How businesses can save money by outsourcing their IT

Although outsourcing has gained a rather mixed reputation in the press over the past few years, one area in companies where it has continued to grow in popularity is in IT Support. 

Part of the reason is that the changes that organizations make to their technology implementation often necessitate a complete retraining of their existing staff, or a hiring consideration to bring one or more veterans of the new technology into the fold.  In IT, it has therefore become the norm to see organizations augment their staff by outsourcing.  It is simply too expensive to hire and maintain IT staff members for every project in the average company.

At least one Fortune 500 company outsources almost 100 percent of their IT staffing and has a long list of achievements within their IT department to match their reports that show that they have achieved a cost savings.

As you travel downward in size and scale of company, the maxim that IT outsourcing should be a part of your hiring equation is even truer.  If you have one to ten IT workers on staff and are trying to implement a new technology or specific software project, it is important for at least two of your staff to understand the technology well enough to oversee the work that contractors do. Beyond that, it will probably always be more cost effective to bring outsourced staff on as needed for IT support. 

Why is it more cost effective?  Because many outsourced IT support agreements provide blanket coverage with even better service levels than you could achieve internally for a much lower price. 

Why is the price less?  Because you probably don’t require help every hour of every day for that particular technology.  Instead, by either calling on an outsourced team or team member for help, you or your IT staff can get specific, immediate help, regardless of the product. 

Another reason for the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing is that you may be hiring a larger organization that has much better benefit purchasing prices than you do.  Alternatively, they may not offer their employees the same benefits that your employees receive, leading to lower overall costs to contract them over your in-house workers.

Finally, if you actually do try and go out and hire a specialist in an exotic technology that your finance or other department had to have, you might often find that market prices for certain technologies are much higher when you hire versus when you outsource.

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Why Businesses are Switching to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the next generation of business computing. The precise definition of cloud computing is somewhat difficult to explain, but it can be easily understood by thinking of it as a system located on a virtual server that is accessible online. It reduces the need for lots of hardware, software, and expensive upgrades. A lot of businesses are switching to cloud computing because it is cheaper, easier, and much faster than the systems. Here are just some of the advantages of cloud computing.

- More Scalability

Scalability refers to the fact that the system can be easily upgraded and expanded upon as needed. This means that you can just buy the extra RAM and CPU as you need it as opposed to having to pay more for these things outright. This saves lots of time and money in the long run and it is so much easier to manage.

- Lower Costs

Since cloud computing does not require you to purchase really advanced systems and software to get started, it is much cheaper to implement. You can access all of the necessary software and programs from anywhere on the Internet and you are done.

- Faster

Given that the entire system is predominantly online, you can access everything that you need whether you are at the company headquarters or at home. Everything is accessible with the click of a button and there is very little loading times or anything like that.

- Low Maintenance

One of the best things about cloud computing is that it is extremely low maintenance. You can resolve most technical issues online and there is no need to start probing any type of equipment in your offices. Cloud computing servers tend to have fewer issues in general, so it is unlikely that you would have any problems in the first place.

How to Get Started with Cloud Computing

If you are interested in learning more about cloud computing or if you have already decided to get on board, then you should hire an IT service company or IT consulting firm to help you get started. They can make the process much faster and easier than if you tried to do it yourself.

Four Industries that Can Benefit from IT Consulting Services

Information technology has changed the way companies do business. As technology evolves, companies are finding new technology solutions to make their businesses run more efficiently. Implementing technology solutions are complicated. Therefore, companies hire IT specialists for this special task. The demand for more IT specialists creates a new industry, IT consulting services. In this post, we will look at four segments that can benefit from this new service area.

Government

IT outsourcing is a process in which companies or organizations hire IT service providers to implement technology solutions. Smaller organizations have smaller grants from the Federal government, so they do not have the money to create an IT department of their own. Therefore, they hire IT service providers as needed. Larger organizations can also benefit from IT outsourcing as well. They often upgrade their technology according to the latest and greatest standards. This requires the best experts in the field, which IT service providers can provide. Hence, government organizations can benefit from IT outsourcing.

