What is Outsourced IT Support?

Outsourced IT support is the process of handing over some or all of your company’s technological requirements to a full-time outside or third-party professional, also known as an IT consultant, a managed service provider (MSP), or other similar titles.

The types of service packages you may obtain from a provider might vary considerably. These can range from an ad hoc hourly support team when you need it, to monthly recurring service contracts that include everything from the help desk to network monitoring and administration to vCIO-level planning.

With different sizes and service offerings of IT outsourcing service providers, it is definitely crucial to pick the one you think will be the true partner for your business.

Outsource IT Support vs. In-House IT Support

As noted above, any business owner or a decision maker has to consider whether outsourcing IT support is more feasible in the long run, instead of simply entrusting the tasks to an in-house team. Here are a few fundamental differences between outsource IT support and in-house IT support, while focusing on their upsides.

An in-house team knows the business operations inside out. This deep familiarity might be the ace up a decision maker’s sleeve if they’re still on the fence about hiring an offshore team to do the work. When you have an in-house team, they know how your company functions, and the workforce that use the technology on an every day basis.

For that reason alone, having an in-house team also means faster coordination, since you’re basically under the same roof. Any technical issue that needs addressing can be relayed without any losses in translation.

Conversely, outsourcing IT support tasks may involve considerable time spent on training and orientation, but the affordable outsourcing costs more than make up for it. This extra legroom in your expenses can now be used in more important company expenditures.

In addition, when entrusted to tech experts, outsourced IT support tasks will be handled 24/7—especially considering how many outsourcing companies operate offshore. Problems that in-house teams might encounter as far as availability in concerned wouldn’t be an issue when a business ultimately decides to outsource IT support.

Download a copy of this Outsource IT Support vs. In-House IT Support infographics

What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Your Services?

There are several advantages of outsourcing your operations, in whole or in part, to an expert managed services provider. Below are five of them.

1. You get a group of professionals.

It is truly expensive and time-consuming to hire knowledgeable internal workers and keep up with changing IT requirements. A team of professionals in every area of technology, including data management, system administration, and cybersecurity, is provided by managed IT services companies.

The equipment and technological partnerships required to update your infrastructure are also available from outsourced IT companies, saving you from having to buy items that might become outdated in a few years.

2. It is accessible 24/7.

An in-house team may be able to respond more quickly, but this is usually only true during regular business hours or a typical workday.

On the other hand, if you suddenly have downtime, an outsourced IT support will offer you emergency services and 24/7 assistance so you can rapidly resume operations. Also, you won’t be restricted to or charged extra for nights, weekends, or holidays.

3. The quality of service is great.

An outsourced IT support partner is interested in your business because it wants to keep it. They must continue to demonstrate their value to your business because they often only have as long as the initial contract to keep you committed.

You can also choose an IT company with proven experience in your industry, so you don’t have to worry about industry regulations and compliance.

4. They are usually more cost-effective.

Although it may appear cheaper to hire one or two employees, you must also take into account all of the expenses associated with keeping personnel, such as hiring replacements, raises, benefits, training, and paid time off.

Conversely, a typical monthly fee for an outsourced IT business is fixed, and you won’t be charged extra to keep up with training or handle a data outage after hours.

5. Your internal resources can help grow your business.

Finally, your staff will have more time to focus on expanding your business and creating innovative solutions when you unload the daily burden of technology onto another company.

Why Outsource IT Support?

Did you know that the Philippines’ outsourcing industry is projected to help companies cut their labor costs by 70%? This means one thing: You must keep up with how quickly IT evolves today. Otherwise, your competitors would win you over and exclude you. Given how fast trends change, leaders and business owners find it challenging to satisfy IT needs. How do you deal with this? Aim to outsource.

Over and above that, don’t miss out on the top perks of hiring outsourced IT support for your IT services.

1. Cost Reduction

Spend less on routine activities without compromising the quality of work. Additionally, you don’t necessarily need to invest in expensive IT systems to keep your firm running. Just ensure you choose the provider who can best suit your demands.

2. Professional Staff

The ability to recruit IT workers with a high degree of knowledge to do jobs quickly is another key benefit of outsourcing. Due to the requirement for expertise in particular industries, organizations may find it difficult to hire at this level due to cost considerations. In light of this, using outside resources and IT outsourcing services can assist in resolving issues.

3. Flexible Business Solutions

With this strategy, you can choose to get personalized solutions for your company’s ever-changing needs as they arise. Your ability to add, modify, or remove services has a significant role in your success.

Outsourced IT Support Costs

The first thing on a business’s agenda when choosing an outsourced service is to compare prices. Contrary to popular opinion, the cost of outsourced IT services varies depending on the market. The price of an IT service provider depends on the quality and range of services it provides. It all boils down to the value the IT service provider delivers to your business and the potential profits it could help you realize when comparing expenses.

The service providers use a variety of pricing models, which include production-based price, fixed project price, and cost-based price. Among the options, the most popular is the flat-rate, all-inclusive style of billing.

Companies that use this kind of method typically charge anywhere from $110 to $165 per user each month. This, however, doesn’t cover more tightly integrated line-of-business and customer-facing apps which are usually more expensive. Whatever the case, outsourcing IT support tasks to an MSP can give your company the resources and support it needs to run effectively.