In today’s world, few businesses operate without the use of technology in their day-to-day functioning. In fact, according to one Microsoft study, small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) are poised to increase their IT expenditure to $1.2 trillion in 2023.
With so much of a company’s success riding on the proper use of technology, it’s crucial to implement the right tools. But, between the scope of available technologies and the rate of technological advancement, this can be a daunting chore for business owners. That’s where an IT consulting company can help.
So if you’ve ever asked yourself the question, “what are the benefits of hiring IT consulting services?,” then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we explore the 5 benefits of hiring IT consultants, from robust security measures to improved technology solutions.
Before discussing the benefits of consulting in IT, it’s worth defining what exactly IT consulting is. Broadly speaking, a consulting firm—also known as a consultancy—refers to any professional service that offers specialized advisory solutions to other businesses. This is done by a team of industry experts known as consultants.
Consultants are not specific to any one industry; they work in every field, from law to finance to marketing. In all cases, the consultant’s goal is to provide the client with a strategic roadmap that will guide them towards their business objectives.
To this end, IT consultants will usually start by assessing an organization’s existing technologies. They will then devise a new strategy that will match the organization’s tech to their goals and process strategies. By following this roadmap, organizations can reliably improve service delivery, profitability, productivity, and even creativity.
Now that you understand what IT consulting is, let’s look at the benefits of an IT consultant for your business.
When it comes to technology expertise and experience, nothing beats working with an IT consultant. Whether your organization is in need of cybersecurity experts or Microsoft-certified professionals, consultancies have got you covered. There are three main reasons for this, including:
The bottom line is this: Partnering with an IT consulting firm is one of the best ways to gain access to an unbeatable array of skills, accreditations, and field experience.
Source: Unspalsh
For many organizations, saving money is one of the most compelling benefits of hiring an IT consultant. For a fraction of what an in-house team costs, a consultancy can cost effectively implement and optimize your IT systems.
But cost-savings is just one of the financial benefits of IT consultants. The other is an improved technology return on investment (ROI). This means that the amount you earn as a result of your IT projects will be greater than the amount you invested.
There are many metrics to consider when calculating tech ROI, and timeframes can vary. That said, you can expect to see the following five benefits:
Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, cyber attacks have been on the rise. While our dependence on technology has made life easier in many ways, it has also left us increasingly vulnerable to serious harm—from ransomware to phishing attacks.
As a result, it’s more important than ever to maintain a strong security posture. So, when compared to a traditional in-house team, a major benefit of hiring an IT consultancy is access to their cutting-edge cyber security solutions.
Whether you’re a business owner or industry professional, the work you do is a reflection of your expertise. So when a tech issue arises, resolving it can be both distracting and demoralizing—especially when you don’t know what you’re doing.
With the ubiquity of technology in the workplace, this is an increasingly common opportunity cost among workers. It’s also proving to have long-term, negative consequences for your company’s bottom line. But keeping an IT expert on-staff is often too expensive for most SMBs to sustain.
Luckily, partnering with a qualified IT consulting firm can drastically reduce these productivity hurdles without breaking the bank. Opt for a consultant that offers 24/7 help desk services; this is one of the most effective ways to quickly remediate problems as they arise.
Arguably one of the most underappreciated benefits of hiring an IT consulting service is the ease of scalability. In contrast to hiring new staff when times are good and dismissing employees when times are lean, a consultancy provides a flexible model that scales alongside your business.
This is especially advantageous for small businesses or start-ups on the brink of rapid growth. Though you may have a dedicated IT expert on staff, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to keep up with the various demands of cybersecurity, network administration, cloud migrations, and more.
As we’ve seen, technology consulting offers an enormous range of advantages—from greater cost-savings and unparalleled expertise, to improved cybersecurity and painless scalability.
Ready to hire an IT consultant to help achieve your business goals? Exigent Technologies is recognized as a premier consultancy with over 25 years of industry experience across the United States. Contact us to discover how our consultant services can transform your SMB today.
Featured Photo Source: Unsplash
Daniel Haurey Jr. is the president and founder of managed IT services provider Exigent Technologies, which he founded in 1997. Under his leadership, the MSP has earned accolades ranging from Channel Futures MSP 501 to being named SonicWall’s 2024 MSP Growth Partner of the Year. Dan is a true entrepreneur, dedicated to growing, investing in, and mentoring small businesses. You can find him on LinkedIn, where he regularly posts about technology, business, leadership, and community.