Switching IT Providers is Easier Than You Think
It’s one of those things in life that everyone puts off. Just like switching anything else – your bank account, credit card or electricity supplier – moving over to a new IT Support company looks initially like a painful task, but it doesn’t need to be if it’s done correctly.
It’s normal to have concerns when it comes to switching IT providers, but they can be overcome easily and it’s usually a very smooth transition.
Here are some of the theoretical roadblocks and common objections to moving that we’ve come across in the past:
“We don’t have any of the passwords…”
A good IT support company (like us!) will want to document every aspect of your system, and this includes getting all of the passwords. Don’t worry if you don’t have them to hand – we can help you get hold of everything that is required and we’ll help you change them to secure your system and ensure that your old provider no longer has access. Once this is done, we will provide you with a copy of these details to put in your safe or to send home with a director, for piece of mind and security. You should always have access to the passwords for your systems, otherwise you could end up in a position where your outsourced IT support team can hold to you ransom.
“You won’t know or understand our system…”
When you switch to a new IT provider they should have a transition process in place that includes a full audit of your systems, and they should introduce themselves to your staff to have a chat and see how they’re using your IT equipment to do their jobs. When we go through this process we would cover things like:
- Finding out about common problems and any outstanding issues you have
- Understanding the history behind current system configurations
- Collating contact details for any third party software suppliers
- Documenting passwords for all systems
- Identifying any staff within your business that need special attention
- Meeting with key staff and understanding what they do on a day-to-day basis
- Making contact with your old provider and learning key information about your systems
“How do we know you have the right skills for the job?”
Most small to medium business systems will run on the same basic set of technologies. Things such as Microsoft Server, Exchange Server, Office 365, Outlook and Windows are standard in today’s workplaces. We have many years of experience in looking after all of these things.
“We’re stuck in a long-term contract…”
Some of the more unscrupulous IT companies out there insist on forcing you to sign lengthy contracts. (We don’t by the way!). The important thing to remember here is that if you aren’t happy with the service and you can prove that they aren’t fulfilling their duties under that contract to a satisfactory level, then you have every right to terminate the agreement without penalty. Remind them that they have a level of service to provide and use the contract to ensure they provide it. If they don’t, then they are the ones breaking the agreement and you can terminate it.
Don’t be afraid to get quotes from a new provider many months in advance of any renewal dates. It’s always good to be fully aware of all your options. Why not contact us for a quote today?
“Our old IT company won’t like losing the contract and will cause us problems…”
The outgoing provider can cause problems if they hold all the cards, we can’t deny that. But at worst all they can do is delay things for a short time. You really shouldn’t be dealing with a company that would behave in that way though, so the sooner you get rid of them the better to be honest. It’s perfectly normal practice to change a suppler from time to time, so there is no excuse for them to play up just because they’re losing a contract. We can help reset passwords to many systems without them being involved if necessary.
“We get a monthly visit and we like it that way…”
Some IT providers carry out a monthly visit to complete any work which needs doing onsite. And some businesses have become used to this and think it’s the norm, but it means that your staff end up saving up a big list of tasks for several weeks, rather than getting the help they need straight away. This means their workflow can be disrupted and their productivity can take a big hit. Instead, look for an IT provider who will come to see you when the problem occurs so you don’t have to wait for it to be resolved. Be careful though as some providers will charge for these visits, but the best ones will include onsite time in their packages – like we do! 🙂
“We’re worried about hidden costs…”
The best IT providers will be very transparent about what is included in their support contract and what isn’t. You should expect to pay a fixed monthly amount for unlimited support, and this should include maintaining your servers and computers, supporting your staff on a day to day basis, monitoring your systems, installing new hardware and software, day to day administration and even consultancy work. (All of this is included with our IT Support packages of course).
Take a close look at what is on offer because some companies will include a few of these items, but then charge extra for changes such as installing new hardware or software, project work or consultancy. Others will charge extra if you call them out of hours or with an emergency at the weekend – we don’t. All of that is covered in our standard package.
“We don’t want to have to buy new software or hardware…”
Some IT providers will try to suggest that you need to buy new equipment or software as they can’t support the type things you currently you have. At best this is just a sign of a very bad company without a very wide range of knowledge and experience, and at worst it is a blatant attempt to rip you off. Either way it is nonsense and means you should not consider switching to that particular provider.
A good IT provider will be able to support a wide range of different technologies and should have no problem with virtually any IT equipment you have purchased in the last few years. The provider should work with you for a while, learning how you work and what you might need before making recommendations. They shouldn’t be recommending spending thousands of pounds on new kit when they have only just met you – unless that it what you have specifically asked for of course.
Get in Touch… Hiring an expert makes everything easy
Switching IT providers can be a very smooth process if it’s carried out correctly and shouldn’t be something to worry about. In fact, if you aren’t happy with your current provider, then making the switch will actually make your life that little bit easier.
We are experts at sorting out the mess left behind by bad IT companies and we have done this many times before. We will make sure switching IT providers is a smooth process from start to finish.
If you’re not happy with the level of service you’re receiving from your current provider, please call us or email for more information on how we can help.
Thanks,
theDCC Team
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