Finding a reliable IT vendor can be the first important step towards taking your business to the next level.
However, finding a partner you can trust to assess your IT needs and provide relevant solutions, all at a fair price, can be time-consuming, not to mention, a headache.
This week, we outline some of the avoidable traps you need to watch out for when shopping for a new IT vendor.
- Competence
An IT vendor should not just be sales-oriented. Instead, the vendor should possess key IT qualifications to be able to answer a broad range of questions and help advise you on how you can best achieve your technology needs.
Additionally, query what technical certifications their team holds and how they stay up-to-date with the fast-evolving technology landscape.
- Trust/Reputation
Doing a background check on a vendor will assist you to know who they are, what their vision and mission is, and how long they have been in business.
Looking for pages that describe how they work and showcase what their company culture is like will help you decide whether they make a good partner.
- Success Stories
One of the best ways to find out if an IT vendor is right for you is by asking to see case studies or current customer referees who you can call and ask about their experience with the vendor.
If the references give genuinely good reports of how the IT solutions provided have been relevant, then this could be a good vendor.
- Customer Experience
Purchasing an IT solution is mostly a one-time event. Therefore, it matters more that the vendor be reliable in the long run vis-à-vis a one-time impression.
As how customers are treated in the long run.
Does the IT vendor visit customers, send treats or sponsor events to show they care?
Do they invest in empowering opportunities such as webinars and demos?
Have they ever been recognized for excellence in the IT industry they engage in or by partners they work with?
- Reliability and Innovation
The ability to understand your current needs, customize to meet expectations, anticipate future needs and be ahead of innovation, is a must-have aspect in an IT vendor.
This combines the aspects of Competence, Customer Experience and Support all in one.
Ensure the vendor is there when needed. That way, you’ll never have to suffer unnecessary downtimes.
