Difference Between IT Consulting & IT Services?

Professional IT support is essential for businesses of all types and sizes. But as you begin your search for a new service provider, the abundance of services and new terminology can make it confusing to figure out what your company needs. 

Two of the most common types of services are IT consulting and IT services. Both can support your current technology needs and reach your long-term goals. But how can you figure out which service will help your company best? 

In this helpful guide, we’ll look at the definitions of IT consultancy and IT services, including some of the services they include. Then, we’ll delve deeper into the differences between the two, and lastly, we’ll help you decide which service is best for your company.

What Is IT Consulting?

Technology is an integral piece of most modern companies. Even still, many businesses struggle to make essential IT decisions or recognise how much tech can help them reach their overall goals. With IT consulting, a skilled professional offers strategic guidance and advice on technology-related matters. Consultants leverage their expertise and industry experience to guide businesses and help them succeed.

A consultant will take their time to learn about how the business operates and its long-term objectives. They can help better define your goals and identify potential roadblocks to success. With this information, they can then create a comprehensive strategic plan. A consultant can offer expert recommendations for launching strategic IT initiatives, solving pressing issues, choosing the best software and hardware, and whatever else you need assistance with. 

Examples of IT Consulting Work

IT consulting typically covers a wide range of strategic and advisory activities, depending on the needs of the organisation.

This may include areas such as technology strategy, digital transformation planning, risk and compliance advice, data and analytics guidance, and support for major IT projects.

The focus of IT consulting is not day-to-day support, but helping organisations make better long-term technology decisions.

What Are IT Services?

IT services generally refer to the third-party management and maintenance of an organisation’s IT systems by a managed service provider (MSP). These services keep the technological infrastructure running smoothly so you can focus on achieving your long-term objectives.

IT services take a more hands-on, technical approach to serving a business’s tech needs. An MSP will handle the routine activities that keep IT systems functional, like desktop support and service management. They can also solve technical problems as they arise to minimise downtime and keep productivity up.

Examples of Managed IT Services

IT services usually refer to the ongoing management and support of an organisation’s technology by a third party. This can include maintaining systems, resolving day-to-day technical issues, managing networks, applying security updates, and ensuring users have access to reliable IT support.

IT Consulting vs IT Services

Now that you know a bit more about managed IT and IT consulting, we can explore the differences between the two approaches. For companies that are just beginning to explore IT services, there can be quite a bit of confusion between the two. Managed service providers often offer consultancy services too, and some IT services may involve a level of consulting. While there is plenty of overlap between these services, there are a few essential differences. 

IT Consulting Is About Planning Strategy and Building Relationships

In general, IT consultants deal more with strategising and crafting long-term plans for success. When you chat with a consultant, you talk about your overarching goals and current challenges. Then, they help to devise a plan to upgrade and optimise how your organisation handles technology. Consultants combine technical experience with business knowledge to help organisations assess options and make informed decisions.

Consultants also focus on building relationships with their clients. To work effectively and provide the highest level of guidance, they must first get to know your company, its systems, and its employees. An IT consultant must be as amiable as they are knowledgeable so they can become your trusted source for all your tech needs.

IT Services Offer Hands-On Support, Management, and Maintenance

On the other hand, IT services get deeper into the daily minutia of technical support. A lot goes into running and maintaining a business’s tech systems. And, even with the most well-maintained network, problems still arise. IT service providers are highly trained and experienced experts who specialise in managing, maintaining, and supporting an organisation’s tech infrastructure. They can offer remote or on-site individualised support to resolve issues and take steps to prevent them from occurring. 

While they can offer advice as consults do, their role is more about enacting a strategy than creating one. Managed service providers must also work to build a good relationship with their clients. However, their ability to do their job well depends less on their rapport and friendly relationship with clients than for consultants. 

Consultancy Focuses on the Big Picture, IT Services Manage the Day-to-Day

Both IT services and IT consulting share a common goal: to help companies make the most of their IT infrastructure in order to thrive and grow. However, the services use different methods to get you there. Consultancy services offer an outside perspective on the state of your current tech systems. They can help you recognise which changes are the most effective and create a plan to guide your business forward. IT services can then bring that plan to life, giving your team the proper support and resources to reach their goals. An IT consultant can create a roadmap to achieve your goals, but an IT service provider can provide the daily support and resources you need to get there.

Which IT Solution Is Best for Your Company?

Don’t let tech issues stress you out; turn to an IT professional. IT consultants and managed service providers can both help your business improve its tech infrastructure and reach its goals. But, the services are better suited for tackling different problems. Keep reading to determine which type of IT solution best fits your needs. 

When Do You Need IT Services?

Here are a few situations when you should consider hiring a managed IT service provider:

• When your business is implementing new software or hardware, you need to ensure it’s optimised for your system.
• When you want to keep your network in top shape and avoid security concerns
• When your need to troubleshoot hardware malfunctions and routine problems
• When you’re handling any situation that impacts the day-to-day operations of your company

When Is IT Consulting a Better Choice?

For issues like the ones below, an IT consultant is a better option for solving your tech problems:

• When you need to upgrade your IT systems but don’t know where to begin.
• When you want to ensure a merger goes smoothly without any integration issues or costly delays.
• When you need expert advice from a specialist that your current IT team isn’t able to provide.
• When you need a detailed plan to solve a problem, improve data security, or stay on track with an IT project. 

Why Choose at All?

Still can’t decide which one is best? The good news is that you don’t have to! Managed service providers and IT consultants can work together to support organisations with both strategic planning and ongoing operations. Taking a hybrid approach can help you gain a new perspective on your IT systems, learn which alterations will be the most beneficial, and gain the support you need to implement the changes properly. 

If you’re trying to decide whether you need strategic IT guidance or day-to-day IT support, understanding the difference between IT consulting and IT services is the first step.

If you’d like to learn more about strategic IT consultancy specifically, you can explore our IT consultancy services.