Your business is slowly growing and, whether you are aware of it or not, technology will play a crucial role in its evolution. In 2019, the worldwide spending on technology reached $3.3 billion and most of this growth is due to the recent explosion of artificial intelligence, big data, AR/VR, and IoT. Whether it’s because they want to attract new customers, increase marketing efforts, streamline internal operations, or increase profit margins, business owners everywhere are trying to invest in tech and even place it at the core of their organization. It is even estimated that, by 2023, about 70% of CFOs will increase their firms’ technology investments. However, in order for these investments to hit their target, it’s important to implement them correctly, according to your business size, needs, and goals, and this is where IT consulting services can come in handy. If you know that tech is the future of business and want to align your organization to the latest trends, but you don’t know exactly how, an IT consultant can be of great help.

You’re about to embark on a digital transformation project

There’s a lot of buzz around digital transformation and there are many reasons why you should consider it: it can help you compete with larger companies, provide better customer experience, and stay relevant on an increasingly digital market. However, digital transformation also happens to be a delicate process that should never be done without proper research. Depending on factors such as the field you’re in, the size of your business, and the goals you’re trying to achieve, digital transformation can involve different things. It can even involve the complete rethinking of your business model. An IT consultant can help you better understand what tech your business would benefit from, and, most importantly, how to effectively implement this tech and reorganize your business around it. Even if you already have an IT department, working with someone who has experience in digital transformation projects can steer you in the right direction and ensure you invest your resources wisely.

You’re concerned about the security of your data

Heading into the new decade, business data security is one of the major trends to look out for. Without the proper measures in place, businesses are extremely vulnerable to data breaches and it is estimated that a hacking attack happens every 39 seconds. Although it might seem that hackers only target large organizations, small and medium-sized businesses aren’t safe either. In fact, they could become an even bigger target precisely because hackers know smaller businesses have limited resources. In the U.S., the average cost of a data breach is $8.19 million and while large companies like Amazon and Facebook (News - Alert) can easily recover, for small businesses, this cost can become crippling. The ideal course of action isn’t to wait and be hacked and then try to solve the problem. A study conducted on behalf of IBM (News - Alert) showed that it takes about 197 days to discover a data breach, by which time it may be too late. Instead, you should rely on IT consulting services to assess your data protection needs, identify the areas where you are most vulnerable, and recommend the right security solutions to prevent your business from falling victim to hackers. In addition, an IT consultant can train your staff on how to avoid online threats and data leaks from inside the company.

You need help with a complex project, but don’t want to expand your IT department

Many small to medium-sized businesses, especially those operating  in “traditional fields” have a small IT department that helps with basic services, such as running the company’s website or overseeing its social media activity. Even though this is usually enough, sometimes you have to take on more complex projects where you simply need more people or more experts in a certain area.. In cases such as these, you don’t have to expand your IT department and hire a permanent specialist. Your organization might not be ready to support this extra expense and besides, after that one complex project is complete, their position might no longer be relevant. Instead, you can hire a consultant for the duration of the project, get the professional help you need, without having to hire them full time. For example, if you would like to back your data in the cloud, choose a different hosting plan, or develop a mobile app, a consultant can assist you with these tasks, and then your IT department can run things as usual.

You’re worried about what would happen in the event of a crisis

Some might say that crisis management is part and parcel of running a business. On a day to day basis, the average CEO can deal with more or less stressful scenarios that range from being understaffed to coping with difficult customers or handling busy sales periods. Some of these crises are unpredictable and unavoidable and all you can do is face them head-on and hope for the best. Fortunately, technological crises are easier to foresee and prepare for – with the help of an expert, at least. Do you ever ask yourself questions such as:

• What would happen if my company website suddenly stopped working?
• How much money would I lose in case of a data breach?
• Is our platform able to support a high influx of visitors during the sales season?
• What will happen if our internal systems are corrupted or if our machines are damaged or stolen?

If at least one of these questions has been on your mind lately, it’s time to take action and eliminate the uncertainty. An IT consultant can help you take the right measures to avoid technological crises and give you tips on how to minimize their impact should they occur in the future.