Every business is faced with the dilemma of time management.To many, it seems like finding the perfect formula to ensure productivity is out of reach.

Add the stress of cost management--the bottom line is always the C-Suite’s main concern--and the choices of how to run more efficiently get overwhelming.

Less than 20% of businesses feel like they’re spending their time on the right activities. To help improve this and reshuffle the deck, many business owners find themselves considering outsourcing different functions of their company.

The 5 most common services that are outsourced include:

• Information Technology (IT)
• Accounting/Finance
• Marketing
• Logistics
• Customer Support

Why does outsourced IT appear at the top of the list?

According to Steven Freidkin, CEO of DC-based Ntiva, Inc., “The number one reason businesses move to outsourced IT is the need for greater technical expertise, as technology continues to become more complex and change at a faster rate. You just can’t get the breadth of expertise you need to stay competitive, and it’s not cost effective to build and manage it yourself.”

The statistics speak for themselves; the revenue of the global Information Technology Outsourcing industry was $62 billion in 2018, according to Statista.

It sounds like a slam-dunk;however, the savvy business leader must now weigh what’s best for the company’s bottom line. Is outsourcing the right fit? Will the Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) be able to fully meet the organization’s needs, standards and expectations? Is there a co-managed component? Once these questions are answered, business leaders can make an informed choice.

“I speak with business owners every week, and regardless of industry they all have one thing in common – they know that having the right technology in place is a driver of their growth and success,” said Freidkin. “Today’s internal IT teams are having a huge challenge trying to keep up, especially when it comes to cyber security.”

The proof, however, is in the proverbial pudding. Statistics and feedback show that outsourcing IT services comes with a quantifiable value add components to the client.

Consider the biggest ones:

• Cost: The effect of IT outsourcing on cost is two-fold. First, you can create a contract with the company you outsource through to pay only for what is necessary to achieve desired goals. Secondly, you are not responsible for resources spent training in-house IT employees. Instead, you hire professionals who are already trained and able to tackle issues immediately.
• Experience: As previously mentioned, rather than training your own IT specialist you are hiring one with the necessary know-how.Not only are they certified and educated, but they have experience working with other companies and their needs. As a result, they likely can navigate a situation more successfully than an in-house specialist.
• Efficiency: With the right outsourced IT group, there is far less lag time on projects. They have the skills, knowledge, and resources to get straight to work, and have a shorter research and development time. Thisreduces wasted time and money.
• Appearance:A team of outsourced IT specialists will be able to create a better-looking project than an in-house specialist could under a tight budget and deadline. By outsourcing your IT through managed services, you are putting your best foot forward and increasing the appearance of your company, website, project, etc., without increasing the budget. This will help your company's reputation among peers, clients, and competition.
• Resources: The resources an in-house IT team is limited to are those that the company provides. Often these resources can be expensive and most small business are not inclined to acquire a large, diverse selection of software. An information technology company, however, will have far more options to choose from and can find the perfect fit for your project.
• Energy: Most importantly, outsourcing IT allows employees to focus their energy more efficiently. Rather than stressing about cybersecurity and system maintenance, they can have peace of mind knowing it is handled. They can work on their actual job, not the responsibilities they were given because there was nobody else to do it. No one person can be a master of everything, so you can let your employees focus on the expertise you hired them for and let IT specialists take care of the rest. Your employees will appreciate it too because they are going to be less overwhelmed and have a more manageable task load.

What’s Next?

Business leaders who decide an outsourced IT plan through an MSP is the most appropriate fit,must now find the right team. This means researching and finding a suitable vendor with suitable skills.

Once you find that vendor, communication is key. Make sure there is a strategy in place and that your goals are always openly discussed. Feedback is also key to maintain a successful and mutually beneficial relationship with your MSP. How will you know if you’ve hired the right people for the job?

“There are many MSPs out there, ranging from small operations to giant global service providers,” says Freidkin. “They all have different depths of expertise, and some may have a vertical market focus. It’s important to find a partner that understands your business, your expectations and your priorities, and who you’re comfortable with acting as your long-term partner.”

The Bottom Line

Outsourcing IT needs can free up valuable resources for company leaders so they can focus on their bottom line and take advantage of evolving technology to grow and compete.Companies who move to an outsourced model benefit from the best of both worlds: technology that runs seamlessly without having to exhaust physical resources to manage it!

About the Author:

Steven Freidkin founded Ntiva, Inc. in 2004 and is currently CEO. Before starting Ntiva,Freidkin providing IT consulting services to a handful of small businesses,which grew organically throughout his high school and college years. This ultimately turned into Ntiva, which provides IT services to over 700 organizations. Freidkin studied accounting and finance at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Steven Freidkin Bio:

Steven Freidkin is the CEO and founder of Ntiva, Inc., a full-service technology firm that provides businesses with advanced technology expertise and support, including managed IT services, strategic consulting, cloud services, cyber-security and telecom solutions.

Steven started his first IT consulting company in high school and furthered its efforts during his college career at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. His love for technology and natural customer service skills grew the business year over year, until 2004 when Ntiva was officially incorporated. Today, Ntiva has over 130 employees who serve over 700 clients.

Steven’s current focus is working with Ntiva clients to align their organizational initiatives and growth efforts with technology; developing strategic growth plans for Ntiva; identifying opportunities for business development; and finally, creating an environment for top technical talent to develop.