The first and most important rule with outsourcing is to find the correct partner. Before a company even contact consultants it may be necessary to do a “needs assessment”. Once the needs and requirements of a company have been determined, IT consultancy firms should be contacted.
Questions you should ask
It is recommended to always opt for IT consultants who have an experienced support team and who are certified by major partners like Microsoft. There are generally two ways of approaching IT support, reactively and proactively.
Consider the policies of the various consultancy firms you have short-listed to determine which approach they will be following. Companies should always check references to ensure reliability before committing to a service contract.
Make sure that the IT consultancy support the systems that you are currently running, from the hardware to the backup software. Establish whether the support service offered by the consultancy will be sufficient for the needs of the company. Would you require remote or online support or both and do the consultancy offer these options?
Consider the hours during which your company will require support and which IT support model you prefer. Some IT companies have large call centres with staff that would not necessarily be familiar with the setup and systems of your company.
Discuss the needs of your company in depth with the consultancy firm and make sure that they will be able to deliver on all aspects like inventories and reporting.
