Outsourcing is no longer just for large corporations. In our ever-more digital world, even the smallest start-ups are
considering outsourcing any number of their operations. This is particularly true for IT solutions, as in a Fourth
Industrial Revolution world, poor technology utilisation could spell the death of a company before it’s even got off the
ground. The question for SME owners is, then, not whether or not to have an IT department, but rather whether that
department should be outsourced or located in-house.
Pros
The biggest pro for outsourcing IT solutions is cost reduction, as SME owners do not have to pay individual IT
specialists salaries, do not have to hire additional office space, and can be assured of set monthly costs that make
budgeting easier.
Outsourcing to the likes of the OneCall IT company also means that SME owners can access a higher level of valuable skills and expertise than what they could likely
afford were they to hire directly.
Cons
SME owners primarily need to do their homework to ensure hiring a reputable company that’s a good fit for their
particular business. Initial onboarding can be costly, particularly if new hardware needs to be bought. These costs can,
however, be easily recouped over time as long as the recommendations are solid and the solutions represent the correct
investment for the client.
When determining whether to outsource or situate business IT solutions in-house, the first step should be to contact
possible companies to discuss your business’s specific IT needs and then compare their offerings with what can be gained
should an IT department be established internally. What SME owners cannot afford to do, however, is not make the kind of
necessary investment in IT that can help them compete in the 4IR world.