The increasingly competitive IT landscape has brought a whole bout of acquisitions. Local providers are merging with international organizations, which brings questions to what kind of IT support you can expect from your IT provider going forward. When considering IT support, your business needs to look at numerous factors, including the quality of service, strategic potential, and overall availability. A key part of having a responsive and proactive service comes from choosing a locally available IT support provider. While there are many reasons to look locally, here are seven of the main reasons to get support from an IT service provider that operates within your region:
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1. Fuel The Local Economy
When you engage in local IT support, you automatically benefit the local economy. For every dollar spent on IT in the city, local IT providers put two back. These providers keep profits and spending at home by employing community members and working with local business partners, potentially leading to collaborative opportunities and discounts. They keep the economy flowing and cycle profits throughout your city, fueling everyone in the area. A local IT company may also have connections with local talent, making it easier to find skilled IT professionals when expanding your team.
With your local team of IT experts, you have the advantage of being physically close. This means it will be easier to build a rapport and nurture a long-term working relationship. Therefore, engaging local IT support naturally benefits your neighbourhood, rather than a distant community. Local IT providers offer the advantage of not only supporting local businesses but also increasing community involvement. Supporting local businesses can be appealing to other stakeholders and showcases cultural and industry understanding.
2. Feel Like a Top Client
We’ve all been stuck on the phone with large-scale call centers before, waiting for IT support. Unless you’re one of their largest clients, it’s easy to feel like you’re at the bottom of their list of priorities. However, when you partner with local IT support you’ll feel like an A-list client. That’s because local providers deliver responsive and personalized support. IT issues can immediately be escalated up to the top of their to-do list for instant solutions. In the case of complex, technical issues, your local IT team can work closely with your staff to efficiently solve problems.
3. On-Site Support
If you’re currently working with a multinational IT company, or if larger corporations have recently acquired your IT service provider, you’re right to question the level of support your business will receive going forward. In some cases, as IT service providers expand, they move away from supporting localized needs.
The benefits of accessible, personalized, and proactive local IT support companies just can’t be beaten by bigger, less personal corporations. A local IT service provider will have an in-depth knowledge of the local technology infrastructure, helping them troubleshoot issues more effectively. The team will get to know your staff and your IT environment personally, making the on-site support quality even higher. Additionally, a local provider can visit your local place of business and access your needs, including the hardware you have and security touchpoints, making actionable recommendations and putting a face to the provider you’re working with.
4. Improved Efficiency
With a local IT team of experts supporting your business, you can be guaranteed to have increased cost and performance efficiency. That’s because local IT providers are often more cost-effective, especially when compared to larger corporations that charge premium rates for lower-quality and depersonalized services. As a local company, an IT provider is more likely to understand your need for simplified or smaller-scale services compared to charging you for features or support you don’t require. Improved efficiency can also come in the form of less waiting time for your staff while the team gets to the site. Sometimes, your local IT providers can even be your work neighbours!
5. Increased Customer Satisfaction
Local IT providers offer the advantage of not only supporting local businesses but also increasing community involvement. Supporting local businesses can be appealing to other stakeholders and showcases cultural and industry understanding. A local IT team is more likely to understand local business culture, best practices, and the specific needs and challenges of the local IT landscape, which can be crucial for effective support. This means they can effectively identify issues and resolve them in a timely manner. Perhaps another business in your area is facing a similar challenge, and your local IT company already has a swift solution ready to go. Additionally, if your business is experiencing a small-scale issue, local IT support can likely address it quickly, increasing overall satisfaction thanks to their quality customer service.
6. Individualized Attention
A lot of local businesses, IT service providers included, thrive on trust and reputation. They often rely on word-of-mouth and reputation, which means they are motivated to provide excellent service, individualized attention, and maintain a positive image within the local communities. Local IT providers often offer a more personalized approach and can tailor their services to your business IT needs, and understand the unique challenges your business may face.
7. Focus On Your Business
The main focus of local IT organizations that provide managed services is to offer comprehensive support for your business and others in the area. Because IT support is their mainstay in the market, these specialized regional providers are always looking for ways to optimize performance. Unlike multinational corporations which tend to focus on the big numbers, local IT providers specialize in a breadth of service offerings tailored specifically for local business needs. To get the best IT services for your business, choose a local IT support provider that exclusively offers managed IT services.
SysGen Supports Local Businesses
Whether you’re looking to make the switch from a large corporate IT service provider, or are considering local support services and want a consultation, our team at SysGen is here to lend a hand. You can find SysGen’s IT support and Managed IT Services in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vernon, Kelowna, and the rest of the Okanagan.
Get your local IT support with SysGen today!