Marcus RichardsIt’s said that today’s businesses depend heavily on information technology (IT) to maintain a competitive edge in a saturated market and ensure a productive work environment.
In general, if you want technology to work for you and your company, you’ll need professional IT staff to perform various tasks to keep your business operations running smoothly and efficiently.
Over the years, IT support has played a crucial role in businesses in all industries. As enterprise software evolves, one of the best ways to realize its full potential is to have highly dependable support.
The question that arises is whether to use an in-house team or outsource IT support. The decision can be challenging for most since you have various elements and factors to consider, such as cost, reliability, and convenience, to name a few. If you want a perspective on what an outsourced IT service has to offer, look into reputable providers like KDIT and others.
When deciding between in-house and outsourced IT support, consider the following critical factors to determine which works best for you:
1. Price
The price is critical, especially for small businesses with limited resources.
Designating an in-house IT support team can be more costly compared to outsourcing. You must hire, train, and manage an in-house team. Your company will also be in charge of monthly wages, salaries, and benefits.
Outsourcing IT support relieves you of the burden of managing payroll employees. There’s no need to maintain equipment or office space. Outsourced IT support allows you to pay only for the required services, which is often a trace of the budget necessary to recruit, train, and maintain an in-house team.
2. Skills
The skills necessary vary from one company to another. The decision to go for in-house or outsourced IT support will also depend on the skill level necessary for the tasks you need. If your operations require simple tasks, an in-house team of one or two employees may be sufficient.
However, for large-scale companies with highly complex tasks, it requires specialized skills that an outsourced IT team can provide. An advantage of outsourced IT professionals is flexibility when dealing with issues since they tap into their creativity in solving problems and how they approach tasks.
Plus, outsourced IT support boasts collective knowledge of IT trends, standards, legal compliance, and security risks beyond the level of an individual or small team of professionals. Most of the time, an outsourced team will develop better solutions for your company’s IT needs.
As for in-house teams, they most often rely on company protocols and policies. You’ll rely on your in-house team’s knowledge level and solution preferences when dealing with issues. Unfortunately, it may not always be appropriate for your company’s needs.
3. Availability
Availability is crucial when deciding whether to hire in-house or outsource IT support.
Support is only available during working hours if you have an in-house team. Generally, support is unavailable when your employees are on sick or holiday leave. Most in-house employees are willing to be available whenever an issue arises, but they’re less willing to work outside of scheduled hours, on weekends, or holidays. In most cases, another team member is required to complete the task.
As for outsourced IT support, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your company has coverage round the clock. But there are also concerns. Because outsourced IT support is provided from a remote location, communication issues may arise from time to time. In general, you won’t see the professionals very often face-to-face.
4. Scalability
For many businesses, scalability is an important consideration to cope with the changing demands. If your company requires dedicated IT support for a new IT platform, or if you temporarily require more or less service or skill, you must consider the appropriate IT support.
Outsourced IT support allows you to scale up or down depending on your current needs. As for in-house IT support, your employee may not be able to provide the same level of versatility. Depending on the circumstances, an employee may be overworked or overwhelmed by the changes.
5. The Need For Client-Facing Staff
Certain companies or projects may require an in-house team for the job. Depending on the specific task, you might need client-facing staff to function as onsite support. In such instances, having an in-house team may overshadow the benefits of outsourcing the job.
Generally, you have better control over where the staff works, assigning them to a specific office location. Outsourced IT support may be a better option if you don’t require client-facing personnel.
Final Thoughts
Deciding between in-house or outsourced IT support will greatly depend on your business type and the scope of the task you need. Outsourcing may provide greater flexibility and cost savings, whereas in-house support ensures direct control. Ultimately, it all boils down to your business operations and other requirements you need. Knowing these critical factors will help you decide which is best for your business.
