It’s All About The Technology
Ah, technology. Not much in our workplace can run without it. Even so, many companies believe tech skills are just for tech companies and IT staffing is out of the question. That used to be about right in the past, but today, companies from insurance and real estate to aerospace and automotive all depend on technology to remain competitive.
In a recent Business Facilities article, The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) said, “Technology is the generator that powers innovation, growth and breakthroughs in virtually every other sector of the economy; from advanced manufacturing techniques and innovations in transportation, to smarter, more livable communities, to advances in education, energy and healthcare.” Maybe this is why the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the growth of tech occupations to jump 13 percent by 2026.
We do virtually all of our work on or through technology. We use it to communicate with each other, our customers and our supply chain; track the status of projects, customers and finances; manage our schedules and sales; record notes and data; generate content; create and share reports; collaborate, and keep tabs on work. It can also give us a competitive edge.
IT Staffing Levels The Playing Field
With all of the systems and applications it takes to support these and other critical functions, it’s no wonder IT skills are in such demand. The IT staffing industry in Austin and Denver, two of the country’s hottest tech hubs, is booming. Yet, for a large number of organizations, hiring an internal IT team seems out of reach and is only for the “big guys.” It’s believed to be too expensive, first and foremost, but some companies simply don’t think they need one. They purchase various software products, outsource projects to IT companies or do without.
Related: IT Staffing in Denver
Let’s think about that for a minute. We just outlined a few of the technology-based activities we deal with every day. How much money is your company spending on outsourcing IT support? How much time is wasted waiting for that IT support to build programs, break-fix or enable functionalities? How far behind your competition is your company in innovating? How much more market share could you own if you had on-demand IT within your own four walls?
Technology is a differentiator. In a world where customer engagement and being first-to-market to meet demand is paramount, technology is king. Some of the best-known brands in the world have faltered because they couldn’t keep up with the changing consumer demands and trends. Nearly every one of them was due to not anticipating the need for innovation and technology.
An IT department is no longer relegated to big enterprises. Even small companies are realizing the advantage of having IT skills in-house. We’ve put together a list of many of the major projects an IT team can do for an organization.
Website
No company these days can go without a website. Even more, the website needs to be attractive, modern and interactive. It requires fresh content and updates, perhaps an eCommerce capability, searchable resources, and often, video streaming with webinars and promotions. It’s not a “one-and-done” activity, but a continual nurturing process that requires IT expertise to get it (and keep it) just right.
Social
Most consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Xers, use social media to engage with brands. They follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social platforms. Social media has become the preferred method for organizations to interact with customers, push products and ideas, generate conversations and promote a brand. It has become one of the primary ways consumers reach out to customer service and even purchase products. An internal IT staff can ensure every social channel is fully utilized, driving value, and generating leads.
eCommerce
For many industries, such as banking, retail and automotive, offering e-commerce options from the website or mobile app is a requirement. Consumers expect a smooth, seamless experience no matter which device they use. When companies leverage an IT staffing agency to build their own IT capabilities, they can have confidence their e-commerce function meets the high standards of its customers and can respond to any issues rapidly for minimal disruptions.
Mobile
Nearly every industry requires a mobile presence. Insurance, health and wellness, service companies, retail, entertainment and dozens of others all need to be accessible from any device. Consumers want convenience and if they can’t get to your brand quickly on their terms, they’ll likely move on to your competitor’s mobile app. Building a mobile app requires a variety of technical expertise. Having an internal IT staff to keep develop, build and maintain an awesome mobile experience is a game changer. But, it likely requires the help of an IT staffing company to get the right people with the right skills on the team.
Integrations
It is common for organizations to invest in multiple pieces of software (on-premise and cloud-based) to enable their workflows. Unfortunately, it is also common for the software to be disconnected, forcing users to duplicate efforts and data from one system to the next. An internal IT team can be a productivity saver by building key integrations so systems speak to each other and share data. This increases efficiency while also decreasing the risk of mistakes.
Data Security
There isn’t an industry out there that doesn’t depend on data to operate. Sales data, employee data, customer data, project data, financial data, HR data, technical data, marketing data, website data, social media data, competitor data, industry data, supply chain data, SEO data…did I leave anything out? All of this data is out there, somewhere, and protecting it is not only smart, but it’s also a requirement. Plenty of companies have been hit hard with fines, penalties and reputational damage when this data is breached. An internal IT staff with security expertise can ensure all of the data is protected using proven, modern methods.
Why You Need an IT Staffing Company
For the majority of companies without an internal IT team, the thought of recruiting, hiring and training all of these people that have the required skills is daunting. For industries outside of technology, such as healthcare, education, automotive, insurance and others, technology is not their forte. They aren’t sure what skills are required for such projects, let alone where to find the talent. That’s where an IT staffing company comes into play. Instead of hiring various companies to outsource these projects to, it makes more sense to hire an IT staffing company to build your own team who is dedicated solely to you.
Say your company is in Austin or Denver, for instance. It would be wise to hire an Austin or Denver IT staffing company who knows your market and has access to local resources who can fill those positions. Remember, these projects require specialized skills. An IT staffing company will get to know you and your business well so they can better match the right candidates to the specific jobs. They will vet the candidates for you, then send you the most qualified for the interview stage.
Related: IT Staffing: The Austin Factor
As you build your team, it will be easier to see where gaps in skills lie. You can rely on the IT staffing company to fill those gaps as needed with full-time, part-time or contract-only employees. Instead of focusing on how much it will cost to support an internal IT team, think of how much it is costing you not to. Your IT staffing agency will be able to help you find the right mix of team members who can work across all of these projects (and more) to keep the headcount at a minimum if desired.
Don’t go at the IT thing alone. Get the help from a reputable IT staffing company in your area to get the ball rolling. They can guide you on what you need and how best to get to where you want to be.
