Common Mistakes To Avoid When Utilizing IT Outsourcing

In every business, there comes a time when the decision needs to be made on whether to outsource a portion of its IT operations or leave them in-house. This decision can be the result of concerns such as cost-savings, limited personnel resources, or an expanded business offering. However, regardless of the reason, there are some common challenges that all companies can face when outsourcing IT operations. So, what are the common outsourcing mistakes and how should they be mitigated?

IT Outsourcing: Common Mistakes You Need to Know

Outsourcing the Wrong Services, Instead of the Right Ones

Before an organization seeks out an IT provider to outsource a portion of its environment or services, they should complete an internal assessment to determine if the areas defined for outsourcing are appropriate. Will outsourcing this service really improve the performance or create a better user experience?

The New Latest, Greatest Service Offering May Not Be the Best Solution

If an organization makes their outsourcing decisions based on the latest and greatest and not what is best for the organization, the results that are achieved may not align with what the organization actually needs. Thus, it is best to avoid the lure of the newest, greatest technology. Instead, choose a technology suite and provider that suits your organization.

Musical Chairs: Not Addressing Foundational Problems, Just Changing Players

When organizations start to experience problems with their outsourcing agreements, many decide to simply change providers. While this can seem like a simple solution to the problem it usually doesn’t change much other than the address on invoices. Before companies switch providers, they should do an honest intake of the issues that they are experiencing and examine if a change in provider would actually resolve them. In the majority of cases, the issues and problems are foundational. Thus, these issues are best addressed internally and in cooperation with the current service provider.

Not Properly Evaluating the Level of Service

A business must ensure that the outsource provider is capable of providing the level of service required to support their organization. This includes being able to serve all office locations as well as being able to respond within the required time. If a provider is not capable of providing the appropriate level of service issues can occur. For example, the loss of productivity can be detrimental.  Ensure that there are target service level agreements (SLAs) in place. These SLAs guarantee that the provider is contractually bound to protect against this productivity loss.

Moving Forward

Utilizing IT outsourcing can be a considerable advantage to a business. However, there are several common mistakes that can occur when implementing IT outsourcing. Though, with proper planning and execution, common outsourcing mistakes can be prevented. The best way to ensure proper planning and implementation is to turn to a proven solutions provider. At Open Systems, we help large and small businesses as they implement business solutions to drive results. Contact us today to learn more!

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