Whether you love it or you hate it, technology has become a part of our everyday lives—which means that it’s now a necessity in the world of business. Are you a small business owner who’s looking to team up with an IT consulting firm? It can be difficult to decide where the best place is to start. Check out these tips for finding the right IT consulting firm for you and your business.
1. When/If to Bring in a Consultant
Finding the room in your small business’s budget to hire a consultant of any kind might be the first challenge that you encounter. You don’t want to spend money that you don’t have to, but you also don’t want to see your business flounder because you waited too long to look into consultation. So, how do you know when or if you should bring in an IT consultant?
You Don’t Know Much about Technology
Like we just said, technology is necessary to running a business, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be a tech expert in order for your company to succeed. That being said, identifying the right technological tools for your company isn’t always an intuitive process, especially if you aren’t super well-versed in tech to begin with.
An IT consulting firm can help streamline your small business so that it can become as efficient and prosperous as possible. This will save you time—and probably money—in the long run, helping you to maximize your profits and grow your business faster.
Your Systems Are Outdated
The rapid pace at which technology is evolving can be viewed as both good and bad. On one hand, society is constantly learning and improving (for the most part, anyway). But on the other, equipment becomes obsolete at a rate that can seem unstainable from a budgetary standpoint.
If you feel like your behind on the times compared to your competition, an IT consultant might be able to get you up to speed in a way that’s feasible for your business. They can probably also help you determine which gadgets and software are must-haves and which ones you can go without.
You’re Looking For Improvement
Hitting a plateau is frustrating, especially when it feels like you’re doing everything right. Hiring an IT consultant might be the change that you’re looking for. Not only can bringing in a consultant make your business run smoother and more efficiently, but it can also improve your customer service and enable you to increase your profits.
Don’t make the mistake of waiting until something goes wrong to hire an IT consultant. If you feel like tech is a weak spot for your company, find a consultant before it’s too late. Image courtesy of Pexels.
2. Qualities to Look For
Now that you’ve decided you need some IT assistance, what do you look for? Well, according to small business growth experts Doug and Polly White, the qualities a good consultant will have are:
- Unimpeachable character — This means that your consultant will be straightforward and honest with you, no matter what. Consultation isn’t meant to have the mentality that “the customer is always right.” Sure, you want your IT consultant to be openminded and willing to listen, but when it comes time to give you their professional opinion, they need to tell you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear.
- Solid experience — You want a consultant who knows what they’re talking about and is able to give you authentic advice that will help you to capitalize on your business’s potential. Do your research, and see what other companies that they’ve worked with have to say about them to get an idea of how beneficial their services will be.
Doing an extensive amount of research to decide on a firm might seem daunting, but you’ll be glad you did it when you finally find the perfect one. Image courtesy of Pexels.
- Creative problem-solving skills — The ability to solve problems in an IT consultant’s job description. Otherwise, what are you paying them for? But not all problems have easily identifiable solutions, which means you want a consultant who is willing to get creative with their strategy.
- Outstanding communication skills — Like problem solving, communication is essential to effective consultation. You and your IT consulting firm are a team, and in order to be able to work together, you have to know how to communicate with each other. Don’t forget that this doesn’t just mean talking (or writing)—it also means listening.
- Excellent interpersonal skills — In order for you to get the most out of your consultation experience, you need to trust your consultant. This means that you want someone who is easy to talk to and makes you feel comfortable. In other words, you don’t want your consultant to only know how to work with technology. You also want someone who knows how to work with people.
3. Stay in Your Price Range
Look at your budget, and see how much you can realistically spend on a consulting firm. You want someone who encompasses all of the qualities that we just listed, but you don’t need to bankrupt your company to do that. If you don’t have the funds to cover hiring a consultant, try finding a way to save in other areas of your budget.
Many consulting firms charge flat rates, while freelancers are more likely to charge by the hour. Though hiring a freelancer might look far cheaper at first glance, it’s important to calculate the cost of the consultation on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis to get a better comparison between the two options and determine which is actually cheaper.
An IT Consultant Could Change Your Business
A consultation with an IT firm can result in increased productivity, heightened data security, better customer service, and more. However, finding the right consultant for your business is key. Even if you like the first one that you meet with, you should take a look at other options just to make sure that you’re getting the hight quality of service possible. Don’t forget to look for reviews of the firm and take into account what other companies who have worked with it have said. In the end, the best advice that we can give you is to go with a reputable consultant that you trust and is reasonably priced.
