Companies outsource IT for two main reasons – to improve service and to lower costs. Oklahoma CPA companies are no exception – though they can also add “to keep up with the competition” to the list.
With the increase in the number and complexity of rules and regulations regarding compliance, with security breaches happening at an alarming rate in the financial industry, and with more services being offered directly to consumers, Oklahoma CPAs are looking to outsourcing IT to become more efficient and to concentrate on core operations.
Lowering Costs Through Outsourcing IT
By outsourcing IT, Oklahoma CPAs lower costs by controlling costs. When you outsource, you achieve virtual scalability. You will not need to hire extra employees during the peak season, nor will you need to downsize afterwards.
Usually, your vendor will charge a specific amount monthly, or yearly, depending on your agreement. This means your IT budget will be a fixed cost that can be more easily planned for and allocated.
It is usually cheaper to outsource IT, as well. Some estimates put the savings at 30% over maintaining an internal IT department.
Training costs are eliminated or reduced by outsourcing to a vendor. The vendor’s success depends on keeping up-to-date with the latest technology and having trained employees to install and implement the solutions.
Downtime can be a severe drain on a business, especially in peak season. A good vendor will have redundancy, backups, and disaster recovery solutions in place, so you do not have that worry or cost.
Oklahoma CPAs spend a great deal of time and money doing repetitive, manual procedures that could be made more efficient with automation. A good vendor will know how to automate processes that will, in turn, free you to concentrate on more productive and income generating elements of your business – elements that can set you apart from your competition.
A “fix the problem after it occurs” mentality can be very costly. Security breaches can result in lost data, possible heavy fines, and more importantly, lost confidence on the part of your clients. This is especially a concern with BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) becoming the norm for many businesses.
Your clients expect the convenience of being able to use mobile devices at their end as well. Third party vendors can stay abreast of the latest security issues and solutions, and can ensure you are compliant with rules and regulations.
Bottom Line
Companies can concentrate on better serving their clients when the pressures, worries, and costs associated with IT are outsourced to a third party vendor.
Oklahoma CPA companies should look for a qualified vendor that understands their particular needs and requirements.
Why do you think Oklahoma CPA companies are turning to outsourcing IT? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
If you own or manage an Oklahoma CPA firm and would like to find out how technology can help you, be sure to download your free Information Technology Guide for Oklahoma City CPAs.
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