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Choosing Your IT Supplier
One of the questions that many people ask is "How Do I Choose My Supplier?". This is a very good question to ask, as IT will be a key part to any business. There is so much choice out there, from large, national IT companies to small independent ones and everything in between. Here are a few tips you might like to consider. Get an Initial Assessment
Contact a number of suppliers direct and ask them to come out and spend some time with you assessing your needs. Even if you have heard of them it will give you a chance for you to meet them, and anyway they may suggest some things that you hadn't thought of. This should only take a few hours and the supplier should be happy to come to you. Be wary of companies who charge for this, and also those who won't come out to see you. Get References
Any company that is worth its salt will have references, and will be more than willing to give them to you. Try and ask for references from similar jobs to yours - it's no point getting a reference off a home user in London if you require a 30 user network installation in Sheffield! Check the references, and ask not just about the cost, but also about the after-sales support - you don't want to be left high and dry with a system you can't get fixed. Avoid anyone who can't or won't give references. Choose Independent
Many companies only stock or install their own products, for which you may pay a premium or may be missing some features. Choose an independent supplier who can supply you with a range of equipment from many different manufacturers - you will get the features that you want at the right price! Make Sure it's All Inclusive
Find out exactly what the price includes, will the network be installed and configured for you, or is that additional costs? Find out about support and the ongoing costs. Remember, this is a long term investment - like your car, computers have ongoing costs to them. Don't assume that once you have paid for the computers that they will magically look after themselves. You should ask for a quote for Network Support to see how much it will cost to look after the network, servers and pc's after it has been installed. Are they qualified?
Ask to see the qualifications of the consultant or salesperson that comes to see you, and ask about the qualification of the engineers. IT is a highly skilled area, and it is important that you get someone who is qualified to help you make decisions, and ultimately install and look after your network. Ring Technical Help
A good way to see what kind of support you will receive after the equipment has been installed is to ring the support number. If you are waiting 5 minutes in a queue, or it is hard to get through then imagine if your whole network went down how you would feel about not being able to get through to anyone? Avoid those who offer poor technical support. Make Your Decision
After your assessment, you should have a proposal. Review all the proposals together, and compare costs. Once you have compared costs and thought about the issues in this article, ring references, and check them. Now shortlist 2 or 3 suppliers. You may have one that is favourable. Ring them back and ask them if they could do it cheaper, and they will win your business - you may get a discount! |
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