IT services are becoming a challenge for so many companies and industries as the use of computers has been expanding in our everyday life, as well as, keeping us in touch with the world at large. As individuals, we consistently try to better our lives through electronics so that we can get back the one thing we don’t have much of, which is time. The same point can be made in business. The more time spent on the job at hand leads to increased productivity and, one can argue, a more sustainable work-life balance.
In my mind that is the value that most answers the title of this blog. Is it worth your time to have an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) steer your relationship with technology? Will partnering with an MSP increase your business’ profitability? Technology is constantly evolving and with the ongoing enhancements in hardware, it can become cumbersome to stay at the forefront of these innovative changes. The act of making technical decisions for your business and forging an alliance with getting things done more efficiently, can be daunting. The more you can focus on the strategic goals of your company and/or overall position within your organization, closer you are to achieving success. Partnering with an MSP provides the expertise needed to free up your time and make informed decisions for yourself, your employees and your company.
We have seen the most successful service industries progress when they create an arrangement where the cost of time vs. value is a better approach than, if it’s “not broke, don’t fix it.” Technical environments need to be monitored and upgrades need to be strategically planned for from a budgetary and visionary standpoint. If things were changed on an as needed basis only, the cost to make upgrades and the productivity loss would be so great that it becomes immeasurable.
With the demands in the workplace and the increased dependency on technology, Managed Service Providers must differentiate themselves showing the value they bring under a fixed cost model vs. an hourly rate. This type of agreement, enables an MSP to understand your environment holistically and take a proactive approach from a budgetary and strategic standpoint. This also alleviates the need to “watch the clock” and enhances the overall service experience. Resolution time is no longer equated to dollars. One may now view time as it relates to system downtime, or an inability to work. But, again, collaborating with an MSP that has an understanding of your business, workflow and technical and business needs, uptime will increase and so will profitability.
Once the measure of time is removed, both parties can work collaboratively as a team and further learning opportunities can happen. As the client, you will learn more about utilizing technology to meet your business needs, and how to so without becoming an IT expert. The MSP will learn about your short-term and long-term goals, shortcomings in your environment, workflow, to name a few. It’s very clear that having a steady relationship that has no demand on time which drives cost is advantageous for both provider and client. I conclude with the list of items that a fixed cost adds to a company as value propositions. They include, but are not limited to:
- Reliable service support
- Technical expertise
- Business to business relationship
- Budgetary information
- Strategic Guidance
- User acceptance
- Transitions
- Knowledge Base
With so many benefits, it can be challenging to understand why all businesses don’t maximize the expertise of a Managed Service Provider. Take the initiative to maximize employee productivity and increase efficiencies in your environment to take your business to the next level. For more information on finding the right MSP, contact us today.
Categories: Managed Service Provider, MSP Blogs