Financial and Banking

Financial technology evolves quickly, more than any other industries combined. They require the most robust technology solutions to handle the millions of transactions. Their technology solutions are created with state of the art security to protect customers’ sensitive data. In order to have the best technology resources, they hire IT service providers for consultations. Both the financial and IT service providers benefit from years of long-term multi-million dollar contracts.

Consulting

The consulting industry benefits from this trend in many ways. In the past, consulting firms typically specialized in one specific area only, such as accounting or health care. Today, most of them have already incorporated IT services into their business. Although they may not be able to compete against the larger IT service providers, the market is still big enough for them to be profitable.

Hospitality

Similar to the financial and banking industry, the hospitality industry also processes millions of transactions per day. Therefore, they also require the best technology solutions available. They outsource their technologies so they can focus on making money. Their technology expense is miniscule compare to what they make.

The IT consulting service industry is new. Yet, it is very profitable. Nearly all businesses and organizations need their services. More importantly, it is one of the few industries that remains profitable despite the recession.

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How to Fix Remote Printing Problems in a Windows Environment

Remote printing software is a solution that allows end users to print from almost any location, as long as there’s an internet connection. The benefits of this are obvious. But one of the drawbacks from a user standpoint is that if there are problems, you can’t just run down the hall to the tech department to get them to fix it.

Hence, it helps to know at least the basics of troubleshooting remote printing problems. Following is some insight into how to accomplish this.

Two Common Remote Printing Problems

One of two things happens when you print a document:

  1. Nothing: As in, you get zilch, zero, nada – no document appears
  2. Partial Results: You’ll receive a half printed page or something similar


Resolving Remote Printing Problems

The first thing you should do is try to print a test page. If you’re unable to do this, there could be a number of reasons why.

Printer not capable of printing remotely: To fix this, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer driver and making sure that all is configured correctly.

Host/remote driver capability: You must have the same printer driver installed on the host and remote printer. To check that they are indeed compatible, check your version of Windows and follow the instructions provided. Note: Be sure that you do this for both the host and the remote printer.

Corrupted driver: If you think this is the problem, check to see if you have the most up-to-date version of your system’s printer driver. If not, install it.

Additional software needed: Some print drivers require the use of additional software that monitors ports. So, remote printing may not be possible. You can fix this by using a more generic driver.

If all of these solutions fail, contact your firm’s IT department or a print service provider.

IT Services: Outsource vs. In-House

Why your business should keep IT in house.

1. The peace of mind from having a technology expert on the payroll may be an advantage for those executives running medium sized businesses with different departments.

2. Problems are usually fixed more quickly than if IT is outsourced, and you will not be spending time on the phone explaining a situation over and over again. Your dedicated specialist should be able to learn the ins and outs of your unique business needs, and actually may be able to circumvent some problems by designing a system with which he himself is more comfortable.

3. If problems do arise with a third party company providing your business with, for example, server maintenance, that company will be able to more aptly understand your problems if they are talking to a qualified professional technology person on your side. He will be able to “speak the language” of the other company, and therefore solve any outside problems much more quickly.

4. An in-house technology expert can prevent problems as well as solve them more quickly by proactively guarding the technology systems of your business against breakdown. An in house IT professional can also beef up and tighten existing measures.

Why your business should outsource all IT.

1. Outsourcing IT is great for a business on a limited budget, without the means to pay a professional a salary regardless of need. By paying for outsourced IT only when needed, a company can save that money and overhead operating cost.

2. Less money may bring a business more specialization in an outsourced IT situation. The same money that a business would pay for one IT professional may buy the services of an entire outsourced IT department. However, this department will not be focused on the needs of only your business, and so you might have to wait in line if the company has other clients with problems before you.

3. You can verify the credentials of an outsourced firm much more easily than you can an individual. It is also much easier to get references and read reviews of previous service. Basically, you save yourself the trouble of having to find the “right person” by hiring a known entity.

4. Though an outsourced IT department may have other clients which could slow down their response time to you, since you are buying more than one person, the chances are much greater that your business will get someone who knows exactly how to fix your problem.

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Advantages of Outsourcing IT Support for Your Small Business Success

Every business regardless of size has a need for IT support, since it is vital for survival. Employing personnel in this field can be a costly expenditure, therefore outsourcing becomes an economical solution.

