Is Your IT Company a Pain Point? Signs You Should Switch Providers

When a business relies on the internet for any of its functions, it’s imperative to retain a reliable and capable IT provider to handle any issues that may arise. These issues can include network breaches, loss of data, inability to secure confidential data and much more. An IT provider should make your life easier — not harder. If you’re experiencing any of these pain points, it may be time to switch.

PERSISTENT TECH ISSUES
Your IT provider must be competent and experienced to prevent persistent issues with your business technology. The productivity of your business relies heavily on your IT provider’s ability to resolve your tech issues quickly and ensure that your business’ computer network is safe and reliable.

If your current provider is having a hard time preventing and repairing problems as they arise, it’s time to start looking for a new provider. Statistics show that $700 billion is lost each year due to productivity issues caused by business computer problems and networks outages — don’t let your business become a statistic!

SLOW RESPONSE TIMES
Another good way to gauge if you're employing the right IT provider is to monitor the amount of time it takes them to respond to your requests. The longer your network is down, the more areas of your business it can begin to affect.

From not being able to send emails to a complete breach of data, your IT provider should be attentive to your needs when issues arise. Speedy response times are vital to the productivity of a business. If your current provider takes hours to days to respond to your problems, it’s time to find a replacement.

INCONSISTENT BILLING
Do you often receive inconsistent or confusing bills from your provider? One of the top qualities to look for in an IT provider is clear, consistent and easy billing practices. Confusing and inconsistent billing is not only inconvenient, but also reflects poorly on the way a provider interacts with their clients.

By only employing a provider with a straightforward billing process, you will minimize the stress and streamline the way you compensate them for their services. Since these processes go hand in hand with customer service, you’re more likely to be employing a responsive and competent IT company that executes a high level of service throughout every aspect of their business.

LACK OF EMPLOYEE STABILITY
You want a strong relationship with your IT provider so that you feel comfortable calling on them when issues arise. Strong relationships are built when you get to know individual employees that learn your business and are attentive to its needs.

It may be time to switch IT companies if your ability to build lasting relationships with your provider is constantly hindered by employee turnover. This can be frustrating to you, and ideally, you want to work with a provider that's reliable and retains loyal employees. If the employees you work with aren’t loyal to their own IT company, you shouldn’t expect them to become loyal to your business.

NO PROACTIVE SUGGESTIONS
Finally, your provider shouldn’t wait until there’s a problem to step in and assist you with your business technology. Your IT company should provide you with suggestions on how to avoid repairs or potential problems with your network.

Additionally, working with a provider that's passionate and proactive about network security will benefit your business greatly in the long run. If you don’t hear from your current provider outside of times of trouble, it’s definitely time to switch.

Whether your IT provider was great in the beginning stages of your business, but you’ve outgrown them now, or you didn’t make a good selection in the first place, identifying these potential pain points in your business will help you decide if it’s time to move on.

Remember, your IT provider should be committed to helping your business run smoothly by providing proactive, quick and efficient support. This type of support is worth the investment because it can prevent any major downtime from severely affecting your productivity. Set high expectations for quality service and your business will thank you.