Tips on How to Switch IT Service Provider Hassle-Free

When your current managed IT services aren’t performing as well as you wanted and you’re left scrambling to make things work, it can be a real hassle. 

It can either be the communication issues, lack of expertise or resources available. Whatever the underlying reason, maybe, when the IT services you hired aren’t adding value to your business as intended, then it’s time to make a switch.

When you’re thinking about switching IT companies, you want to make sure that no such problem gets repeated. 

Wondering how you can find such a reliable IT consulting firm to work with your business and switch to them? Here are a few things that you should consider.

5 Things to Do When Switching the IT Service Providers

When you’re switching to a new company providing managed IT services, you want to improve the current process. The below points detail how to look for a new one and transition smoothly from your old provider.

• Acquire Full Control

Many IT service providers have complete control of your accounts and networks, including usernames and passwords. Before you switch to a new one, you should make sure to gain full access to all your accounts and, if possible, change the access codes and passwords. 

While most IT companies wouldn’t cause any issues like locking you out of the accounts when they’re fired, but it’s always better to do so. 

Once you’ve gained completed access, the next step is to acquire all the IT records they’ve maintained about your company. This is essential to make sure that your new IT service provider has enough data and documentation to start the work soon and get familiar with the infrastructure. The documentation also gives you an idea of the work done by the current service provider.

• Create Backup

While you may already have created a backup system, it’s essential to create a separate backup just for the transition. This backup will contain all the information and documents that the current IT provider has access to.

There are so many things that are not in our control and having a backup will ensure that you always have a fallback option when things don’t go your way.

• Look at Your Current Service Agreement

When you’re entering into a contract with an IT consulting firm, you would’ve signed an agreement that detailed all the scope of the service. 

This would include the services they offer, the access to software that comes under the monthly fixed cost, the access to documents and the important one, the duration of the agreement.

If you’re terminating the agreement after completing the term duration, you won’t have any problem. If you’re hiring a new IT service provider before the term of the previous one, then you may have to pay an additional fee that would compensate for the rest of the agreement duration. 

Make sure to be aware of how much you have to pay and calculate if this is something that you’re ready to bear.

• Create a Process Flow for the Transition

When you’re shifting between IT companies, there’s so much information transfer required.

This is why having a process flow and a procedure for this transition will come in handy. You can send out printed information about transferring the login details and the network from the old one to the new one.

Ensure sufficient information for your current provider to have enough time to collect the information and get ready to move the data.

• Facilitate Communication Between Both the Companies

Some businesses transfer the IT infrastructure’s control to themselves first before shifting it to a new provider. However, this can be a tedious process, especially when you don’t have a sufficiently equipped in-house IT team. The new provider may have lots of questions for you that your old provider can only answer.

When you’re transferring the power of handling your networks and IT systems directly between the two companies, you can cut out a lot of back-channel talks and pass on the information quickly. However, this is easier said than done since the old provider may not be happy to cooperate as much as you require. 

This is when you need to mediate the transition and smoothen things out and facilitate proper communication.

9 Tips to Find the Right IT Service Provider

After your unsatisfactory experience with the managed IT services, it’s time to be cautious enough when searching for a new one. Here are a few things to look out for in an IT company. 

1. Look for a local IT company if you prefer face-to-face meetings.
2. A clear and transparent service agreement with no hidden fine print.
3. Open communication channels and feedback responses.
4. Quick, reliable team compromising of engineers, developers, designers, managers and experts.
5. Ability to scale the IT system as and when required and accommodate your growing IT needs.
6. Knowledge of your current software and vendors and expertise in new technologies for future implementation.
7. Ability to quickly take over the transition from an old IT company free of charge.
8. Proposes minimal or no downtime during the transition and lays out the supporting documentation to prove the same.
9. A self-starting team can take a load of the transition work and quickly get the information without making your job harder.

Wrapping Up

Any business performance hinges majorly on the IT team and its efficiency. With the right IT service provider, you can create several automated processes, simplify handling data, and leverage the IT systems to your advantage. When your current provider isn’t meeting your expectations, it’s best to cut your losses and find a new one with better experience and capability. 

If you’re looking for a reliable company offering managed IT services in Corpus Christi, then reach out to our consultants at LayerOne Networks now.