Like almost all other sectors, the construction industry is reliant on its IT systems to run its back-office operations. Choosing the right IT partner is vital to the efficient running of your business. Downtime can be costly to your company from both a financial and reputational perspective.
When looking for your perfect IT partner, you need to take the following into consideration.
They Understand The Needs Of Construction Companies
Ideally, you will be working with a company that already has clients in the industry and knows the nuances of the sector. However, that might not always be possible so you need to find an IT support company that is willing to listen to your needs and work with you to achieve them, not just try and sell you the latest systems and hardware. They need to work with you strategically as well as look after the common IT problems that might crop up.
Have The Right Level Of Experience
Knowledge is key and your IT partner needs to have experience in the right areas. You don’t want them to be learning on the job at the expense of your company.
Major IT companies and vendors will have their own certification programs. Your IT company should be able to provide you with details of the certifications held by their employees.
The IT company should provide ongoing training to its staff to keep them up to date on the latest technology. Is there strength in depth or is there only one person who knows how to work with your particular systems. What happens if they are ill, on vacation, or leave the company?
Offers The Right Level Of Support
A structured service level agreement must be the basis of your contract. You need to know what to expect if you encounter a problem. Do you need 24/7/365 support or a particular response time guarantee?
Put some thought into what level of service you need so that you aren’t left disappointed when something goes wrong. Remember, your IT company will have many other customers, and when faced with a sudden rise in support calls, they will prioritize based on service level agreements they have in place. You may well find yourself at the bottom of the list which could cause untold delays to construction projects.
They Are Proactive
Basic break/fix support is important and will likely form a large part of your contract. A good IT partner will be proactive, building systems with longevity in mind, and working to troubleshoot potential problems before they arise by monitoring your systems.
Cost-Effective
The lowest price isn’t always the way to go. Don’t be afraid to shop around for quotes. Make sure you know exactly what you are paying for and that the company you choose is competitive in the marketplace.
Provide Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Services
There are so many scenarios that can affect a company’s ability to operate. It could be a cyberattack, fire, natural disaster, or a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever the reason, you need an IT company that can help you protect against cyber attacks and also provide recovery services should you experience an issue with your offices and need to quickly get back up running with the minimum of interruption.
Data Security
Security should be a crucial part of your business strategy. There are huge financial and legal implications if it is not. Your systems will be holding the sensitive and confidential data of employees, contractors, suppliers, and clients.
If you are a victim of a cyberattack or other data breach, and you did not have the necessary protections in place, then you could be leaving yourself open to heavy fines and legal action and the reputation of the company can be damaged irreparably.
There’s no way to guarantee 100% that your systems won’t be breached, but your IT company should be experienced in this crucial aspect of data management and be able to guide you in terms of system security and best practice.
Can Provide References
All companies will be able to provide you with their case studies and credentials, but they should also be open to you speaking to a few of their existing clients. If they aren’t, and can’t give you a good reason, then this should raise a few red flags.
Try and find out how responsive they are with their clients, how they deal with sudden IT emergencies, and if they are happy with them in general.
