Is it better to use a local support company or one that’s half a world away? Does it make a difference? These are important questions, and yes, it can make a difference.

There many reasons and situations that make local IT support the best option for your business. We’ll take a look at some of the reasons on why it’s better to choose a local IT support company, rather than one on the other side of the world.

1). Local IT Support Companies Understand the Culture

Cultural understanding makes a huge difference when it comes to IT support. It’s crucial to deal with someone who not only speaks your language, but also understands your culture.

Culture differences can take various shapes. They may even come down to not understanding one another’s language, for instance. If you can’t understand one another, how will you work together? It will be a lesson in frustration for both sides.

Differences can also develop from communication styles and accidentally committing a cultural faux pas.

While these can be dealt with, you’ll find the most effect IT support will come from a local service. IT management is essential to the smooth and successful running of your business. For these reasons, it’s best to find local people who speak your language and understand the culture.

2). Local IT Support Understands the Local Laws

While you may find someone overseas who can understand your language and culture, chances are they will not be familiar with the laws in your country or region. If you have an office in the Czech Republic and are dealing with an IT company in the US, they may not realize that you have different laws regarding how personal data is used under the GDPR that’s now law in Europe.

The other option, of course, is to learn the laws yourself. This can take time and effort, and laws are generally quite complicated. You could also train the overseas IT support service about your laws. However, the best option is to hire a local expert who already understands and knows the law. This way, you’ll avoid costly fines and other mistakes.

3). Same Time Zone—Best Option

Working across times zones with an overseas IT support company can cause major headaches. It’s quite difficult to solve complex problems when you’re several hours apart. And some problems just can’t be managed or fixed remotely.

For these and other reasons, a local IT management company is the best option.

4). Onsite Support is Best

As noted earlier, remote resolution of IT problems can be a hassle, to say the least. However, working with a local IT support service will give your company the option to get help directly onsite.

Here, think of IT problems such as disaster recovery. What will happen if your network’s struck by ransomware or some other cyberattack? Receiving assistance remotely may just not be an option when you need to quickly recover from such a disaster.

These are a few of the reasons choosing a local IT management company can be the best option for your business. Now, let’s take a look at what to look for when choosing an IT support service.

Questions to Ask that Help to Find the Best Local IT Support Service

You’re now ready to outsource to a local IT company, but do you know what to look for? What makes a good choice for your company? Let’s take a look!

Does the IT Management Company Have Experience in Your Industry?  

Because technology can vary by industry, it’s best to find a provider who knows and understands the IT needs of your industry, including any compliance issues. Ask these questions:

• Does the company provide services to other companies in the same industry?
• Have they earned awards or other recognition for working in the industry?
• Are they certified to work with the industry’s technologies?

Can the IT Company Support Your Network? 

This is an important issue—you’ll want to find an IT support company who can work with the system and network you use. For instance, do they support Windows? If you use Macs, can they support this OS?

Rather than choosing an IT support company that says they can do it all, choose an expert. You need someone who understands your system and network from the ground up.

How Fast Can They Provide Service When You Need It?  

Every company has different methods for supporting their clients and response times will vary widely. Ask these questions to determine if they’re a good fit when you have trouble and need help:

• How fast do you respond to issues?
• How quickly are issues resolved?
• How long will it take if we need onsite support?

You can also ask to see the company’s SLA (Service Level Agreement), which should include this type of information.

Can the IT Support Company Handle a Company of Your Size? 

Is the company large enough to support your company’s IT needs? Be sure to ask how many engineers they have, and in what departments. Then ask about their support processes.

What you’re looking for is information on whether or not some staff do double duty. For instance, do phone techs also double as sales personnel? Or what happens if there are more phone calls than phone techs, how is this handled?

Does the Agreement Work in Your Favor? 

You’ll want to make sure that the IT support company’s agreement works for you and not against you. Contract specifics should be thoroughly reviewed and any questions that come up must be answered to your satisfaction.

Also, look for agreements that include block time or monitoring contracts. These tends to benefit the IT company, not you. With this type of agreement, it’s in their best interest when you do have problems, as they can charge extra for additional services.

When it comes to choosing the best IT support services, also choose local. They’ll understand what you need and be on the spot when remote assistance isn’t an option. Use the tips and questions above to help you find the best local IT support company for your business needs.