Terms like cloud computing, managed IT, and workforce mobility often dominate the conversation about modern business technology. But with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to end up with disruptive technology that’s costly and inefficient.
When it comes to outsourcing your IT to a managed services provider (MSP), it’s technical functionality that tends to dominate the conversation. Many MSPs seem determined to baffle business owners with jargon such as “virtualization” and “cloud enablement” that mean nothing if they’re not placed in context and matched to the needs of your business.
While we can talk about the benefits of modern technology for hours, it’s better to focus on how it can affect your bottom line and improve your business processes.
Why You Need to Take a Holistic Approach to Technology
The best-in-class MSPs aren’t just sales representatives who are after your money; they are dependable business partners whom you can trust with your IT needs. They take a holistic approach to technology by aligning it with your specific corporate goals. They may fill a crucial role in keeping your business IT performing optimally, but their primary function is to help you select and implement the right systems.
Vendor liaison refers to the relationship between your business and its IT vendors, mediated by an MSP. As one of the most underrated functions of an MSP, vendor management involves selecting, implementing, and maintaining your technology environment to ensure it runs smoothly and aligns with your goals. Ideally, every preliminary interaction between a business and an MSP should start with a thorough consultation whereby the vendor evaluates your current systems, budget and staff limitations, and overall company goals.
Bringing Modern Technology to SMBs
Large enterprises often enjoy close relationships with their IT providers. Oftentimes, they have dedicated, in-house IT departments they can call upon to answer questions, implement and maintain new systems, and onboard employees as required. For small businesses, that’s practically unheard of, since they don’t have the resources needed to hire their own IT departments.
MSPs present a practical and affordable alternative. They bring modern technology and support to SMBs that were previously available only to large corporations. Since SMBs typically lack the experience, buying power, and knowledge required to implement such systems, they need to select a vendor who can offer these and more. That’s unlikely to happen if you’re working with multiple vendors who wouldn’t take responsibility the moment something goes wrong.
An MSP is essentially a consultancy firm and a technology provider. They liaise between your organization and vendors and provide a first line of support obligated to fix any issues themselves. That’s why MSPs have strong partner programs with industry-leading technology vendors, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud. They understand your specific business needs to help you select the most suitable technology solutions.
Working with a vendor-agnostic MSP who doesn’t have a vested interest in selling specific products or services tends to be the best approach. This helps you achieve a more objective insight, rather than trying to adapt less appropriate solutions to your needs. To ensure you work with the most suitable MSP, choose one that has extensive experience in your specific industry and fully understands the unique challenges it faces.
You can hardly hope to remain productive if you’re waiting on hold for IT support, only to be told that you need to call another vendor to solve a problem. With Dyrand serving as your dependable technology partner, you won’t find yourself in such a situation. If you’re ready to start enjoying the benefits of modern technology without the headaches, get your free assessment today.