Relationships (even business relationships) are hard work, but if your relationship with your IT provider is wearing on you, don\u2019t just accept it as normal.<\/p>\n
Your IT provider should do more than just place your orders or begrudgingly fix your network problems. You should receive the business equivalent to a box of chocolates and a dozen roses: great service and technology that meets your business needs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n An IT provider<\/strong> might be your hardware\/software reseller, managed service provider, or anything in between. But the fact is technology is a big part of business, so it\u2019s important that you\u2019re working with the right company (maybe even \u201cthe one\u201d).<\/p>\n No matter what they\u2019re helping you with, if you\u2019re experiencing any of these signs, it\u2019s time to do some soul-searching. So grab some chunky monkey ice cream and a seat on the couch, and let\u2019s talk.<\/p>\n An IT provider should be more than just a company you work with\u2014they should be a business partner<\/em><\/strong>. Their goal shouldn\u2019t be placing orders or merely remediating problems, but equipping you with the means of accomplishing your mission and goals. Technology is just how <\/em>they do that.<\/p>\n Does your IT provider understand you? Do they know your business, your mission, your goals, hopes, and dreams? Now, hopes and dreams might be a deeper stage of the relationship, but if they\u2019re not familiar with what your company is about<\/strong>, then they\u2019ll never be capable of fully meeting your needs.<\/p>\n You should be equipped with technology to achieve your mission and goals<\/strong>, and that will require an IT provider who knows what those missions and goals are. If your IT provider doesn\u2019t know your business on that level, then stop settling! Get out there and find someone who does.<\/p>\n A growing relationship should keep you feeling like a priority. A major part of feeling valued comes from responsiveness to needs<\/strong>. Nobody likes waiting on a response to a call or an email, and then being met with an unapologetic answer when they finally get back to you. As Dr. Phil probably says, \u201cCommunication is a big part of relationships!\u201d<\/p>\n Time is money, so if your IT provider is consistently unresponsive<\/strong> and has long turn-around times<\/strong>, then you should sit them down and have a conversation. If things don\u2019t start to change, then it might be time to say goodbye.\u00a0If they\u2019re not making you feel valued, then be assured there is a company out there that would love the chance to change that!<\/p>\n New relationships often start out great when the IT provider is trying to earn your trust and business. But what about when the honeymoon is over? It\u2019s not uncommon for the quality of service to gradually degrade as they become \u201ccomfortable\u201d with delivering subpar support.<\/p>\n If this has happened, don\u2019t be content with the status quo! It\u2019s your provider\u2019s duty to make sure you\u2019re taken care of, so if the quality of service is waning, then let them know how you feel<\/strong>. If nothing changes, then it\u2019s time to move on.<\/p>\n Sometimes, businesses simply\u2026 grow apart. It happens, and when it does it\u2019s best to acknowledge the changes and adjust as necessary.<\/p>\n Do you feel like your IT provider hasn\u2019t grown or scaled with you<\/strong>? If you\u2019ve grown or downsized significantly since you started working with your provider, it might be best to reassess and ensure they\u2019re the best fit. If you\u2019re paying a premium for services you no longer need then look for a company that will meet you where you are and tailor the solution.<\/p>\n Maybe your IT provider changed their business strategy and has shifted focus in industries or services. Examine whether or not the services you need fall within their expertise; if not, then look for someone who is an expert at what you <\/strong>need.<\/p>\n Has customer service quality dropped? Are you dealing with issues and putting out IT fires yourself that aren\u2019t yours to deal with? Whatever the reason for such behavior might be, it definitely warrants a reevaluation on your part.<\/p>\n So you\u2019ve checked all the boxes, you\u2019ve weighed the costs, and it\u2019s official: you\u2019re ready to break up with your IT company. Now what?<\/p>\n Well, how you deliver the news is up to you, but maybe these classic break-up lines from Demetri Martin will help:<\/p>\n \u201cIs it hot in here? Or are you just suffocating me in this relationship? Let\u2019s breakup.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cJust wondering, have you been doing pushups with your knees down? \u2018Cause I\u2019m not sure this is working out. Let\u2019s breakup.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAre your feet tired? Because you\u2019ve been stomping on my dreams for a few months now. Let\u2019s breakup.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If your relationship with your IT provider is going well, then stick with it! But if you\u2019re having the issues described above, then simply put, you deserve better<\/strong>\u2014and CCB<\/a> would love to be the knight in shining armor.<\/p>\n We pride ourselves in delivering tailored support and service<\/a> for any of your IT needs, including managed services, project services, hardware and software procurement, <\/strong>and much more. So let\u2019s build a relationship and build one that\u2019s made to last.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in seeing what we can do and how it stacks up against what you\u2019ve known, then reach out. Let us know what we can help you with<\/strong>\u2014whether it\u2019s a hardware or software quote, project proposal<\/a>, or any form of managed IT services, we\u2019ll take care of you.<\/p>\n1. They don\u2019t get <\/em>you<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. They don\u2019t make you feel special<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. You\u2019re frustrated more often than you\u2019re happy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. You\u2019ve both changed<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to have that difficult conversation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Learning to love (your IT provider) again<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Make CCB your business partner<\/h3>\n