Time management is a very important factor for running a successful business. If management is unable to handle all of the tasks at hand already, they should bring in help from outside to manage IT issues. Hiring external help will save time whether the business is old or new, large or small. IT support teams can monitor your computer system or networks around the clock to ensure your business is operating properly when it comes to technology.

Many companies do not have their own internal IT departments, so they hire consultants to help them keep up with technology. This is a requirement for maintaining servers, as well as software, in case of difficulty or daily tasks such as backups. It is important to keep computers running smoothly and to keep up hardware replacement or upgrades. Software should be upgraded regularly also.

Employing an outside IT consultant will help to improve the efficiency of the company and lower the risk management factor. Consultants can also provide desktop support to prevent business shutdowns due to technical or software difficulty. They can access the computers from any location for troubleshooting. This means they do not need to be present on the business premises to help them.

IT support consultants will also advise you on how you can improve performance and operation using current technology. This is a helpful feature because it allows other company officials to run the company and concentrate on other areas of the business that need attention. The consultants can also prepare a plan that will help to prevent IT problems from happening in the future.

Because outside consultants work as a team, there will always be another person serving as a backup service provider or replacement. This means even if one team member drops out, there will be another person you can turn to. When hiring, hire a team rather than an individual to prevent having to hire a new provider again.

Know that your business is in good hands. Prevent problems that will affect your business before they start as a good time management and business management guideline.

How To Keep Your Company Running At Full Speed

Everyone that owns a company wants to see their organization grow and run at full speed. It’s the pinnacle of success to have a company where productivity is at peak levels. There’s an unlimited amount of potential that can be reaped from a company that is able to produce these types of results. It is up to the leaders within the organization, however, to build upon the business practices that are able to keep the company running strong.

A common factor between companies that run at full speed is found within the employees of the organization. An efficient company needs employees that are proficient in their professions. An organization with productive employees is many steps ahead of other organizations. Much of this plays a part in the happiness of the employee. An employee should be skilled in the profession, but they should also like what they do. When they are pleased with the tasks that they perform, they will be much more eager to complete their duties.

This rolls right into the next factor. Every company has computers, but every company does not have computers that run efficiently. A slow or out of date system will drain the enthusiasm out of employees. Any organization that really wants to run at full speed should make sure that their computers are running at maximum capacity. This often requires the use of tech support companies to update software, increase memory, and scan or clean systems for virus activity. This goes a long way. An employee with a fast computer will be more likely to work at a faster pace.

It doesn’t stop there, however, because employees do not spend all of their time at their computers. There must also be some interaction between other employees. This is extremely important. The lines of communication should be open between all departments at all times. Network administrators, for example, should not bring the network down without notifying those that utilize the network. Employees should also refrain from opening and editing shared files without informing others that they share these same resources. These may seem like small things, and they are when the communication lines are open. All of this can escalate into bigger problems, however, if there is a breakdown in communication.

All organizations can implement these tips. Companies that use the tips will have no problem running at full speed.

IT Consultants Can Bring Your Profits into the 21st Century

Running a profitable business is a very simple equation:
Income - Expenses = Profit

The difficulty for an existing business is deciding whether a capital outlay is likely to create a reasonable profit or savings. This is where bringing in an expert like an IT consultant comes in.

Face it, most businesses are operating with outdated equipment. On the surface, it is understandable because if that computer your accountant is using that still runs Windows 3.1 works, why spend money getting a better one? The answer might be “There is no reason.” On the other hand, the answer could be that updating to a modern computer running cutting edge software would save a tremendous amount of man hours and pay for itself in a matter of weeks. An IT consultant can look at what is in place and suggest improvements.

The possible savings are not limited to updating a key employee’s computer. Huge savings can be reaped in certain situations from adding a VOIP (Voice Over IP) phone system. This is a digital system that converts calls to a digital signal and acts as a node on the internet. For companies with offices in different countries, such a system can allow more phone calls between employees at a fraction of the current cost.

Technology also allows employees and clients to meet over conference lines to harness the power of the group mind without the traditional expense and hassle of organizing logistics. Is there a big project that needs to be finished quickly? Remote file access can allow employees to work on the same project from anywhere in the world.

