In the modern world, most companies need some sort of IT support to keep things running smoothly. The decision of whether to hire an in-house team or outsource your IT needs shouldn’t be taken lightly.
On the one hand, having an in-house IT team means everyone is invested in and striving toward the same goals. On the other hand, handing over your IT support needs to a professional Managed Service Provider (MSP) might make more sense as it can save you money and free up valuable time, allowing you to focus on customer service and business growth.
If you’re still undecided, here are the four most important points to consider:
The Cost Comparison
When you work with IT support companies, you only pay the monthly fee, and that’s it. At first glance, this fee may seem like a lot of money, but when you compare it to the total cost of hiring an in-house team, you will likely discover that it’s actually cheaper to outsource your IT support needs.
This is because in-house employees generate overhead costs. You must pay them whether they’re productive or not. Then there’s sick pay, vacation pay, and bonuses. Beyond that, you also have to worry about taxes and benefits like health insurance.
By contrast, if you outsource to an MSP, you just have that one flat monthly fee to work into your budget. Most MSPs are willing to work within your budgetary constraints and develop a custom support plan that you can scale up or down, depending on your business needs. Perhaps best of all, they generally offer 24/7 support—something you’re unlikely to get from an in-house team.
Tech Expert Turnover Is High
IT support personnel are in high demand these days, giving them plenty of opportunities to get better jobs and earn more money. Competition is fierce, which means turnover rates are high in this industry. Indeed, some companies are paying IT candidates to attend job interviews! If you employ an in-house IT team, you’ll be competing in this challenging market.
Building a Good IT Team Is Challenging
Building an in-house team is challenging in more ways than one. Even at the best of times, it can be hard to find the precise talent and expertise you need. When you work with an IT support company, you don’t have to worry about this as you can rest assured that they already have the right experts for the job. What you give up when outsourcing your IT is control over the hiring process. As we discovered in the point above, this may be a good thing. However, for some business owners, it’s crucial to have complete control over who is in charge of what.
You’ll Need to Manage Your In-House IT Team
It’s not enough to hire the best IT people you can find. You must direct and manage them to ensure they’re meeting the needs of the company. This takes time and know-how. If you aren’t adept at all things IT-related, handing this important task off to an outside source makes more sense. However, if your business is in the tech industry and/or you have a lot of experience in IT management, you may prefer to work with your own team.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to hire an in-house team or outsource your IT is a personal one. You must weigh the pros and cons to determine which option is right for your business. Hopefully, the points above have helped you determine what’s most important to you so you can make an informed decision.
Image Credits: Flipsnack
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