IT-outsourcing
Our potential customers regularly face the mistrust of the phenomenon. Let's look at it closer.
The concept of IT-outsourcing
“Outsourcing” means the transfer of functions to an external contractor, the involvement of specialists from outside. The IT-outsourcing began in the 1970s, when entrepreneurs used the services of special data centers in order to save their money. They did not spend money on expensive equipment, staff, and focused on business development.
Fears and myths
IT-outsourcing does more harm than good — why do companies worry about it? Why don't they outsource some services, preferring for months, and even years, to look for full-time employees? Let us consider some aspects.
1. It's expensive
Let's count: full-time IT-specialist receives a salary, the employer pays for the pension and other contributions, sick leave and holidays. Don't forget about the time for employee training, as well as indirect costs. The outsourced specialist never sick (his replacement is the job of the outsourcer), go on vacation, does not require additional expenses — contract maintenance clarity about the nuances and locks the cost of services. The estimated savings of the customer is about 40%.
2. A staff member is closer
Partly true. But what to do when multiple computers fail? Or when several persons simultaneously need help? Usually count of IT-staff of the company is less than the outsourcer's ones with a clear specialization. So, own reaction rate will be lower and the competence of the company's staff is always lower than of a group of professionals in narrow fields.
3. Freelance administrator is ok
Example 1. Arkady is a master of system administration. It comes when you need something to connect, set up or clean up. He comes solely out of necessity, however, summing up the year, the cost of the work of Arkady are significantly higher than expected. The question is why? Because he don't fix the issues. Arkady does not pre-empted problems, repairing them on the go. He rarely knows the whole situation and certainly not interested in trouble-free work of the company: no calls — no charges.
Example 2. The virus is in the customer's network blocked the urgent work. Need Arkady, who, alas, is unavailable. For example, resting or busy with another customer. At the end, the work is worth, the company loses customers and money. Conclusion: the contract with the company that provides IT-services. Specialists of the company-outsourcer always connected and if one is busy, the second one will perform the obligations under the contract.
4. Everything works well
Our experience says that it's misleading.
The company's network consists of 10 computers and a simple network equipment. Company doesn't use the services of an IT-specialist, everything works fine. Sometimes, though, computers crash. Employees have to restart the programs couple times a day. Part of third-party services sometimes unavailable. At this time, the queue of dissatisfied customers increases. Some leave. Forever. The firm loses time, money, customers and reputation. A competent IT-outsourcer will comprehensively determine the situation, will create an optimal plan for solving problems, will select and implement appropriate solutions, and then will provide a close monitoring of the built system performance that is inexpensive.
5. The fear of information leakage, loss of control
The outsourcing company is fully responsible for the contractual obligations performance. If there are some doubts with the quality of services, third-party audit will eliminate them. The auditor is usually a competitor for outsourcer, so he is interested to find the flaws.
Summary
The basic prejudice are dispelled. Still not sure? Free express-audit will allow you to assess our competence and adequacy. In any case, it's easy, inexpensive and not in vain to try. So why not?
