The market for IT outsourcing is worth almost $80 billion, and it’s expected to keep growing. Many businesses outsource at least some or all of their IT operations.

You can choose from a provider located almost anywhere in the world these days. You might be tempted by attractive pricing, but there are many good reasons to consider working with a local IT company instead.

Before you choose your next provider, consider these five reasons to go local.

1. A Local IT Company Knows Your Market

One of the biggest advantages of working with a local IT provider is that they’re familiar with the local business climate. They may be aware of issues affecting other businesses. If a weather system moves through or another disaster strikes, they’re probably aware of it.

This can offer you a few advantages. First, they know the challenges of working in your local market, as well as the advantages. They may also be aware of local compliance expectations and standards of practice.

This can help you improve your own IT practices and better serve your community.

2. Get Personalized Service and On-Site Support

Another advantage of working with a local provider is that you’ll have more access to personalized service and on-site support for things like security training.

An IT provider located on the other side of the country or across an ocean can’t send someone out to your office. Your local provider can.

They’ll also be more familiar with your community, and they may even be familiar with your business itself. From there, they can work toward offering you the service you truly need and want.

3. Timing is Everything

A local IT firm is usually able to respond to your needs faster. Why?

One reason is that they’re usually in the same time zone as you. If you’re on the east coast and working with a company in California, you may not be able to get anyone on the line until noon hour.

That’s a problem if you’re having IT issues.

If you need on-site expertise, you’ll also be able to access it sooner. Resolving IT issues is much easier when everyone’s on the clock together.

4. Save Money

You might not think going local for your IT services will save you money, but you might be surprised by how much it can put back in your budget.

Using local IT services means you don’t need to worry as much about travel costs if someone needs to come to your site.

It can also save you in the long run as IT issues will be fixed sooner. If you outsource overseas, you may end up dealing with the same frustrating IT issues for days or even weeks. You may end up calling in another local IT specialist anyway.

Downtime and lost productivity cost you. Staying local can help you manage these hidden costs more effectively.

5. Get Peace of Mind

The best reason to choose a local information technology company may be to get peace of mind. With local services, you know you’re in good hands. Reliable service, fast responses, and more mean you can rest easy knowing you’ve got the right IT support.

Make the Switch to Local

If you’ve been struggling to find the right partner for your business, check out a local IT company. The benefits can help you grow your business the smart way.