Use These 7 Expert Questions to Find the Best IT Services Company in Grand Rapids
"How much are your services?"
This is a common question asked by many when looking to partner with an IT Services company in Grand Rapids. The real answer to this question is….. “It depends.” As frustrating as this may be, choosing the right IT Services company depends primarily on which services and support will best match your individual environment and needs. Here are 14 expert questions to ask to ensure you are finding the ideal IT managed services partner to support the evolving needs of your organization.
1. How large is your company?
IT Services companies can vary in size and as they grow, so does their expertise. As their service offerings expand, so does their knowledge base. A one-man band may struggle to service your needs within expected timeframes and consider what would happen if they get sick, become backlogged with previous projects, or go on holiday. This doesn’t mean you should automatically rule out a smaller company, as larger companies can become faceless and lack the ability to be flexible when it comes to your specific requirements. The important thing to remember is, do you feel confident they can provide the services you need within your budget restraints and other variables like timelines and after-sales support.
2. How long have you been in business?
Since 80% of small businesses fail with the first 18 months, asking the question of how long they have been in business gives you confidence they are stable and you can rely on them to continue to serve you.
3. What different levels of support do you offer?
Many IT Services Companies in Grand Rapids offer a choice of service levels to suit different budgets and requirements. These may include:
- Pay-as-you-go support: Where you pay an hourly rate or a fixed price. This is usually the most expensive option in the long run.
- Break-fix support: This can be charged hourly, either paid in advance or afterward. It can also be offered on a fixed-price contract.
- Managed service support: Where an IT Services Company actively manages your systems to reduce the chance of things going wrong.
4. What are your response times?
You should expect an IT Services Company in Grand Rapids to offer some sort of reasonable response time in the case of a problem with your IT network. This may vary depending on what level of support you are willing to pay for. However, remember that a “guaranteed response time” is exactly that – it only guarantees that they won’t ignore you and will start doing something with your IT problem. Be wary of IT Services companies that guarantee to resolve problems within a certain period as this is invariably a hollow guarantee. It often takes much longer than expected to get to the root of a problem.
5. How can we log support calls with you?
Make sure your IT Services Company offers a dedicated number with someone who is always available to answer your call or, offer another facility such as an online form or email address that goes straight to the support team. Ideally, you should have all three of these options. Also, find out what happens if you need support after hours.
6. Do you supply hardware as well as support?
Even if you purchase all your computer equipment from a different supplier, it’s still good to know that your support company can replace any faulty parts themselves. When it comes time to replace your hardware, you may feel better knowing the people who are supporting it have recommended, supplied, and installed it – giving you a single point of contact if something goes wrong.
7. Do you provide remote management and monitoring?
Many IT Services Companies still operate an on-site break-fix service and offer little in terms of remote management and monitoring. Others in the Grand Rapid area offer 24/7 monitoring and pro-actively take action (often remotely) to prevent problems before they cause major issues to your business. Remote management can also reduce the time it takes to fix things and cut any related travel costs. Prevention is always better than cure, and this is the same with IT systems.
For the past 30 years, Micro Visions has been at the heart of the Grand Rapids community. We are the leading provider of managed IT services and technology consulting in Western Michigan. Our experts work closely with your team to understand your unique business challenges and develop cost-effective, reliable solutions. Call us today on 616-776-0400 for a no-obligation discovery chat where we can explore the right technology recommendations for your team both now and in the future.
