All companies doing business today have information technology or IT needs that are influenced by the type of business, the size of the business, and the hardware, software, and applications used to run the business.
Some Oklahoma CPAs outsource their IT support, not realizing that having an internal guru has benefits that can supplement what an outside provider offers.
Who is Your Internal Guru?
Internal gurus tend to be the person in your office who is a little more tech savvy than others. When the printer is jammed or the network is down, is there someone in your office that everyone turns to for help?
Since the internal guru is on staff, he or she can immediately jump in at a time of crisis and triage what has happened. If it is something simple, an internal guru can typically fix the issue on the spot. For more complex problems a phone call to the company’s outsourced IT provider may be in order.
Then the outsourced IT provider can work with the internal guru to decide if an onsite visit is needed or if a step-by-step walkthrough by phone works better.
Insight into Company Needs
A major advantage of having an internal guru is that they work alongside the staff, which allows them to develop a detailed understanding of everyone’s specific IT problems and concerns. This intimate level of insight helps your outsourced IT provider to work more quickly and efficiently when onsite.
Cost Savings
It simply makes financial sense for your internal guru to support your outsourced IT provider. While you do have the salary of the internal guru to think about, typically IT support is one of many jobs they do for your CPA firm.
In the time during their day or week that they spend on IT issues, they can work with your outsourced IT provider to prioritize what needs to be done – and what makes financial sense for the company.
Bottom Line
CPAs in Oklahoma, who outsource their IT needs, should seriously consider some of the advantages of appointing a staff member to be the internal guru. It is likely, however, that you already have an internal guru. But are you using them to the best of their ability?
Does your CPA firm use an internal guru? If so, have you seen tangible benefits from the internal guru and your outsourced IT provider working together? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
And to follow up on the tips introduced in this article, be sure to download your free Information Technology Guide for Oklahoma City CPAs.
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