For businesses concerned about the overhead costs, finding ways to maximize the IT support budget without sacrificing crucial services that maintain operational continuity can be a challenge. However, with Mobile Geeks IT support in Sydney, companies can explore cost-saving options while still ensuring the necessary IT support services are in place.
As arbitrary cost-cutting can be detrimental to your business, you may be thinking there has to be a better way of optimising your IT support services.
Make the switch to subscription-based software
Back in the day, traditional IT infrastructure was somewhat of a ticking time bomb. Technology quickly became outdated and slow, which had an adverse effect on productivity and profitability. Large and small businesses alike also had to spend time and money keeping these standalone products up to date.
These days, the more common way of keeping IT infrastructure and digital assets up to date in the office is with Software as a Service, more commonly known as SaaS. For example, Microsoft 365 is available to businesses for a monthly payment and comes with a plethora of new features, regular updates and heightened security. As a result, there is no need for new software or assets.
Review your current IT strategy roadmap
Much like the lights on an aeroplane, your IT roadmap serves as a guiding light for your business as well as your overall budget. In saying that, if you’d like to optimise your overhead costs, your IT strategy is a good place to start.
This is particularly relevant when it comes to your hardware and IT infrastructure. There will come a point when you see diminishing returns as a result of outdated infrastructure, which brings up the age-old argument of repair or replace. In reality, replacing technology, whether it be desktop computers or laptops, will almost always be more cost-effective in the long run, especially before it starts to significantly affect employee productivity and your productivity.
Incorporating smart offices into your IT infrastructure is a forward-thinking approach that can enhance efficiency and adaptability. By leveraging smart office technology, businesses can create a more dynamic and responsive work environment, further optimizing costs and productivity.
Ensure any outsourced IT support is cost-effective
It should go without saying that outsourcing the management of your tech to a managed IT service provider is one of the best methods of reducing long-term overhead costs. However, not all outsourced IT support services are made equal, and some can end up costing you more over time.
When it comes to your IT support, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between a managed service provider and a break-fix supplier. Depending on a break-fix provider, or a pay-as-you-go IT company, can become quite expensive over time. This is in contrast to a managed service provider which often provides proactive assistance as a standard. This means they’ll resolve any issues before they escalate and cause a long-term disruption.
Working with a Managed Service Provider (also known as an MSP) can save your business a lot of money over time – especially compared to the cost of hiring an in-house IT department or outsourcing the management of your tech to a break-fix company.
Invest in a hybrid working model
Technology aside, your employees are the lifeblood of your business. Your staff are one of the largest investments your organisation will make, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t further savings that can’t be made when it comes to your overhead costs.
In recent years, there has been a huge shift towards hybrid and even entirely remote working. Many businesses have found that having a fully remote or hybrid workforce can result in improved profitability. This is because you might be able to rely less on expensive solutions such as an outsourced IT support company and decrease any investments in hardware and software, including server administration and monitoring, that would be typical of a centralised office.
Assess all of your IT tools and remove any redundancy
Just how confident are you that your company is utilising every piece of software and technology at its disposal? As a business, you can stretch the money allocated for IT support and optimise your costs even further by simply examining your software and getting rid of any unwanted or pointless programmes. While it may sound simple, large and small businesses alike are often shocked to learn just how much of their budget might be lost on products they don’t utilise.
For example, an employee might have used specialised equipment for a particular assignment but is no longer actively using it. The annual licence might still be costing your business hundreds or even thousands a year. To optimise your IT support costs, it’s as simple as removing any redundant assets or IT infrastructure with a thorough audit of your inventory.
Save time and money with an IT partner you trust
While these tips can put you on the path to an optimised IT support budget, you might like to turn to a professional IT support company for further assistance.
Finding IT support is easy. However, finding the right support for you and your business can be a little more difficult. Your IT support company of choice should understand your beliefs and values, as well as take your business objectives and goals into account before building you the bespoke IT roadmap you need to flourish and grow.
The IT support company you choose to partner with will ultimately depend on the requirements of your own organisation. To kick things off, start by using your location to search for a few different keywords. You might give try something along the lines of ‘Tech Management Bristol’ or ‘IT Support Bristol’. From there, it should be easy enough to narrow down your choices until you find an IT provider who meets your criteria and fits seamlessly with your business.
