Top 7 Factors to Consider When Picking an IT Consultant
Are you looking for the right IT consultant for your business?
An IT constant can help you navigate your business’s IT needs. They can give you great insight into how to improve efficiency and stay cutting edge. But finding the right professional help isn’t always easy. You need to know exactly what you should be considering.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Read on for the top 7 factors to consider when picking an IT consultant.
1. The Costs
Onboarding new employees take a lot of time, effort, and money. Even if you did find the right candidate, there is still a chance that they won’t last, and you’re back to square one. This is likely the reason you don’t have an IT consultant on your staff already.
Working with an IT consultant can save you the pain and cost of the hiring process. Of course, with the different options for consultants come different fees.
You’ll want to be comparing consultant fees to make sure you’re getting the most for your budget. Remember, you should spend more on an outside consultant than a full-time employee. The right person will have IT consulting experience but will save you money and stress.
2. Security
Depending on the industry you serve, you can’t give away your data to everyone. IT consultants have to access your network and systems, giving them access to your data. The consultant must have the right training in sensitive information.
For example, in the healthcare industry, there are HIPPA laws that protect the data you hold. Any consultant you hire in this area should know these laws and follow them. Otherwise, they could compromise your data security.
You must work out what security issues an outside contractor can bring.
This way, you can be thorough when you vet prospective consultants. You still need to check them out and make sure they’ll handle your business with care. Check online customer reviews, but also do your own research and background checks.
3. Reliability
It’s easy to Google some impressive terms and pretend to know how computers work. It might not be a huge deal working with a couple of machines, but a larger company comes with complications.
That’s why you have to make sure you choose a company with reliable consulting services. Make sure you check out online customer reviews and ask for client references. This should give you an idea if they’d be up to the task.
To start looking for a consultant, Google for IT consultants in your locale. The reviews will be easy to see, so you can narrow down the ones that interest you.
Once you start talking to some, ask to speak with a few past or current clients. This way you gauge how the consultant works and what they’re like to work with. Having the skills and experience is great, but their personality has to be the right fit too.
4. Expert Knowledge
For a lot of businesses (especially small startups), it’s tempting to hire graduates. Or even stick to a team of interns to manage your IT needs.
Of course, this might be cost-effective from a staff wage point of view, but it could cost you more in the long run. As technology advances, interns and graduates don’t have the experience or skills needed.
You also open yourself up to security risks of using old tech, or not keeping software updated. It’s better to be safe than sorry here and hire an IT consultant who you know will be able to handle your IT systems.
When looking to hire make sure the company gives their employees ongoing training. IT is changing all the time, so you want to make sure you’re in the hands of someone who will keep up to date. They should always offer you the latest innovations and always know current trends.
5. Ability to Train Others
Another thing to consider is the consultant’s ability to train. Setting up and maintaining your IT systems won’t be their only job after all. Your staff will need to learn how to use your new IT network after all.
There’s no point setting up the latest and best industry IT tech if your staff can’t use it. A great IT consultant will train all your staff once the system is ready to use. They’ll get them up-to-date and give them all they need for the new tech.
6. Communication
No matter how skilled someone is at their job, it doesn’t mean they’re great at communication. If you’re hiring an IT consultant, you should never have communication issues.
When interviewing consultants, use it as a chance to gauge their communication skills. Have a list of questions to ask them, about their knowledge and experience. How they would be a good fit, and how they think they can help. Their answers should give you an idea of how they respond to people and how easy to get along with they are.
Find out their preferred methods of communication. Some might prefer emails and texts, while others might want to FaceTime or call. Think about how you want to communicate with your consultant and pick the best match.
7. Location
With current remote technology, it’s possible to hire a consultant from anywhere. If you’re looking to hire someone in a different country though, be aware of the time differences. A large time difference could lower responsiveness to issues that need urgent attention.
Make sure you’re hiring an IT consultant that’s able to deal with issues 24/7. This way, you know if disaster strikes, they’ll have your back right away. It’s important that your consultant can make the necessary office calls when needed.
Picking an IT Consultant the Easy Way
Picking an IT consultant that perfectly fits your business isn’t always easy, but using these factors to made your decision will make the process a breeze. The right consultant will be reliable with the knowledge and expertise you need for your business, at a cost that works for you.
If you found this article useful, be sure to check out our other blog posts.
