According to Fortune Business Insights, the global managed service market size is ballooning at breakneck speeds and is expected to grow from $243.33 bn to $557.10 bn between 2021 and 2028.
These statistics show that businesses have become reliant on robust IT infrastructures. They are embracing managed IT services to streamline business processes, gain a competitive edge, and harness the power of modern technologies. However, to earn these perks, it’s vital for entrepreneurs to form strategic partnerships with their service providers.
But how exactly can you do that?
This article focuses on 7 surefire strategies that ensure you get the most from managed IT services in Washington dc.
1. Establish your goals and needs
Every business has its unique IT needs. So, before you reach out to an MSP, understand your company goals.
Are you looking for cloud services that integrate your in-house infrastructure with one or multiple vendors or an MSP to monitor your network and people that access critical business data?
Is your in-house team wasting time handling technical errors, so accessing remote technical support is of paramount importance?
Knowing exactly what you need strategically positions you to find an MSP that offers the services you need.
2. Do your due diligence
Refrain from partnering with the first MSP you find. Instead, be extra careful who you hire.
The first step is to survey your market and find MSPs that have successfully managed businesses in your industry. Next, get referrals from entrepreneurs that have used managed IT services, asking them to share insights into the dos and don’ts.
And before you turn to Google or Clutch, develop vetting criteria that align with your managed IT goals.
This is vital!
For instance, you can state that you want an MSP that fills the current skill gaps in your existing team and one that’s keen on maintaining industry standards. They should also have excelled in their roles, especially in your area of interest.
But that’s not all.
You need to get a little personal.
How long have they been in operation? Who are their clients? What’s their business model?
3. Maximize your contract’s value
Companies used to handling all their IT tasks in-house might, initially, experience challenges switching to MSPs. For example, they may still tackle arising issues before delegating them to the outsourced team.
Getting the most out of managed IT services involves maximizing your contract. That means recognizing their role and fully delegating their assigned tasks.
Allowing them to do what they came to do, frees up time that the employees can use to handle other mission-critical tasks.
4. Set key performance metrics
Measuring your MSP’s performance is one of the best ways to gauge the fruitfulness of the business partnership.
The metrics you set depend on your needs as a business. Some of the KPIs you can consider include:
Average response times
The last thing you want is requests going unresolved for prolonged periods or, worse, forever!
Laxity in your IT workforce can break your company, which is an excellent reason you should work with an MSP that’s quick to address questions and requests. While these response times differ, they should reach out within the hour or at least within 5 hours latest.
Average resolution time
You are experiencing a network outage that’s disrupting service delivery: how long does it take your managed IT partner to deal with the issue?
There has been a potential data breach; how quickly does the outsourced team respond to shut down any vulnerabilities? How long does the team take to launch disaster recovery?
These are only a few metrics you should consider. However, make sure the ones you pick align with your business goals.
5. Consider them your virtual CIO
MSPs are conversant with technologies as they emerge and have an extensive understanding of how to use them to further business goals.
Why not leverage their expertise to drive change in your organization?
MSPs can be your virtual CIO. They can assess your IT department and help you develop strategies that address their needs.
That way, you’ll gain invaluable insights into the various technologies supporting the company’s objectives and how to supercharge the day-to-day IT operations, among other things.
6. Establish clear roles
It’s imperative that roles and responsibilities and clearly defined when working with an MSP. When these lines become blurry, crucial tasks might be left undone, or you might burden your managed IT service provider with tasks outside their work line.
To avoid an ineffective working environment, draft an easy-to-read document that plainly outlines what aspect of IT services your in-house team and the MSP will handle, respectively.
Otherwise, you might eventually experience a strained partnership that ends with people pointing fingers at each other.
7. Involve your MSP in the technology adoption process
In the past decade, many cutting-edge technologies have emerged, all promising to positively impact company growth.
And while it’s essential to keep abreast of such advancements, not all are a good fit for your business.
Involving your managed IT services provider in adopting new technology is crucial as they offer advice that helps you make strategic purchasing decisions.
For instance, they will help you figure out those that improve your business processes, seamlessly integrate with existing IT infrastructure, and pass the cost-benefit analysis.
ShipshapeIT: A Managed IT Service Provider to Spearhead your company’s IT adoption
ShipshapeIT has been offering managed IT services in and around the Washington DC metro area for the past 12 years.
We are industry professionals conversant with groundbreaking technologies. Leveraging our expertise, we will harness their power to elevate business and IT staff productivity to future-proof your company.
As your partner, we will collaborate with your in-house team to keep company data safe and optimize business processes for maximum profitability.Fill out this form to get started or learn more about our managed IT services.
