choosing the right technology partner for your outsourced IT support and services.
What Is IT Outsourcing?
IT outsourcing is a business model where companies delegate their IT operations to an external service provider. This can range from specific tasks, such as software development or network management, to full-scale partnership arrangements that cover all aspects of IT support and services. Essentially, outsourcing allows businesses to bring in specialised skills and expertise without the need for a full-time internal team.
What Benefits Have We Seen From IT Outsourcing Over The Years?
Outsourcing IT services offers a wide range of benefits that have been proven to provide significant value and cost savings for businesses. Here are just a few:
• Cost Savings
The most immediate advantage of outsourcing IT services is the significant cost savings it can bring to your business. By using outsourced IT providers, you can avoid the costs associated with hiring experienced IT professionals in-house, investing in expensive equipment, and maintaining your infrastructure. With outsourcing, businesses only pay for the services they need, when they need them. And because a lot of technology partners charge a fixed monthly fee to outsource IT services, you also have a predictable monthly spend, which can help you to effectively manage your IT budget, rather than having to manage unpredictable expenses.
• Access To Expertise And Specialised Skills
Outsourcing IT allows your business to tap into a pool of highly skilled professionals who have extensive experience in their respective fields. This is especially beneficial if you’re a smaller or mid-sized company that doesn’t have the resources to employ an entire IT team in-house. Not only is it difficult to find skilled and experienced IT professionals to hire internally, but if you do find them, they tend to come at a high salary point. By outsourcing your IT, you can access a diverse range of expertise and individuals with specialised skills without having to manage their salary, their leave, their sick days, their equipment, or their training – outsourced IT providers takes care of all that for you!
• Focus On Core Business
Outsourcing non-core activities like IT allows your business and your humans to focus on their core competencies and strategic initiatives. This means that instead of spending time and resources on managing IT problems, you can concentrate on growing your business and delivering value to your customers. Outsourcing IT services can also help to streamline processes, increase productivity, and improve overall efficiency.
• Scalability And Flexibility
Outsourcing makes it a lot easier for your business to scale your IT services up or down according to your needs.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re an online retailer who wants to run a Black Friday sale n November. You know that it’s going to lead a lot more traffic to your website and see you having to process more orders than you’re used to during the course of an average month. To handle the increased demands on your systems, you might want to upgrade your hosting package, or give your systems more memory and processing power.
If you’re handling your IT internally, upgrading your systems is all or nothing – you either invest in more RAM and hard disks, enhanced servers and CPUs, or you don’t. If you do, then you permanently have those upgraded components, whether you need them during the other 11 months of the year or not. If you choose not to upgrade, then you know that your systems are going to run slower than normal throughout November, leading to frustration for both your teams and your potential customers.
If you’re outsourcing IT infrastructure to a technology partner, upgrading your systems for a month and downgrading them again when the increased demand has slowed down is simple to do, and effective immediately. This is especially helpful for small-to-medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or budget to handle a sudden increase in workload or demand. With outsourced IT support, you can easily add or reduce services as your business grows and changes.
• Risk Mitigation
IT outsourcing can also help mitigate the risks associated with managing technology. Technology is constantly evolving, and it’s challenging for businesses to keep up with all the latest updates and security measures. By outsourcing your IT, you can rely on your IT partner to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and take care of any security vulnerabilities, ensuring that your systems are secure and running smoothly.
Outsourcing IT services also reduces the risks associated with having a single point of failure. If you only have one internal IT team member handling all your technology needs and they suddenly leave or become unavailable, it could cause a major disruption to your business. With an outsourced IT provider, there are multiple team members available to assist with any issues, ensuring that your business operations continue uninterrupted.
What Are The Emerging Trends In IT Outsourcing?
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits that technology partners are already offering to companies, it’s time to look to the future of IT outsourcing. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, new trends are emerging that will shape the landscape of IT outsourcing in the coming years.
• Cloud Services Integration
Cloud computing has revolutionised the way businesses store and access data. With more companies than ever before moving their operations to the cloud, there is an increasing need for outsourced IT providers to have expertise in the migration to and integration of cloud services. As you embrace changing work environments like the adoption of remote or hybrid workspaces, you need to have experts at hand to make sure that your data is accessible to the people who need it, no matter which device they might be on, no matter where they are in the world, all without your information becoming compromised by cybersecurity threats. This involves seamlessly connecting existing systems with the cloud, allowing for better collaboration and accessibility for employees.
• Automation And AI
The rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is also changing the game in IT outsourcing. By automating routine tasks and taking advantage of AI algorithms, outsourced IT providers can improve efficiency and reduce costs for your business. This frees up time for your humans to focus on more critical tasks that require human touch and creativity, rather than being bogged down with mundanities. It also means faster turnaround times for projects and more accurate results.
• Emphasis On Cybersecurity
With the increasing number of cyberattacks on businesses, cybersecurity has become a top priority for companies of all sizes around the world. This is why more and more companies are turning to experts in cybersecurity and outsourced IT support to protect their data and systems. This includes implementing robust security protocols, conducting risk assessments, providing employee training on cybersecurity best practices, and developing an incident response plan in case of a breach.
What Are Some Essential Considerations To Bear In Mind When Choosing An IT Outsourcing Partner?
When considering outsourcing your IT services, it’s crucial to choose the right partner that aligns with your business goals and values. Here are some essential considerations to keep in mind:
• Industry Experience
You want to find a technology partner that is well-established and has experience working with other companies in your industry. This shows that they aren’t a fly-by-night company, but have years (or decades in the case of Solid Systems) of experience, and it will put them in a better position to understand your specific needs and provide tailored solutions that align with your goals.
• Cost Models & Savings
Outsourcing IT services can result in significant cost savings for businesses, but it’s important to understand the different cost models offered by outsourced IT providers. Some may offer a fixed monthly fee, while others may charge per project or per hour. It’s crucial to assess which model works best for your business and ensure that it aligns with your budget. Finding the right outsourced IT company will see you saving costs, while trusting the wrong one could lead to your company being tied into long-term contracts which end up costing more than they save in the long-term.
• IT Infrastructure
A reliable and efficient IT infrastructure is essential for any business’ success. When choosing an IT outsourcing partner, make sure they have the necessary infrastructure in place to support your business needs. This includes hardware, software, and network capabilities. It’s also essential to ask them about their disaster recovery and data backup procedures to ensure the security and continuity of your business operations.
• Company Culture
Outsourcing IT services means working closely with an external team, so it’s crucial to consider their company culture. Having a similar work culture can make communication and collaboration more efficient and seamless. It’s also essential to ensure that their values align with yours, as this will lead to a better working relationship.
• Level Of Support
Lastly, when choosing an IT outsourcing partner, consider the level of support they provide. Will they be available 24/7 for any technical assistance? Do they have a dedicated team to handle urgent issues? Are you going to be dealing with humans who work to understand the issues you’re experiencing, or is the support going to amount to chatbots and prepopulated FAQs? And is their support reactive or proactive? It’s vital to have a reliable support system in place to ensure that your business operations run smoothly without any disruptions.
Why You Should Work With Solid Systems
At Solid Systems, we understand the importance of exceptionally human support. We believe that technology should enhance and not hinder your business operations. Our company culture is built on integrity, transparency, and a passion for helping businesses succeed. We strive to stay ahead of the curve with emerging technologies to help our clients step into the future with confidence. So if you’re looking for a trusted IT outsourcing partner to take your business to new heights, schedule a free IT consult with our Sales team today, and see the difference that our outsourced IT services can make for your business.
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