Have You Tried Managed IT Services For Your Construction Firm?
Your IT can make a major difference in the success of your construction firm’s operations – but only if it’s properly supported. Do you have an IT company on your side that’s helping you make the most of your IT?
It’s common knowledge that every major hardware company has their own expertise; Black & Decker makes great drills, and likewise, Makita makes quality handsaws.
That’s why it would be unwise to invest entirely in one provider for every tool you use. It just makes more sense to get what you need from the company that does it best. You can spot a good toolbox because it has a range of brand names, each representing the best product in its class.
This kind of strategy shouldn’t end with your toolbox; you should apply it to every aspect of your business, and that includes IT.
Why Does Your Construction Firm Need Managed IT Services?
Settling for outdated or ineffective IT support is like trying to use the wrong tool for a given task. It will slow you down, cost you money, and make your life more frustrating.
You owe it to yourself and your crew to make sure you’re getting the best IT support you can. This means managed IT services, which are designed to take care of everything IT-related for your organization, proactively preventing problems instead of fixing them after the fact. Simple as that.
For many businesses, the cost of hiring even a single internal IT person is too expensive. They need a salary, training, benefits, vacation… it’s a lot to budget for. That’s why outsourced IT services have largely become the norm, with service levels varying depending on the managed IT services company in question.
Switching to managed IT services will deliver a number of benefits:
Technology Lifecycle Management: You know when a backhoe or a crane is past its prime – can you say the same of the business technology you use? That old desktop computer you’ve been using for years is probably holding you back, but you may not have noticed.
While the mere existence of a newer OS or new model in the line-up doesn’t mean you should automatically upgrade, it is an indication that you will have to do so sometime soon. When a newer version is released, it means the clock is running out on how long the providers will continue to support the version you’re using. Furthermore, you may be noticing that your competitors have far surpassed your capabilities and are able to provide clients with features and products that you are unable to offer. If you are finding it hard to keep up with your competitors, it might be time to consider how new technology can enhance the work you do.
Working with a managed IT services company allows you to outsource the management of your technology – you never have to think about the age of your IT again. Everything is kept in optimal operating shape.
Harness Newer Technologies: At a certain point, any hammer is about as good as another. Newer models may keep coming out, but it’s a legacy tool with a simple task – you don’t have to upgrade your hammer every few years. This isn’t the case for IT.
New innovations are rolled out on a regular basis, and while some are just gimmicks, others can make a real difference in how you get your work done if properly applied. Case in point? Mobile technology. Mobile devices have made it easier and easier to get work done while on the go. Laptops, tablets, and smartphones offer a simple way to share and review data, stay in touch with employees, and more while on the road. As you well know, a lot of your firm’s work is on the road and at job sites. Having your staff use their own personal devices for work means that you don’t have to pay for the technology they’d be using otherwise.
Depending on the size of your practice, that could mean potential savings of thousands of dollars that would have been necessary to pay for tablets and work phones. Furthermore, by allowing your staff to use their technology also means there’s no pesky learning curve to overcome with new devices. Instead of having to ensure your staff knows how to use the hardware at work, they can simply use the phone, tablet and/or laptop they’re already familiar with.
Industry-Specific Support
Managed IT services do more than just fix your tech when it breaks down – they can consult on the optimization of the line of business software you rely on, including:
- ARCHICAD
- AutoCAD
- Jobpac
- Cubit
- Databuild
- Cheops
Protecting Your Firm’s Data
How safe do you think you are from today’s cybercrime threats? How about ransomware? Ransomware is an undeniably major threat to businesses around the world today. Maybe you can accept that ransomware is real but don’t believe it’s all that costly. You’d be wrong. According to Beasley Breach Response’s 2019 noncompliance report…
- The average ransomware payout is $116,000
- The highest ransomware demanded by cybercriminals was $8.5 million
- The highest ransom paid by a target organization was $935,000
Experts agree that cybersecurity should be a bigger concern for construction firms. Phil Weaver, senior director for Warfel Construction’s IT, doesn’t think the industry is ready to defend itself. “I don’t think general contractors and construction managers are worried enough about the impact a cyber incident can have,” said Weaver to enr.com. “I think there is just a lack of understanding or realization that it can happen to us.”
The construction industry has been hit before, and it will undoubtedly be hit again – just consider the ransomware attack against Saint Gobain, which cost them an estimated 80 million Euros. The question is – do you have an IT company in Dayton to protect your firm from ransomware?
A managed IT services company will manage your cybersecurity on an ongoing basis, equipping you with the right defensive solutions, monitoring for threats and keeping your systems up to date.
Migrate To The Cloud
If you’re not already using the cloud for file sharing and storage, you’re way behind the times. But if you’re also failing to take advantage of the construction industry-specific features the cloud can deliver, then you’re missing out.
The cloud allows you to connect and view job sites remotely from a single cloud platform. Depending on the scope of your firm and how far apart job sites are, this could save you hours every day in travel time, allowing you instead to check in on sites from the comfort of your office (or wherever else you have an Internet connection).
Furthermore, while some members of your team, depending on their experience and skill set, may be an expert with your legacy software, what about the wider community of subcontractors you have to work with?
The cloud can help with this as well – new centralized project management platforms bring everyone together in one intuitive cloud location. Now, instead of needing to be trained on unintuitive, outdated software, your entire team can make use of a modern, user-friendly cloud platform.
The bottom line is that if you’re not already benefitting from the help of a managed IT services company, whatever form of IT support you do have probably isn’t enough – Network Outsource can help.
Our team has the knowledge and experience to meaningfully consult on the effectiveness of the IT solutions and practices implemented in your place of work, and help improve your IT environment to mitigate and eliminate common challenges.
