
In 2025, you can keep your business from holding poor IT support back. Sub standard tech support impedes growth by frustrating all the employees and customers, ultimately affecting profitability. While in-house IT support services in Melbourne's eastern suburbs might have been sufficient a few years ago, many organizations are discovering that this approach is no longer sustainable—or cost-effective. Let's explore when it makes sense to consider managed IT services as your next strategic move.
IT infrastructure has become more complex
In their early days, most organizations can get by just fine with a small in-house team or even a single IT expert handling their technology needs. Someone's printer isn't working? They'll fix it. Need to set up a new laptop They're on it. Password reset? Done in seconds! But organizations rarely stay small forever.
As they grow, so does IT infrastructure complexity. Suddenly, the IT team manages more than basic hardware and troubleshooting simple issues. Instead, they're juggling cloud services, cyber security threats, and compliance requirements.
As a result, the same small team that once handled everything so efficiently now finds itself stretched thin, which can result in mounting technical issues and frequent system downtime. That's bad news because the cost of a single minute of downtime can reach thousands of dollars.
Recognize the Signs of a Terrible IT Partner
One of the first hurdles to overcome is recognizing that change is needed. Organizations accustomed to subpar IT services often misconstrue red flags for industry norms, assuming their endless struggles and setbacks indicate 'how technology works.'
This section will highlight four signals that it's time to switch.
- Reactive Support
With IT serving as the backbone for modern business operations, the break/fix model of support no longer holds up. Change is due if your IT partner doesn't employ a more strategic, proactive approach focused on anticipating and preventing problems beforehand.
- Low First-Time Resolution
Does your current partner frequently fail to resolve issues on the first attempt? If so, this is likely a sign that they need more skills, knowledge, and resources to handle your problems effectively. Worse still, it may be because they don't view your company as a high priority.
Additionally, studies show that 82% of customers expect to get their IT issues solved within the first call. Your provider's low first-time resolution rate could have a long-term impact on your customer satisfaction rate.
Either way, when your IT issue persists over multiple interventions, your employees and customers bear the brunt of the impact.
- Erratic Budgeting
Erratic budgeting and hidden fees are glaring red flags. While most IT service contracts stipulate annual increases varying from 3% to 10%, being blindsided by unexpected costs and fees signals deeper problems with your provider's transparency and integrity.
- Poor Cyberattack Response
Cyberattacks happen. That's just a cold, sobering truth. If unfortunately, you're the victim of a successful attack, take a hard look at the provider's response.
- Vetting a New Partner
Choosing a reliable IT provider can propel every organisation to heights of success. Meanwhile, the wrong partner will always leave you extremely vulnerable to costly downtime and hacks.
- Industry Experience
Seek out an IT partner with specialized expertise in your specific business domain. Quickly eliminate the candidates who lack insight into your industry's nuances. Prioritize those who demonstrate a thorough grasp of industry-specific subject matter, software, compliance, regulations, and security concerns.
Impact on Your Business
- Lost Revenue
Every minute of a business downtime costs money, especially for small businesses.
- Reduced Productivity
Consistent IT issues slow down the operations and affect employee morale.
- Poor Customer Experience
Tech issues can lead to very slow service and transaction problems, driving the customers to competitors.
- Hindered Scalability
Poor IT support makes it too hard to scale operations and integrate the new technologies.
- Compromised Security
Inadequate IT support increases the threat of data breaches, leading to the loss of trust and financial losses.
Don't let the poor tech support stifle your businesses. Take action today to ensure your technology propels your business smoothly forward.
Making the move to managed services
Have you recognized your organization while reading this article? Then it's very likely that you've grown past what your current IT support can handle. The good news is that you don't have to make an all-or-nothing choice when it comes to managed services. Many organizations start with a hybrid approach, keeping some functions in-house while partnering with an MSP for others. For example, organizations with 50 or more employees often maintain an in-house helpdesk for immediate, hands-on support while relying on an MSP for complex needs. The key is finding the right balance for your organization's unique needs.