Does Your Business Need a Hardware Refresh?
There is an important difference between being a client and being partners:
A client engages the professional advice or services of another.
Partners work together to further a business’s mission.
Whoever you work with should be looking for partners, not clients. A strong partner will understand your mission and focus on helping you reach your goals. We outlined this distinction in an earlier post on the partner model vs. the provider model.
In our opinion, here’s what makes an IT service provider a great partner:
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Partners are there for you before the start.
A great partner would first conduct a site survey, which is an assessment of your IT environment. This includes your hardware, software, and network connections. This allows them to know exactly what your business needs to perform at optimal levels.
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Partners offer what you need when you need it.
We get it. There is a lot of new technology out there. Figuring out what technology is best for your business can be a daunting task. Having a great IT partner takes that weight off of your shoulders. They know what will work for you, and what won’t.
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Partners regularly check-in.
Conducting regular check-ins for IT is crucial to the success of your business. They go beyond making sure all your systems are running properly. Routine Check-ins are also great for discussing new trends, upgrade opportunities, and the return on your IT investment.
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Partners think transparency is key.
Transparency is vital to the success of a partnership. Even though technology jargon can be tricky, a great partner would keep you in the loop. They would be there for any questions, concerns, or interests you may have about your IT services.
All in all, handing over the reins of your IT operation is a serious decision to make. But having the right partner allows you to step away from mundane technology issues, and refocus on the essential parts of your business.
