5 tips for choosing an IT service partner

End users today are increasingly tech-savvy and are seeking solutions to their business challenges instead of traditional, off-the-shelf products. As a result, many IT partners need to change and adapt their business models to support their customers’ entire business.

The focus now is on increasing relevance to end user customers by adding real business value. But how do you do it? One thing that can help is working with a strategic service partner, enabling resellers to deliver on an area of expertise that they may otherwise be lacking and have access to resources when they need them, accelerating innovation and time-to-market.

Today more than ever, partnerships are key to building effective, comprehensive solutions which drive business growth and help in winning against the competition. However, knowing how to build the right partnerships can be challenging.

Here are our top five tips on what to consider when choosing an IT service partner.

1. Look for a single source provider

In such a fast-paced environment, keeping up with ever-changing technologies can be tough. IT businesses need a partner they can rely upon time and again to provide the resources and expertise when they need it. As your ‘go to’ expert, your strategic service partner will have skills across the IT spectrum to support your customers’ entire technology stack ensuring total simplicity.

2. Review accreditations and ISO certifications

Vendor accreditations demonstrate a business’ investment to remain at the forefront of innovative technologies and provide the best possible service on their partners behalf.  Similarly, ISO certifications are an indicator of quality and best practice, demonstrating that a business operates to the highest standards.

3. Determine whether they are channel-only

Does your potential partner work exclusively through the channel or do you risk competing for customers? A channel-only service partner works only on behalf of the reseller, working collaboratively to delight the customer and providing expertise and support when it’s needed.

4. Ensure they have a multi-vendor approach

For the most effective outcome your service partner needs to work consultatively with you and your customer, taking time to understand the business and technical challenges they face to find the solution that fits. A vendor agnostic approach is key to ensure a true ‘best of breed’ solution.

5. Find the right culture fit

Last, but certainly not least, is cultural fit. It’s something that’s often overlooked and underestimated but for a service partner to add real value they need to become a seamless extension of your team, so you need to evaluate the full package. Do you have similar values? Can you really work with that organisation – do you ‘gel’? Ideally, you want a partner that will immerse themselves in your company ethos and really understand your business.

The benefits of engaging a strategic service partner are clear but finding one that is right for your business is an important process. Ultimately, it’s about forming a solid partnership that will navigate through disruption and unlock new opportunities; this is what will take your business to the next level and add more to your bottom line.

If you would like to find out more about how Comms-care can fulfil each of these criteria and support your business, please get in touch.