Outsourcing Your IT: The Many Benefits

Companies commonly outsource some (if not all) of their IT needs to third-party companies, and a recent survey published by the KPMG Institutes sheds light on what drives their decision to do so. The survey pertained to outsourcing trends in general, but there are certainly some relevant takeaways for the IT sector.

To begin with, the survey found that 70 percent of businesses are influenced by cost when they choose to outsource a service. Any company that provides IT services on a grand scale is going to be able to consolidate its costs on equipment and personnel in a way that a small to mid-sized company simply cannot. This means that they can almost always provide the service more cheaply than you could do it yourself.

It’s also worth noting that, while cost was the major motivating factor companies in the survey cited for outsourcing, this figure decreased considerably from 2010. Companies are no longer choosing to outsource strictly because of the savings factor. These days, there are many other compelling reasons to put your IT needs in the hands of a third-party provider.

Read on for a list of motivating factors beyond bottom-line savings to outsource the company’s IT needs:

– Plans are flexible.

Maybe you need some help on a one-off basis setting up a new network or implementing a new software platform. Or, maybe you require ongoing support on a daily basis. Some companies even take this a step further and charter services, which come complete with all the facilities (including cutting edge IT infrastructure) that a modern company needs in order to thrive.

Facilities providers take all of the hassle out of getting your office up and running. They’ll send in their own team of experts to set you up with bespoke and flexible services that suit your company’s needs, and you don’t have to lift a finger in the process. All you and your team need to do is move in and get to work.

–  The quality of the service improves.

You may have an in-house expert or two who are completely capable of carrying out your company’s IT needs. However, you probably don’t have the calibre of equipment and hardware that they need to really excel at the job. Sure, you could set up your own IT division; hire trainers, purchase equipment and waste lots of time and money in the process. Or you could just take the easier, cheaper route and get a higher-quality service in the process. Honestly, it’s difficult to make a case against outsourcing.

–  You and your team have better things to do.

Unless your company specialises in IT (in which case this article really doesn’t apply to you), you probably have better things to do than administrate networks, update software and maintain servers. Furthermore, you’re probably not that good at doing those things, either. Bringing in a team of experts gives you and your team the opportunity to focus your energies on the things you excel at – i.e. running your own business.

–  Your networks will be more secure.

This is an incredibly important consideration, and it’s becoming even more critical in the age of e-commerce and Cloud computing. Network security is a serious consideration for businesses of any size. Your servers contain personal information about clients and customers, financial details and trade secrets that the company needs to protect. A third-party IT team is going to use the latest-breaking, state-of-the-art security measures, and they can even be chartered to keep your protection up to date on a regular basis.

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This article is written by Louise Ross in behalf of MWB Business Exchange, a UK-based business that addresses the needs of those looking for virtual services and office spaces. If you want to learn more about arranging for an MWBex serviced office space, visit mwbex.com.