In today’s digital age, where we can effortlessly manage various aspects of our personal lives through user-friendly applications, it begs the question: Why can’t businesses also enjoy the benefits of simple, affordable, and flexible software solutions for their operations? Unfortunately, many companies still find themselves dissatisfied with their IT providers and business software systems. In this article, we will explore the common complaints voiced by business managers and offer insights into how to improve the relationship between businesses and their IT providers.
Common Complaints from Business Managers
Business managers frequently express their dissatisfaction with IT providers and software systems. Here are some common grievances:
- Lack of Availability: “My IT provider is never available when I need help or simply have a question.”
- Lack of Flexibility: “My system is not flexible.”
- High Costs: “I am spending way too much money on this system and not seeing improvements.”
- Prolonged Implementation: “My system implementation has cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars and has lasted over 2 years – how is this possible?”
- Lack of Innovation: “I do not feel I am getting innovative solutions to tackle our business challenges.”
- Absence of Relationship: “I do not have a relationship with my IT provider.”
- Headaches for the Team: “Our system has caused my entire team too many headaches.”
- Integration Hassles: “Integrating my system with a third-party ecommerce site or another software system is a hassle; my IT provider is not making it easy to give me access to the company’s database for integration purposes.”
- Hidden Costs: “Prior to the implementation, I was never told there would be all of these additional costs.”
- Employee Discontent: “My employees hate using the system.”
- Data Extraction: “We have a full ERP system and yet we still need to extract our data into Excel spreadsheets to analyze our data.”
- Slow Issue Resolution: “My software issues aren’t being resolved in a timely fashion.”
- Reluctance to Switch: “I am not happy with my system but I’ve already spent too much time and money to switch now.”
Improving the Management System
It’s high time that business owners and managers enjoy using their management systems and build positive relationships with their IT providers. To address these concerns, we at Namtek Consulting Services focus on providing high-quality, flexible, and affordable software solutions with accessible support. Our goal is to help businesses overcome challenges and streamline operations.
Choosing the Right IT Provider
Selecting the right IT provider is crucial. Instead of relying solely on brand names or popular choices, consider the following:
- After-Sales Support: “Aside from concentrating on the software system itself, companies should also pay attention to the IT company.”
- Point of Contact: “Who will be my main point of contact in the sales department as well as in the software support department?”
- Responsiveness: “Am I simply given a form to fill out if I have an issue or can I email or call someone directly and get immediate assistance?”
- Timely Support: “Looking into the after-sales support service is extremely important because it is not enough to simply assume that the responsiveness of the support team will be the same as the sales team you dealt with prior to your software purchase.”
Namtek’s Approach to IT Services
Namtek Consulting Services differentiates itself from other IT providers through:
- Listening to Customers: “We’ve taken the time to listen to our customers and pay attention to their challenges so that we can be available and responsive to tackle their issues and provide helpful, innovative solutions for them.”
- Direct Communication: “Customers can pick up the phone or email a support staff directly when needed. This makes for a better relationship and a happier software user.”
- Ongoing Partnership: “We continue to work hand in hand with our customers, even after any software implementation, since we understand that the business world is constantly evolving and technology is continuously advancing, so business and IT must work together to ensure company efficiency.”
Changing the Perception of IT Providers
We aim to change the perception that many business managers have of the IT industry. Our focus is on:
- Valuing Partnerships: “We treat our customers like a partner, rather than just another customer.”
- Removing the Love/Hate Relationship: “Removing this love/hate relationship between IT and business is the goal.”
- Embracing Technology: “Technology in the business world is extremely valuable, and everyone can benefit from implementing innovative, flexible, high-quality software systems that are a good fit for their business.”
Ensuring Satisfaction with Your IT Provider
To ensure satisfaction with your IT provider and their services, consider the following:
- Flexible Solutions: “Ensure that the software solutions are flexible, scalable, easy-to-use, and affordable.”
- Accessible Support: “Verify that the support team can be reached by phone and/or email, and you have a point of contact.”
- Honesty and Transparency: “Make sure the IT team is honest, reliable, and transparent in all of their dealings.”
- Valued Partnership: “Expect the IT provider to treat you like a valued partner and take the time to listen to your business and IT needs.”
- Continuous Innovation: “Look for an IT provider that continuously offers valuable, innovative solutions to fit with your growing business to ensure continuous efficiency.”
By focusing on these aspects, businesses can build strong relationships with their IT providers, leading to improved operations and greater overall satisfaction.
What is “data insurance”? To our team at Namtek Consulting Services, it is a company’s Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery solution and plan. All of our customers, using our QBR Business Continuity solution and service refer to their monthly fee as their data’s insurance policy. They know that no matter what happens, their data is protected and easily recoverable. They are provided with real-time backups, email confirmations ensuring that all backups taken were successful, and quick recovery methods for their data during any crisis or disaster. Please don’t get this mixed up with those old backup tapes and drives. 
In the end, what matters to every business owner, is how fast employees can get back to work or in other words, how quickly operations can resume, during all sorts of disasters or crises. Be it a fire, a flood, an ice storm (for all our fellow Canadians), a human error, a ransomware attack, or hardware malfunction, it’s important to be well protected. A company’s data is extremely valuable to their operations and it’s time business owners see Business Continuity services as their insurance policy. Our QBR customers can restore an entire server, an entire desktop or simply pick and choose a specific file they accidentally deleted. It’s that simple and truly that remarkable.
