Every day, companies around the world, increase their need to be on the technological cutting edge. All companies look more and more like tech companies, which implies a higher demand for IT personnel. But what if your company has another primary focus? Or your IT needs are very specific? What if having an in-house IT department is not sustainable or efficient for your needs? And more importantly, how to know if outsourcing is the option for you?
First of all, let’s clarify what outsourcing is. It can be defined as a business strategy that comes from the word combination of “outside” and “resourcing”. Meaning that in this resourcing from the outside, companies hire outside suppliers to provide specific services or products, instead of producing them in-house.
So, how do you know if you need to outsource your IT staff? Here we have some signs that tell you if you should, and why.
1. It is not one of your core competencies
If IT is not an integral part of your company, or the primary focus is something different; delegating these IT tasks might be the smartest choice. On the grounds that investing in hiring a third party that has the required abilities and will focus on those tasks, you are guaranteed that they will be carried on with efficiency.
Meanwhile, your company’s talent and resources are concentrated on their main lane, therefore, you’d be getting better results everywhere.
2. You need highly skilled professionals, but not all the time
Sometimes your company needs a well-trained IT department but doesn’t have enough work to keep them busy on a full-time calendar. Not only you might be misusing funds, but your IT team will get bored and find another job that challenges them.
By outsourcing with an IT service provider, you can have the talent you need with the flexibility your company requires. They will manage the IT professionals to jump into the projects when needed, and when you don’t they can lend their services to other clients. It’s a win-win scenario.
3. You can’t train regularly your in-house IT staff
IT staff, like most departments, needs to be retrained and upskilled constantly to be up to date with the latest ways of the industry. And sometimes, this industry’s development can be so fast, that it is hard to keep up for businesses of any size.
But there are IT companies whose job is to be up to date and you can consult to train your IT professionals, or go straight to the source and hire them as a third party. Outsourcing companies take care that their professionals are skilled and cutting-edge, so this is a great option in this situation.
4. You required very specific expertise
Let’s say you have an IT project that involves AI or Cybersecurity or any kind of specific set of skills and knowledge. Having your in-house IT department take the challenge can be a risk. Hiring a group of experts can be very expensive. So, outsourcing these tasks seems an efficient choice, since you’d be getting the right skilled talent for what is required and save money in the process.
5. You need 24/7 IT support
If your company needs round-the-clock care or troubleshooting support at all times. You can have an amazing in-house department, but covering a 24/7 basis can get very difficult.
On the other hand, an outsourced IT service provider can solve this problem by managing their plateau of IT professionals to assist your company at all times. And giving you as the client a fixed price for the whole service.
6. You want to be cost-effective
Outsourcing your IT staff is not only efficient but cost-effective. The equipment and infrastructure to have a solid in-house IT department can be very expensive. By outsourcing this staff, you will be reducing those expenses, which on its own can be a lot. But not only that, when you outsource you end up paying a fixed price for a package or a specific service, which can be more cost-effective than paying for a full-time in-house IT staff.
7. You want to keep growing
If you are an entrepreneur, or your business started small and you want it to grow more, this can be an option for you. Not only it is a great way to get skilled professionals that match your company’s needs, but fresh perspectives too, that will help you innovate and grow. It is a strategic solution that is financially and professionally convenient, leaving enough room to improve at your preferred pace.
Outsourcing can seem complicated from the outside since you’re involving a third party, but that is nothing to worry about. These IT service provider companies or outsourcing companies, in general, are wired to find your company the talent they need to succeed. So, what are you waiting to outsource your staff?