Tasks have a predictable evolutionary cycle. At first they are done without specialized tools, relying completely on the elbow grease and improvisational ability of the person performing them. Later, specialized tools come along that make them quicker and less effort. Finally, technology for that task is developed that allows one person to do a job that once required many. Any company that hangs on to the “old way” of doing things because its officers are afraid of the cost of upgrading may find itself digging holes with a stick to plant crops while the competition is using the latest tractors and irrigation systems.

Bringing in an IT consultant can boost employee efficiency and cut costs. Improving communications can result in a better end product and happier clients. All of this adds up to a more profitable business.


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How Do Planners Manage Events in Large Arenas?

Managing stadiums, arenas, and sport/entertainment centers requires timely management and fulfillment of many responsibilities and functions, including:

  • Event and Space Scheduling
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Surveys
  • Financial Reports
  • Staff Scheduling
  • Facility Maintenance
  • Work Order Management
  • Inventory


One manager can fulfill all these responsibilities with the implementation of event management software solutions or with a full-time staff on hand to carry out these responsibilities. But no matter how good the staff may be in carrying our their duties, the real-time reporting of management software is crucial to achieving the complex objectives of a multi-million dollar facility.

Sports and event arena management must be ever vigilant in the organization of events, bookings, electronic payments, loyalty point and paperless ticketing, access control, maintenance and safety. Local and global economy issues affect entertainment and sports industries with reduced attendance and revenues and a variety of situations and conditions which need immediate attention.

Stadium and arena management need to meet present and future needs of teams, entertainers, localities, and customers instantaneously at times. Only a comprehensive arena management software solution can make that possible with real-time reporting. Management software improves operations and efficiency of management procedures, especially in the present economic downturn confronting all types of commercial endeavors. Management software solutions also help managers make intelligent and profitable decisions by giving them a real-time view of what is happening as it happens.

The increased competition for events and local managers need for accurate information to make strategic decisions has made it paramount for management software solutions to encompass all aspects of an entity: locale, contractors and vendors, departments, teams, entertainers and patrons. The software solution is more than event management, but it must also be capable of complete customer relationship management, sales, registration, and finances, too.

The best software solutions for stadium management includes tracking of value-added tickets which allows patrons deals for concession and merchandise purchases throughout the arena. The activity generated by the value-added tickets is recorded and analyzed for its profitability and improvement factors. Software solutions give management a way to track attendance and purchases, and offer incentives to increase future attendance and purchases.

When every detail is addressed successfully, customer satisfaction is bound to be high. High customer satisfaction is key to repeat business, and the successful outcomes of events are the best advertisement managers are striving to achieve. And all of this is possible with the right software solutions for arena management.

Remote Desktop Management Software, Network Administrators & Ethics: Where’s the Line?

The beauty and value of software used for remote desktop management is that it allows network administrators to access client systems to do everything from troubleshooting network problems to customizing desktops. This can open the door to many ethical issues if company policies are not crystal clear.

In IT Ethics Handbook: Right and Wrong for IT Professionals, author Stephen Northcutt covers several scenarios that can be quite sticky for administrators if no clear policies are in place. Following are two.

VP Access, or Not?

As the network administrator, you are asked by a VP to provide access, even though doing so would override the security officer’s system requirements. What would/should you do?

Northcutt advises contacting the security officer before doing so. His logic is, the security officer put system requirements in place for a reason. Hence, he/she should be the only ones to authorize overriding them.

London Office Visiting. Provide Access, or Not?

Another scenario covered is the one of a company administrator from another location visiting. For example, if the system administrator from your firm’s London office came to your Washington office.

She wants to discuss with you, the Washington network administrator, the company’s continuity plan. Even though she’s not an authorized user for your branch, she asks you for your password so she can log in and peruse how you have set up your system.

Do you give it to her?

Author Northcutt advises not doing so. You should instead log in for her – without her seeing your password – and showing her your system setup. He advises never giving your password to unauthorized users – even if they work for the same company in a different location.

As these examples illustrate, desktop management software, for all the advantages it provides, can put network administrators in some sticky situations.

Are these conundrums you’ve faced? How would you have handled them?