If you are in the process of looking for an outsourced IT team to help with your company’s technology you might have noticed that many businesses (Fantastic IT included) promote lots of different certifications. If you aren’t familiar with all of the different terms and hardware or software combinations you might be tempted to wonder whether these credentials matter at all.
To help you get to the bottom of things – and find the vendor best suited to help your business grow and thrive – here are a couple of ideas you should keep in mind…
Technical Training and Certification is Important
IT professionals go through all kinds of ongoing training programs to earn certifications. Most of these have to be renewed regularly, and are specific to certain types of hardware, software, or systems.
During these training sessions a technology provider will learn tips and tricks that help make them faster, work more efficiently, and stay up-to-date with the latest versions of the tools your business relies on. It also gives them the chance to ask questions and evaluate case studies that show what other professionals are seeing in the field.
All of these make your IT vendor smarter and better-equipped to help you. It might also be necessary for them to have certain certifications for you to hold onto manufacturer warranties in the event you have issues with your tech. For all of these reasons, your vendor should be fully licensed and certified for the work they are going to do. That isn’t the end of the story, though.
Technical Certifications Aren’t Enough
While the technical side of IT work is important, it really only represents half of what we do. The rest comes down to asking good questions, being responsive when we’re called for help, and spending time getting to know our clients so we can offer them smart solutions.
You can’t be a good IT provider if you aren’t able to install, maintain, or repair the hardware and software your clients use. However, having those technical skills isn’t enough to say you’re going to be easy to work with or that clients will have good things to say about you.
Besides, with a few industry-specific selections, most well-staffed IT companies are going to have professionals who are certified on all major hardware and software platforms. So, if you’re working with a reputable company you probably don’t have much to worry about.
Bottom Line on IT Certifications
Technical training is important in the IT business, but it isn’t the ultimate mark of quality or client satisfaction. So, you should ask questions of any vendor you’re thinking about working with to ensure they are well-equipped to deal with the tech you use every day. However, don’t necessarily assume that plaques, logos, or certifications are going to amount to all the qualifications you’re looking for in a vendor.
If you are in Southern California and want the best in value, service, responsiveness, and fair pricing, contact the friendly team at Fantastic IT today so we can help you keep your business running smoothly!