When was the last time your provider of managed IT services in Atlanta gave you a Christmas card? Have they ever offered to take you to lunch or dinner? If the answer to these questions is “no,” do they at least ever visit you in person or is it strictly a remote relationship? If they don’t make an effort to touch base with you on a regular basis beyond help desk calls, chances are it means they don’t value personal relationships and all they really care about is money. In some industries that works, but not when it comes to managed services.
Why IT Needs to be Relationship-Driven
Unlike businesses that serve the faceless masses, IT is a personalized service that often requires providers to go above and beyond what’s expected of them. In other words, it’s not like hiring a plumber to fix your sink every 10 years, nor is it like paying someone to mow your lawn a few times a month in which the person does the same redundant work every time and doesn’t need to know much about your goals or the latest trends in the art of landscaping.
If your managed IT services provider in Atlanta isn’t keeping up with the latest trends in technology, it’s time to rethink your relationship. Part of a network consultant’s job is to keep you informed on new ways to improve your business efficiency through new hardware or software applications. These days you can’t afford to fall too far behind in the following areas:
- latest data security and storage strategies
- data backup and recovery planning
- cloud computing services
- mobile and wireless communications
- trends in network design
- efficient ways to manage business growth
- VoIP service options to lower phone bills
Going the Extra Mile
Is your provider willing to jump through hoops? Essentially, you need to determine if they’re working with your best interests in mind or if they’re just working to get paid. Friendly gestures, such as sending you a gift basket during the holidays, signal that they care about preserving the relationship. But even if they never go that far, do they at least try to build a good working relationship? Never underestimate the value of mixing business with pleasure.
Always remember that if they can’t connect with you on a personal level to help build trust and loyalty, then there are better choices to consider in Atlanta. You need someone who’s more than a techie, since your success depends on more than just technology. A business relationship with an MSP is just as much about teamwork as technology. The more the provider cares about you and your business, the less likely you’ll have to worry about downtime or other business disruptions.
Conclusion
When you need managed IT services in Atlanta, it’s important to work with a firm that knows you well enough to understand where you want to take your business. It also helps if it’s a team that knows how to make business a fun experience. Ultimately, you need to work with someone who cares and, usually, the people who care the most about others are friends. Contact us at MIS Solutions, Inc. to learn more about how we take accountability for resolving your issues quickly with our friendly experienced staff.