Why IT Support Companies Can Be A Big Help For Your Business

Photo credit: Computer Experts Corporation, San Jose, CA

Every company department plays an important role for the whole system to perform its functions well. And, sometimes, establishing another component, in addition to the existing ones, might be necessary; however, this could also mean an addition to the operation costs. This is the reason why a company should weigh the benefits against the disadvantages before putting up another component to your business operation.

Facility management, particularly today with the advent of computers, networks, and installation, has become more challenging - more tasks that require additional manpower and management skills. Should a company hire additional in-house worker? Or should it just consider outsourcing some of its tasks?

Outsourcing to IT support companies

Outsourcing to IT support companies is becoming more and more popular in the industry today. Many companies now tap third party entities that offer IT services because, aside from cost reduction advantage, outsourcing also can lessen the workloads assigned to their in-house staff.
But what are the types of task you can avail to IT outsourcing companies? Below are some examples:

• Server and desktop management, including set-up and network installation.
• Help desk to provide clients or end users the needed information and support about your products or service.
• Email solutions, which include auto-responder set-up, email marketing, installation of email platform for better customer reach-out.
• Mobile device configuration, which is timely since more and more clients are going mobile.
• Server infrastructure, which helps connect different components of built environment.
• IT security, which is very important to keep a company's information intact and credible and free from outside threat such as hacking and viruses.
• Backup and disaster recovery, which is very necessary for every company; IT support companies are equipped with powerful tool to ensure the retrieval of data, should disaster occur.
• LAN/WAN and Wireless network installations, connecting various departments of your company.

Where can you outsource?

There are basically two ways to outsource to IT support companies - either locally or overseas.
Outsourcing IT support locally - this is advantageous when we talk about "logistic significance"; this works well most especially for tasks that might need sending of staff to your company; and, they can work on IT tasks that require physical presence in your facility.

IT outsourcing overseas - is more advantageous when it comes to costs; lots of companies are relying on IT support providers that are based overseas such as in the Philippines and India because of cheap labor costs while maintaining the accuracy standards for deliverable  However, the task you can outsource is limited as they can only manage those tasks that are transmitted or sent/received through the Internet. i.e. they cannot perform tasks that require actual work in your company such as system unit/desktop computer and network installation.

Accounting Firm Technology Services

The works inside an accounting firm can be very challenging to people who are handling them. The primary reason is that every work component involves dealing with finances – clients’ money. Thus, it is imperative that all these works are handled with utmost care.

The integration of Accounting firm technology to the core process plays an important role for the management of these tasks; it provides effective solutions that improve the quality of an accounting firm’s work. Hence, the whole process becomes more efficient without compromising the accuracy of the deliverable. And yes, any accounting firm can benefit from this implementation.

The implementation of this technology is not that difficult (contrary to common conceptions) as there are many IT firms that provide this kind of service. For instance, in San Jose, California, Computer Experts Corporation is one of the IT companies in the area that offer technology support to accounting practice’s specific applications, providing help not just for the accuracy and efficiency of work output but for added network security as well.

Some accounting practice-specific services offered by IT firms:

• Provide Support for a wide-array of accounting software that your company needs such as Lacerte, AMS, Intuit, Sage, Peachtree, CCH and Microsoft Dynamics.
• Help establish SOX-compliant processes and auditing capabilities (SOX aka Sarbanes-Oxley is a federal legislation that tightened auditing rules, which accounting companies need to comply with.)
• Performs security penetration testing, which can help protect an accounting firm’s network and safety for its clients’ financial information.
• Provide experienced and efficient service desk staff that is readily available for immediate response.

Outsourcing to IT firms reduces operational costs

While an accounting firm can hire in-house specialists for IT support on accounting applications and network installation tasks, outsourcing can be more advantageous particularly in reducing the operational costs. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Outsourcing eliminates the establishment of IT department that handles network & security set-up and application supports – a task that can be quite laborious to an accounting firm.
• There is no need for an accounting firm to provide the necessary IT equipment as IT outsourcing companies have the necessary tools.
• Outsourcing helps an accounting firm get experienced IT specialists that are readily available when needed.
• And, lastly, outsourcing provides a more flexible option in terms of mobility, specifically when an accounting firm decides to transfer to a new office or location.