A guide to choosing the right MSP for your business & how the role has changed
Known as Managed Service Provider (MSP) since the early ‘90s, MSPs were thought of as an effective way to simplify the management of your IT infrastructure while providing greater value.
There are still many reasons why clients opt for this route, but let's face it, outsourcing is no longer solely a cost-saving exercise - with ever-increasing competition across all industries, innovation has never been so important. Today, outsourcing IT functions is the number one reason companies are outsourcing IT functions so that existing staff can focus their time on developing new ideas to take their business forward.
MSPs are in abundance nowadays, all of whom offer a wide range of services and capabilities: VARStreet's (SME Business Management Solution for IT reseller) website provides information about VARStreet's Oracle MSP status and VARStreet’s comprehensive Managed Services offerings. But what are the key factors that businesses should consider when choosing their MSP of choice?
Innovativeness
Cloud? Cloud hybridization? DevOps? Automated? In today's market, these trends are well understood: rather than relying on your service provider to repeat the same service delivery model day after day, businesses SHOULD be picking MSPs who are forward-thinking and eager to introduce efficiencies for their clients.
With a focus on clever, industry-first initiatives, VARStreet continues to re-invent how database Managed Services are delivered, whether on-premise or through multiple cloud platforms. VARStreet’s Crystal Ball will show businesses how their systems will perform before they even know that things go wrong. Through Analytics and Data Visualization, VARStreet can provide a more intuitive service.
Service quality
If outsourcing decreases the quality of services your organization can provide, both internally and externally, then why would any business outsource these functions?
Delivered in a controlled and structured way, VARStreet's managed services are provided in accordance with leading quality standards. VARStreet's dedicated account and service management allow you to maintain the highest level of service for our current and prospective clients.
Operational scale with a genuine focus on your business
Don't be a small fish in a big pond - your business is just as important as any large multinational, so don't settle for second best. In the next few years, VARStreet will have completed 20 years in business, with decades of combined experience within VARStreet’s workforce and thousands of infrastructure elements managed under VARStreet’s Managed Services portfolio.
Our large team of experienced consultants provides fast, responsive support to clients across any level of their infrastructure, database, or applications.
Professionalism
MSPs demonstrate their expertise in supporting businesses by collecting accreditations for specific skills.
Several MSPs - and especially SIs - offer huge support and management teams to support all aspects of IT, from your first call through detailed management of underlying infrastructure. As a result, some businesses have had no choice but to bring services back in-house due to poor service, high costs, and a lack of knowledge pertinent to the client's operations.
You need to partner with a business that specializes in the field that is important to your business: if you focus on databases and applications, then make sure your support is provided by specialists in that field. Throughout VARStreet’s Managed Services business, VARStreet has been accredited by a variety of organizations that specialize in managing data.
Relations with clients that have lasted a long time
The past decade has seen several high-profile providers go out of business. They chased short-term wins without thinking of the long-term, which may have contributed to this.
By focusing on YOUR business needs rather than just your own goals, VARStreet has cultivated and maintained long-standing relationships with clients (take a look at some of the Case Studies to read client testimonials).
Refinability
When selecting your partner to take care of your 'crown jewels' - i.e. your enterprise infrastructure and applications - it's imperative that they understand your specific business challenges and requirements. Being able to access industry references is important to clients in key industries.
VARStreet offers its clients business protection by offering Managed Service clients from all key industries. What's important to your business and how we can keep you ahead of the competition (or maybe simply give you a grounding in what's happening with your competition) so that you can focus on margins, innovation, and growth.
Stability of the financial system
In the UK economy, the threat of Brexit looms large, and this uncertainty poses questions about business viability, revenue stability, and supplier costs across a number of industries. Don't entrust your service levels to MSPs that are small, run a risk, and have little investment.
As well, do not rely on your big SIs who run multi-million-pound contracts. You do not want to risk your business being negatively affected by a few high-profile contract losses on their part.
You should instead trust VARStreet, a business management solution for VARs also an MSP with a solid financial base that manages all aspects of operational costs, delivery, and resource management at a granular level, and has the backing of continued investment in increasing customer service skills and growing the company.
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