Support
(587) 745-0366
Technology impacts every part of your business, so deciding how to outsource your IT is no small task! You might be weighing the pros and cons of staying local or going national with a large company.
The title of our blog might give us away, but we think there are some great (and unexpected) benefits that come from working with a local IT company. Here are just 4 reasons why we think you should consider staying locally instead of choosing a national provider.
On-Site Support
The biggest benefit of working with a local IT provider is that they can offer on-site support. This is especially important for businesses that don’t have an in-house IT team or if your in-house team needs some extra help.
With a local provider, you’ll have someone you can call whenever you need help with a technology issue. They can come to your office, take a look at the problem, and provide a solution on the spot.
You won’t have to wait days or weeks for someone to come out and fix the issue- it can all be taken care of in one visit. This is a huge time-saver and can help you avoid downtime and extra costs.
Saves You Money
You might be thinking that working with a large, national company will save you money because they have the buying power to get discounts on products and services.
While this may be true in some cases, it’s not always the best option for businesses. When you work with a local provider, they’ll be more familiar with your business and your specific needs.
This means they can tailor their services to your budget and help you find the most cost-effective solution for your business. In the long run, this could save you more money than working with a large company that doesn’t really understand your business.
Also, if you have a tech problem that has to be physically taken care of by a technician, you might end up footing the bill for that travel. With a local provider, you can avoid those extra fees and get the support you need without paying for things that have little to do with your business.
Personalized Service
When you work with a large, national company, your urgent IT issue becomes another service ticket. You won’t get to know the technicians working on your account and they won’t really understand your business.
With a local provider, you’ll get to know the people working on your account and they’ll become familiar with your business. You’ll be able to trust the customer service and expertise of your provider.
We might underestimate the power and sense of support that comes from working with local businesses. But, when you work with a local IT provider, you’re investing in your community and they’re investing in you.
Disaster Recovery
When storms hit or other disasters strike, it’s important to have a plan in place. A local provider will be well aware of what’s going on and will have a thorough disaster recovery plan for the specific challenges of the area.
Since they’ll have technicians nearby, you can get the on-site support that you need to get things up and running as quickly as possible. Downtime after a disaster can cost anywhere from 10 thousand dollars to 5 million dollars, so you don’t want your business to be put on a national technician’s list of problems.
Still Unsure?
If you’re still trying to decide between a local IT provider and a national one, you can work through some of these questions to see which would be best.
If my business experiences a disaster or our systems fail, how quickly do I need to get them back up?
A few different things will factor into this. If people use your website frequently or need services from you immediately, if you have sensitive information that needs to be protected, or if you lose a lot of money for every hour that you’re down, then you’ll want to get back up as quickly as possible.
In this case, having someone on-site quickly will be important. If it’s not as urgent, you might be okay with working with someone who’s farther away.
What is my IT budget?
When you’re looking for ways to save while still getting personalized service, go with a local company. If you just need the cheapest option possible for now, you might be able to get a discount from a national provider. But, you should still check with your local IT provider, because the price difference might be next to nothing!
How much in-house IT expertise does my business already have?
If you already have someone on staff who is familiar with IT and can handle any small problems that come up, working with a national provider might be fine. But, if you need more comprehensive support, it’s best to go with a local company so they can provide the personalized service your business needs.
Alt-Tech in Alberta Can Help
When you partner with a local IT provider vs. a national IT company, you get the best of both worlds. You’ll have access to personalized service and support, as well as the peace of mind that comes from working with a provider who understands your business.
If you need IT services in Sherwood Park, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, or surrounding areas in Alberta, contact Alt-Tech today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about working with a local IT provider!
