Comparison Of Hourly & Monthly IT Support: Questions and Answers

Which Is Best: Hourly or Monthly IT Support at a Predictable Cost?

You may want to save money and rely on hourly IT support, but is it really more cost-effective? Get the facts before you decide.

There’s no decision more crucial than who you’re going to work with to get the best computer services. No matter what industry you’re in, you rely on technology in some way to power your operations. This is especially true of the manufacturing industry.

That’s why it’s essential that you find the right IT services company. The best technology support minimizes downtime, increases productivity, ensures that you can always function at your absolute best, and that someone is taking care of security issues before they get out of hand.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Finding the right computer services company means sifting through all the providers that currently say they offer this. Then you must find one in the San Francisco Bay Area who actually does.

To find the best option for a manufacturing firm like yours, you first need to know what to look for.

By The Hour? Or Every Month?

One of the key differentiators to consider when searching for a potential IT support company is whether they offer hourly support or a flat-rate monthly contract. The former often appears more cost-effective than the latter; depending on the month, you may only need a few hours of support, right?

As compelling as this line of thinking may be, it’s not founded in reality. Just consider how monthly, managed services have grown in popularity over the past decade when compared to conventional hourly support.

What Is The Basis Of Hourly IT Support?

Call it whatever you like, but hourly support is identical in all but name to “Break/Fix Services.” This is the old style of outsourced IT services where an IT company only visits to fix things once they’re broken.

In a nutshell, when something goes wrong, data loss, hardware failure, a virus, etc., you then get in touch with your IT support provider and have them fix it at whatever hourly rate they charge.

This strategy no longer works for manufacturing firms today. If you still use this method of IT service, you’re risking downtime that can slow you down. And you’ll face unexpected costs as well.

On the other hand, services arranged via a monthly contract are known as “Managed IT Services.” This is the modern model for IT support, offering a range of vital solutions to your manufacturing firm all for one predictable monthly rate.

With fully managed support, you’ll know that you are supported and protected 24/7, and that preventive and proactive services are taking place.

From active monitoring and patch management, to responsive Help Desk support services, fully managed support takes care of everything you need.

5 Clear Disadvantages To Hourly IT Support

1. Impermanent Solutions – When an IT services company charges by the hour, they’re encouraged to focus on billable hours and not necessarily your best interests. It doesn’t benefit them if your technology is working the way it should, only that their tech is producing billable hours. You could find yourself repeatedly calling them to help with a problem that never quite gets resolved; all the time, your costs continue to add up.
2. Rapid Escalation – A minor computer problem can quickly turn into a disaster if not dealt with early. This is especially true today with the increase in cybercrime like ransomware. What starts out as just one malicious email can spread throughout your entire network, locking down your data, operations, and impacting your clients and relationship with them.
3. Further Delays – It could take days to fix your problem. In the meantime, your employees may not have access to the data they need to continue working. Plus, projects can be delayed, adding additional complications. You’re simply “bleeding money” by the minute.
4. Cost Of Downtime – Your support provider starts charging you after you’ve already lost work, time, and your schedule has been impacted. Time spent on repairs or updates can add up fast.
5. Inaccurate Budgeting – With the Hourly model, it’s impossible to predict how much to budget for IT services. You can’t know what will happen or how expensive it might be. You take on all of the risks, and the IT services company is the only one that benefits.

4 More Reasons To Choose Managed, Monthly IT Services

1. Freedom Of Focus – You can finally focus on running your business and not on IT worries. A Managed IT Services Provider like Where To Start Technology Solutions will minimize or eliminate downtime, proactively monitor/manage the environment, and apply preventive measures before they can negatively impact your bottom line.
2. Simplify Support – Your tech support can be provided remotely without the need for a technician to visit your office. There will be instances that require in-person care, such as hardware replacement, upgrades or meetings. However, most of what affects your day-to-day operations can be quickly worked on remotely.
3. Easy Budgeting – You’ll benefit from a flat-rate payment model, allowing you to budget for your technology more effectively. You will have more accurate and detailed billing information so your internal allocations from a control perspective will be easier to generate. You’ll be able to plan for growth far more easily and with greater peace of mind, and you can get a full handle on project costs if you so wish.
4. Cost-Effective – Tech maintenance from a Managed IT Services Provider is more cost-effective than relying on hourly solutions, especially when you consider the lost revenue from downtime, the impact on cost controls, and the increased staff productivity.
   

You know that you’ve found the right IT services when you stop worrying about your technology altogether. It should work as easily as snapping your fingers; when you need it, with no delays or complications. This is what Where To Start Technology Solutions provides.

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