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Preferred Blog

Preferred has been serving the Tinley Park area since 1991, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Tip of the Week: 4 Ways to Improve Customer Service that Any Business Can Do

Tip of the Week: 4 Ways to Improve Customer Service that Any Business Can Do

Providing outstanding customer service is a requirement to be successful in today’s business environment. If you ignore this valuable tenant of business, then you’ve got a competitor who will gladly jump on the opportunity to steal away your customers and prospects by offering better service. What steps is your business taking to make sure that your customer service is second to none?

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How to Break the Cycle of Your Technology Breaking Down

How to Break the Cycle of Your Technology Breaking Down

Too many businesses suffer due to issues with their information technology. The IT department, that is supposed to be innovating, is just too swamped down solving immediate technical problems to do so. However, if left unchecked, having an IT management deficit could swiftly create larger problems throughout your organization.

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When IT Implementation Goes Wrong, Focus on End-Users First

When IT Implementation Goes Wrong, Focus on End-Users First

Often times, people can get distracted by flashy new features, and with technology, this happens more than anywhere else. Since IT grows at such an abnormally fast rate, end-users can be left in the dust if you’re not intentionally trying to keep them in the loop. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you implement IT solutions for your business that are not just effective, but also user-friendly.


The reasoning for this is simple: your end-users are the ones who will be using the technology. Therefore, you need to consider how they will react to new solutions, and whether or not it will be something that they can understand how to use. The first step toward improving the way that your IT infrastructure functions is by implementing solutions that are user-friendly first, and great technology second.

In fact, when organizations implement new solutions to increase productivity, what they see is often the opposite. InfoWorld claims that this is due to two reasons: 1) Lack of training, and 2) A reluctance to change habits or behaviors. If your business implements new solutions, like an updated office suite or a brand new operating system, it will have little effect on your productivity if your team doesn’t know how to properly use it. In fact, they may just resist the change altogether.

More often than not, your end-users will only care about one thing: functionality. They don't care how technically sound a solution might be, so long as it’s simple to use on their end. Therefore, if you hope to get the most out of your new IT solution, you need to ensure that your team is both educated on the benefits, as well as competent in its usage. This can help to cut down on resistance to the project, as well as make it easier to hit the ground running once the implementation has finished.

InfoWorld states: “You might stagger the rollouts so the disruption is spread out. Rolling out a series of smaller changes takes more time, but it also lets users get more comfortable with the changes, reducing the disruption to their work. It might even let some users get deep into new capabilities and share their excitement with colleagues, who won't be so overwhelmed with changes that they can't focus on the benefits.”

The idea is to make your new IT solution not just a successful deployment for your IT department, but also for your users. This is what defines a successful solution deployment. After all, your end-users are the ones who will be using it, so if they get very little out of the solution, then why bother spending the time and resources implementing it?

If your organization is having difficulty implementing new IT, or training its team on how best to use your new technology, we can help. We want your business to succeed, and by helping you master your new technology solutions, we succeed ourselves. To learn more, give us a call at 708-781-7110.

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It’s Easy to Forget about Quality IT Service, and That’s Okay

b2ap3_thumbnail_good_business_through_good_it_400.jpgWhen it comes to service jobs, there are two kinds: Those where the work is highly visible, and those where work gets accomplished behind the scenes. Each service is valued and needed, yet, one may receive more attention and recognition than the other. Managed IT service falls under the latter category, and we’re totally okay with that.

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Why We’re Happy to Reveal Our IT Secrets

b2ap3_thumbnail_fix_own_computer_400.jpgA whole lot of technical training is what separates an average PC user from the IT technician servicing their malfunctioning computer. We know a lot about how technology works, and this knowledge is no guarded secret. In fact, we’re happy to share it with you.

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      Stuff happens, and this stuff can often be bad. That’s an inescapable part of life, especially if you’re trying to run a successful business. That said, the consequences of this bad stuff can usually be minimized—if not mitigated entirely—when you have a proper disaster reco...

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      Best Places to Work - 5 YEARS STRONG!!

      Preferred is once again, honored for being a Best Place to Work for the fifth straight year!  Our team is what makes Preferred a Best Place to Work.  

      Daily Herald Suburban Business 2024 Best Places to Work Honorees The Daily Herald Suburban Business has announced the names of 51 companies, in 5 categories of competition, that are honored as the 2024 Best Places to Work in Illinois. This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.