You’re ready to invest in IT solutions for your Cameroonian business. You need a professional website, digital marketing support, reliable hosting, or complete IT infrastructure. You get quotes and every provider sounds good until reality hits three months later. Your website crashes and the developer stopped answering calls. Your marketing agency doesn’t understand the Cameroonian market. Your hosting goes down constantly with no support.
We see this too often. Businesses waste hundreds of thousands or millions of FCFA on the wrong tech partners, then start over. Here are seven questions every Cameroonian business must ask before signing with any IT solutions provider.
1. Do They Understand Local AND Global Tech Trends?
Cameroon’s digital landscape is unique. We have specific connectivity challenges, mobile-first usage patterns, payment preferences (Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money), and bilingual requirements that don’t exist elsewhere.
An IT partner who only knows Western best practices will build solutions that fail here. They’ll create websites optimized for high-speed fiber that take forever to load on MTN data. But a partner who only knows Cameroon and ignores global trends will build outdated solutions that don’t scale.
Ask specifically: “How do you optimize websites for Cameroonian internet speeds?” and “What global tech trends are you implementing here?” Good answers show they understand both worlds. At Biro Integrated Tech, we build with international standards while solving for local realities.
2. Do They Provide Post-Launch Support?
The worst scenario: you pay for a website. It launches. Two months later something breaks. You contact the developer. No response. Or they say “that’s not covered, you need to pay extra.”
Ask these questions: “What happens if my website goes down at midnight?” “Is ongoing maintenance included?” “What’s your average response time for urgent issues?” Get specific commitments in writing. Professional IT partners, like our team offering web hosting and tech contracts, include clear support terms from the start.
3. Are They Transparent with Pricing?
You ask how much a website costs. They say “it depends” or give vague ranges. You push for specifics and they can’t break down what you’re paying for. Or worse, they quote one price then add mysterious charges later.
Ask directly: “Can you provide a detailed written quote?” “What’s included and what costs extra?” “Are there setup fees, monthly fees, or maintenance costs?” Professional providers give clear, written proposals explaining what you’re paying for and why. Check how we break down web development costs transparently.
4. Do They Offer Security and Compliance?
Most Cameroonian businesses don’t think about security until after they get hacked. Your IT partner should implement security from the beginning, not treat it as an expensive add-on.
Ask: “How do you secure websites you build?” “Do you implement SSL certificates, regular backups, and firewall protection?” “What happens if there’s a security breach?” If they treat security as optional, find someone else. Security is built into every IT solution we deliver.
5. Do They Have a Local Presence You Can Actually Reach?
Many businesses get burned by remote freelancers who seem great until problems arise and they’re impossible to reach. Can you meet them face-to-face? Do they have an office in Douala, Yaoundé, or Buea?
Ask: “Where is your office? Can we visit?” “Will we have a dedicated contact person?” “How do we reach you for urgent issues?” Local presence means accountability. We’re based in Douala and our clients can verify we deliver what we promise.
6. Can They Scale with Your Business Needs?
You start with a simple website. Business grows. Now you need e-commerce, then more capacity, then complex systems. Your IT partner should grow with you, not limit you.
Ask: “What happens when my business outgrows this initial solution?” “Can you handle more complex projects as we expand?” One-person freelancers might handle a landing page but can’t manage enterprise solutions. At Biro Integrated Tech, we work with everyone from small startups to established businesses to foreign investors entering Cameroon. From basic web development to complete digital marketing, we grow with your business.
7. Do They Have Proven Case Studies and References?
Anyone can make big promises. Proof is what matters. High client retention shows a provider delivers value. Lots of unhappy former clients shows the opposite.
Ask: “Can you show examples of similar projects?” “May I speak to three current clients?” “Do you have case studies showing results?” Real case studies show real work. References let you hear directly from other businesses about what working with this provider is actually like.
Choosing an IT solutions partner isn’t about finding the cheapest option. It’s about finding someone who delivers what they promise, supports you long-term, and helps your business succeed through technology. Ready to work with an IT partner you can trust? Contact us today for a transparent conversation about how we can support your business technology needs.