10 Ways Your IT Consultant Can Save Your Business Money

We recently wrote an article showcasing the benefits of managed IT services. In short, we know a lot of IT companies that claim to offer managed IT services, but really just cover the bare minimum in order to get you into a contract. It’s not the same, and it’s not the intended nature of managed IT services.

It’s a good article, I think you’ll like it. Our first point was that true managed IT services can actually save your business money, and we wanted to take a moment to dive into that deeper.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 ways we can save your business money and help you achieve your financial goals.

1. Reduce IT Infrastructure Costs

One of the most significant ways a good IT consultant can save your business money is by reducing IT infrastructure costs. IT infrastructure includes hardware, software, networking equipment, data center costs, and even overall technology services expenses.

We’ve even had experience helping businesses save a little money on their Internet services, simply by negotiating for a better offer based on what the client needed.

We can assess your current infrastructure and identify areas where you can cut costs without sacrificing performance. We can also recommend more cost-effective solutions, such as cloud-based services or server virtualization, that can save your business money in the long run.

2. Improve Efficiency and Productivity

Efficiency and productivity are crucial for any business, and technology plays a significant role in both. To be blunt, that’s kind of the whole deal with modern technology—it’s supposed to help you get more done with less effort. Otherwise, we’d still be storing our contacts in Rolodexes and relying on snail mail for virtually all correspondence. The organizations that feel like technology is a necessary evil or just a required expense, have been disenfranchised because they haven’t had an IT partner who can help take them to the next level. 

By implementing the right tools and systems, we can help your employees work more efficiently, saving time and money in the process. They can also identify and eliminate any bottlenecks or inefficiencies in your current processes, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.

3. Prevent Costly Downtime

Downtime can be a significant expense for businesses, especially if it happens frequently. Datalyst can help prevent costly downtime by implementing proactive measures to keep your systems up and running.

We monitor your systems for any potential issues and address them before they become major problems. This can save your business money by avoiding costly repairs or replacements and minimizing the impact of downtime on your operations.

The old-school way of doing this was a nightmare; a major issue would occur that prevented one or more employees from getting work done, and then an IT tech would be called in to solve the problem, billing you the entire time.

We have a name for this. We call it “kicking you when you are down.” Your business is already losing money from the downtime (that probably could have been prevented), and now it’s costing you billable hours as well.

4. Optimize Software Licenses

Software licenses can be a significant expense for businesses, especially if you have multiple employees using different software programs. A good IT consultant can help you optimize your software licenses and ensure that you’re only paying for what you need.

We can also recommend more cost-effective software solutions or open-source alternatives that can save your business money in the long run.

However, here’s the other side of the coin; sometimes, even a business trying to do everything by the books might run into a case where they are using licensed software beyond the scope of the license. For example, you might have the same copy of Office installed for multiple users, or you might require a certain tier of software to meet a particular level of compliance, etc. 

This might mean that, initially, you’ll need to spend more money so you are following the rules. The penalty for violating the terms, however, is much worse. Violating license agreements is essentially seen as theft. Your business could be taken to court, or lose eligibility to use the software you need to run. 

The worst part of all of this is that, in most cases, it’s not the business owner’s fault. It’s usually a past IT person or office manager who made a mistake or who had good intentions. Either way, it’s not a situation you want your organization to face.

5. Implement Cybersecurity Measures

Cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses of all sizes, and a data breach can be a costly and damaging event. Let us help you implement cybersecurity measures to protect your business and save you money in the long run.

We’ll assess your current security solutions and identify any vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. By implementing the right security measures, we can help prevent costly data breaches and protect your business from financial losses.

Business owners absolutely cannot skip over this. In the past, high-end cybersecurity protections used to seem like more of a luxury item that the bigger organizations could have, but with the current threat landscape, any business that relies on computers and the Internet to conduct themselves absolutely needs to have strong cybersecurity measures in place, and those measures need to be vetted and tested regularly.

6. Provide Strategic Planning and Budgeting

We can provide strategic planning and budgeting services to help your business save money. We can work with you to create a technology roadmap that aligns with your business goals and budget.

By planning ahead and budgeting for technology upgrades and investments, you can avoid unexpected expenses and save money over time. Your account manager can also help you prioritize your technology needs and make informed decisions about where to allocate your budget.

This way, there aren’t surprises, and we can also ensure that your ongoing business goals are assisted with your technology. 

7. Offer Cost-Effective Training and Support

Technology is constantly evolving, and it can be challenging for businesses to keep up. We can provide cost-effective training and support to help your employees stay up to date with the latest technology and cybersecurity best practices.

By investing in training and support, your employees can work more efficiently and effectively, leading to cost savings for your business. Obviously, we also provide ongoing support to address any technology-related issues and ensure that your systems are running smoothly.

Want a perfect example? You don’t even have to be a client of ours to benefit from our expertise. We publish blogs regularly to help businesses and their employees get the most out of their technology and make better-informed decisions when it comes to IT. If you check out our blog, in particular, our tips section, you’ll find lots of great information you can start taking advantage of.

8. Identify Cost-Saving Opportunities

Datalyst can also help you identify cost-saving opportunities that you may not have considered. We can assess your current technology and processes and recommend changes that can save your business money.

For example, we may suggest switching to a more cost-effective internet service provider or implementing a new software program that can streamline your operations and save you money in the long run.

9. Assist with Vendor Negotiations

Working with vendors can be a significant expense for businesses, and it can be challenging to negotiate the best deals. We can assist with vendor negotiations and help you get the best prices for the products and services you need.

They can also help you identify any hidden fees or unnecessary services that you may be paying for, leading to cost savings for your business.

10. Keep Your Business Competitive

In today’s digital age, businesses that don’t keep up with technology can quickly fall behind their competitors. The IT consultants at Datalyst can help your business stay competitive by implementing the latest technology and optimizing your systems.

By staying ahead of the curve, your business can attract more customers and generate more revenue, leading to long-term cost savings and financial success.

We’re Massachusetts’ #1 Managed IT Services Provider

A good IT consultant can provide valuable services to help your business save money and achieve its financial goals. That’s why businesses throughout Massachusetts trust Datalyst. We’ve been providing no-nonsense, professional IT services for businesses and organizations since 2010. From reducing IT infrastructure costs to improving efficiency and productivity, we can make a significant impact on your bottom line.

To get started, give us a call at (774) 213-9701 or sign up for a free IT consultation.