Published May 2005
Need
tech help? Consider
hiring an IT consultant
Dear
BizBest: Keeping our computers, e-mail, software, Internet access and
other “IT systems” in shape is proving to be a major pain in the neck
for my eight-person business. We all try to pitch in, but the result has
been a jumble that barely functions. Should we find a good tech guy to
help out? — IT-less
Dear IT-less:
Selecting and installing the right technology, then maintaining it
and keeping it up to date are major hurdles for millions of small businesses.
Left to their own devices, biz owners often overspend on information technology
(IT) by making mistakes and then having to spend even more to fix them.
Common missteps include
buying bargain-shelf hardware in a hodgepodge manner, using pirated software
or buying it piecemeal rather than in discount bundles, and setting up
e-mail accounts without controls or Web sites that don’t work.
Helping biz owners
avoid these mistakes has become a booming business itself, spawning a
nationwide network of computer or IT consultants who specialize in setting
up tech systems and solving problems for small companies like yours.
Biz owners coast
to coast, in all types of industries and locations, have concluded that
going it alone is not the best choice when it comes to technology. The
future of your business may hinge on technology that works properly, so
getting professional help should be high on your priority list.
Hooking up with an
IT consultant will free up your time to focus on what you do best, although
you or someone on your staff should still be clued in on how things work.
Here are seven steps to help you achieve IT outsourcing success:
- Make your outside
tech person a vital extension of your business — someone you want to
develop a long-term relationship with.
- Look for a tech
consultant who does this full time for you and other clients — not someone
with another job who dabbles in computers on the side.
- Before hiring,
develop a detailed list of your needs, the desired results and how you
want the person to work (part time, on call, project basis, etc.). Talk
to the consultant in person. Look for someone who understands your business
and can explain what he or she plans to do in plain English.
- Experience with
businesses of your size is vital. Someone who works mainly with midsize
firms may not be familiar with the best solutions for you.
- Consider whether
you need an IT “generalist” — someone familiar with all types of tech
from fax machines to DSL and office software applications — or a specialist
in an area of key need such as e-commerce or Web sites.
- Designate someone
internally to be your point person on tech matters. This individual
can resolve many of the simple issues without calling in the consultant.
- Lean on your
independent tech guru for advice before making hardware or software
purchases.
Check these resources
for further help:
- The Independent
Computer Consultants Association (ICCA) is a national, not-for-profit
membership group based in St. Louis. Its Web site offers a free feature
that lets you search for tech consultants in your area or by special
skills. Visit www.icca.org
or call 800-774-4222.
- Microsoft has
created a series of free IT solutions events for small business that
it puts on in cities across the country. These events can help familiarize
you with different options and introduce you to Microsoft’s network
of solution providers in your area. Visit www.msacrossamerica.com
for a schedule of seminars.
- Rent a Geek is
an online clearinghouse for locating free-lance computer consultants
and consulting companies. Visit www.rentageek.com.
- SmallBusinessComputing.com,
SmallBizPipeline.com
and SmallBizTechnology.com
are three excellent Web sites for keeping up with the latest in small-business
technology and advice.
Daniel Kehrer (dan@bizbest.com)
is founder of BizBest (www.bizbest.com),
which publishes “The 100 Best Resources for Small Business.”
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