Modern managed services deliver incredible benefits to organisations, including the opportunity to outsource their computing at a fraction of cost—and risk—of managing it in-house. However, while managed services continue to be beneficial for companies, managed services providers (MSPs) must continually develop to provide more value to the businesses they work with.

MSPs are in a powerful position; they deliver essential services to companies that help them to reduce both cost and risk by outsourcing their IT management. However, as the technology landscape evolves, MSPs must evolve alongside it to ensure they continue to provide essential support and partnerships to their customers. Failing to do so will lead to lost business.

There are three key areas MSPs must expand their support and services into:

  • Moving beyond basic IT support: Managed services deliver essential technology solutions to organisations, including cloud infrastructure and security services. These are critical tools to help companies remain agile and protected in a changing technology and business landscape; however, demand for managed services has moved beyond the need for technological support.

    Now, organisations need access to insights about their services and expertise on how to best use the solutions and services they have at their disposal. Additionally, they need MSPs to expand their current offerings and grow to include data analytics solutions, among others, to ensure they can support businesses as they continue their own digital transformations.

  • Offering value-added services: While the provision of services is fundamental for MSPs, the potential value they provide goes well beyond this. Ultimately, MSPs must be able to present advice and guidance around the use of services to deliver the greatest value to the organisations they work with. For example, providing secure services is just one piece of the puzzle; MSPs must also advise how to best use security processes, especially as companies scale and grow, while also adapting to new challenges.
  • Aligning with business goals: The true value from an MSP comes from their ability to support an organisation’s evolution over time. Companies aren’t static and MSPs shouldn’t be, either. MSPs that consistently grow alongside the organisations they work with, and that can align their services with the digital and business strategies of their customers, will continue to deliver value for companies into the future.

Rethinking the ‘services’ in managed services

As technology advances, so, too, must MSPs. The most effective MSPs must be proactive and at the forefront to adopt evolving technologies that align with changing customer needs and expectations. This also includes upskilling their teams and resourcing to ensure they remain on the front foot when it comes to new tools, technologies, and ways of working.

MSPs must continue to evolve to ensure they can meet the changing needs of the market and their customer base. It’s essential to be agile. MSPs that can ensure they are prepared to respond quickly to market changes and that can provide greater consultation, support, and value will be better positioned to foster strong, sustainable relationships with their customers.

Operating for over 25 years, Blue Connections IT is a premier Australian-owned provider of IT solutions and managed services. We offer a comprehensive suite of tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of your organisation. Whether you’re looking to outsource your IT service desk, supplement existing services, or simply require additional support when it’s most needed, we are here to assist you.

Are you ready to leverage modern managed services that evolve to fit your needs? Reach out to the Blue Connections IT team.

POST AUTHOR:

PAUL WILSON

Chief Technology Officer, Blue Connections IT