With IT providers being ten a penny on the market, it can be challenging to find the right one, and on top of that, an effective one. Establishing whether an IT provider offers high quality services and solutions can take time, as not all IT providers are equally valuable.

But how can you identify a good, valuable IT provider? Apart from looking at their reviews and client testimonials, there are a few tell-tale signs that can help you to distinguish an optimal IT provider from a rotten apple. 

3 things that speak in favour of a good IT provider

 

#1 They know their clients’ businesses inside out

An optimal IT provider will take their time to fully understand your business, goals, needs, IT processes, and the challenges you’re facing. They’ll make sure to know your business inside out first before they offer you their IT services proposal. A good IT provider will also have a customer-focused onboarding process to ensure they’ll have complete visibility into the impact their services will have on your business.

 

#2 They offer a wide range of specialist services

IT is a vast space, meaning when you outsource an IT provider, they should be able to provide you with specialist services in different areas, including managed services support, cloud computing, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery, or IT consultancy.  

 

#3 They help you achieve your business goals

IT providers shouldn’t just help you optimise your IT infrastructure, they should bring value to your business too. A good provider will help you meet your business objectives and drive business growth by creating an IT strategy that combines both your IT processes and your business roadmap. An excellent IT provider will even take it to the next level and try to find ways to bring even more value to your business by acting as your strategic partner.

3 things that speak against a good IT provider

 

#1 They have a cookie-cutter approach

Every business is unique and has different business objectives and needs. So, if your IT provider tries to sell you one size fits all services, it might be better to drop them. A good IT provider won’t force you into buying their standard package that can be aligned to all their clients’ IT infrastructures, they will tailor their services to your specific business requirements and only offer you the services you really need.

 

#2 They don’t have specialisms

It’s always important to have a closer look at the IT provider’s service offerings to see if their offering meet your expectations. Depending on which industry your business is in, you’ll want an IT provider that is familiar with your industry. Apart from offering you a wide range of services and solutions, it’s important to make sure your IT provider has an extensive knowledge and experience in your sector to provide you with expert advice and solutions that perfectly fit your business.

 

#3 They will try to stick to SLAs

Mediocre or poor IT providers will simply ‘do their job’, or the bare minimum: monitoring and maintaining your systems and solving IT issues. A valuable IT provider, on the other hand, will always go the extra mile for you and find new and better ways to enhance your IT and boost your business growth, instead of just meeting SLAs.

How good is your IT provider? Or are you in the process of finding the right fit for your business? If so, we can help you on your journey of finding one.

 

Download our helpful guide to discover what you should look for in a potential IT provider – and the questions to ask them. Fill out the form below to download.