A recent eWeek article recalled the top five priorities of the IT industry. According to Doug Tracy, CIO of Dana Holdings, the top five are:
  • Set a Vision
  • Manage Vendors
  • Improve Process
  • Standardize Operations
  • Test Open Source
I found this list interesting because it contains the elements of our Pertingo(r) Computer Support service that most of our Indianapolis small business computer outsourcing customers overlook when they are looking for a good computer consultant. We know that our customers use price and convenience as the primary factors in deciding on a computer support service. It isn't until they've had a provider who looks at things like these top five priorities for them that they come to realize the full impact of good IT support services.
  • We work with each of our clients to develop a vision for their technology that fits the vision they have for their company as a whole.
  • We have always described ourselves as the "one throat to choke" to our customers. We manage the activities of every other provider who touches their computer network.
  • We take the time to learn how our customers do their jobs so we can make suggestions to improve the process.
  • We strive to standardize, as much as possible, all of the elements of their network.
  • We're always playing with something new to see if it has applicability in our customers' IT environments.
In short, we are always working on those top five priorities. Any good IT support services company should do the same. Many don't. Sure, we are also doing those routine things as efficiently as we can. But we don't add value if all we do is fix broken stuff and wait for you to tell us what new stuff you'd like to buy. Our job is to maximize the benefit you get from having bought all this stuff in the first place. That's good IT.