Choosing the right company to provide software solutions and IT services can be difficult. We often hear of companies who have tried a number of providers and become frustrated from poor service, resulting in lost time, money and productivity. We have put together this quick guide on how to assess proposals from IT service companies to help you choose the right provider for your organization.

Choosing a provider guide (PDF)

Experience
There is no substitute for experience. A good IT provider has a history of successful implementations, has an extensive knowledge base to draw upon, attracts and keeps excellent staff, and has a high customer retention rate. Look for a provider that will manage your IT project through to completion, and will provide ongoing support after implementation.

Quality
Businesses, large and small, need quality IT solutions to both protect their business operations and give an acceptable return on investment. IT solutions should respond directly to your business need, and should not be over- or under-designed for that need.  Beware of proposals that include inexpensive materials – these may not be durable, office quality products. Some unscrupulous companies will provide poor materials and make their money on constant repairs.  IT companies and their engineers should hold manufacturers' certifications.

Price
Be sure you know what you’re getting for your money. Some companies quote only their lowest engineering rate for a project. That is usually the rate for a junior engineer, not the rate for design and implementation – the lion’s share of the work. Some companies have a ‘hit and run’ practice.  They will quote on the most basic installation to get in the door, knowing that you will need far more work before you have a usable system in place. Conversely, beware of over-engineered solutions that will be expensive to purchase and maintain.

With more than 20 years as an IT provider, we know how important a solid IT foundation is to every business and, unfortunately, we have seen some poor practices. We have put together the following checklist to help you assess proposals from IT providers.