Stop Wasting Money on IT

Outsourcing IT projects helps businesses to minimize stress and disruption during IT transformation. Organizations can get the most for their IT investment with increased operational efficiency and reduced wasteful spending. 

It’s no secret that technology is the beating heart of almost every modern organization. Industries across the board rely on tech to operate with greater efficiency, confidence, and security. Adopting and supporting new technologies, however, is no walk in the park. There are dozens of decisions to be made, and when one question is answered, a new one comes to the surface: When is the right time? Which solutions? What brand? And of course: with what time and budget? 

When taking on a new IT project, a business has essentially three options: complete the project independently, outsource the IT project to a consulting service, or a combination of both. Each method has different costs and benefits, but the most efficient option often includes some degree of outsourcing.

Why Outsource IT Projects to consultants?

Common Question:

Don't consultants just... give advice?

The short answer is that they can just give advice, but they often do a lot more. IT consultants can provide and map out a specific project plan, implement the necessary hardware and software, and sometimes provide training and support to upkeep the new technology.

For organizations looking to adopt new technologies, IT consulting services can be beneficial in 3 major ways:

1. Consultants Allow Organizations to Focus on Their Business

Dedicated technical consultants and project managers handle projects from the first blueprint to the last wire. While organization leadership is often included and involved in the process, they don’t have to be consumed or constantly distracted by it. They can focus on the needs and operations of their business instead of urgently tending to project-related questions and even fires.

Additionally, highly experienced consultants who prioritize efficiency and communication can mean minimized day-to-day disruption for all employees. Consultants, due to their direct experience, often know how to avoid the frustrating delays, downtimes, and technical issues that IT projects often pass on to employees.

Common Question:

What about organizations with an IT department?

For businesses that already have an in-house IT team, consulting services still helps to keep operations flowing smoothly. Without the full burden of designing and executing an IT project, IT employees and managers can keep their focus on tending to the day-to-day technical needs of employees and evolving the organization’s technology strategy (beyond the current project).

2. Consultants Offer Expertise That is Hard to Come By

Specialized IT expertise is built upon unique skill-sets, certifications, and first-hand experience -- in other words, it’s not easy to find. In fact, a recent survey found that 67% of businesses lack specialized IT expertise, and 89% of IT managers found it difficult to recruit the needed talent. This is especially true when it comes to the most recent and revolutionary technologies such as cloud computing, virtualization, and cybersecurity.

IT consultants are generally highly certified and constantly up-to-date on new technologies and industry best practices. Most consultants have had experience with dozens of projects identical to the one at hand, and know the secrets to a successful and cost-effective execution as well as the pitfalls to avoid.

Common Question:

What about that organization with the IT department?

Yep, a consulting team can help here too. If an organization chooses to take on a project in-house, IT employees often need to engage in extra training and certification to be best equipped. Consultants can help IT teams hit the ground running with valuable insight, training, and on-site help for the specific needs and goals of the project.

3. Consultants Protect Businesses' Bottom Line

Consulting services offer businesses help and expertise when they need it, and don’t cost a thing when they don’t. Hiring and training IT experts relevant to the specific needs of a project can be a huge financial burden -- upwards of $50,000 a year, not including benefits and training. In contrast, consulting allows organizations to tap into experienced and highly-skilled IT talent at the fraction of the cost.

The most powerful, yet often most overlooked, savings consultants provide come from the improved operational efficiency they deliver. New technology is bound to change the way things are done in an organization, so it is crucial that a loss of productivity is kept to a minimum.

If organizations can focus on tending to customers and operations, their profits can thrive even in the face of internal technological change. Additionally, the sooner new technology is implemented, the sooner it can become a cost-saver rather than a cost-driver.

How to find “The One”

Deciding to outsource IT projects is one thing, but deciding who to go to is another. Consultants with these characteristics ensure a successful project execution:

1. Invested in an Organization’s Business Goals

A successful IT company is not only concerned with the technology and task at hand but also the operations and long-term needs of the organization. In fact, consultants that are both technically trained and business-savvy can ensure that the design and implementation of solutions compliment the operation and direction of the business. Consultants should provide detailed project scoping and a personalized proactive blueprint for solution deployment and support.

2. Ensures Self-Sufficiency

The best consultants engage in detailed knowledge-sharing and training to business leadership, IT staff, and/or employees. The point of consultants is that they are not there all the time, so it is crucial that consultants give organizations the expertise and skills needed to adapt to the new technology.

3. Never Loses Sight of Security

The importance of security can sometimes get lost in the weeds, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. Great consultants always keep the priority of protecting businesses and their customers no matter the technology being implemented. Comprehensive cybersecurity measures, through secure by default configurations and proactive security awareness training and knowledge-sharing, are crucial to minimizing vulnerability.

4. Leverages Direct Partner-Collaboration

The fact of the matter is, no consulting team is going to have every nuanced piece of expertise available. Questions and needs may arise that even a consultant cannot best respond to. However, the most equipped IT companies utilize relationships with strategic partners to ensure businesses get the most accurate help, pricing, and resources.

Thinking of elevating your IT? Centre’s certified consultants are ready to deliver cost-effective solutions and stress-free deployment for any IT project, from cloud migrations to security assessments and beyond.

Contact Centre Technologies for premium consulting and managed services so your business can start using this feature as soon as possible.