Add Capabilities Through Managed Services

If you want to go fast, go it alone; if you want to go far, go as a team.

Managed Services is a consideration for Marketers feeling the impact of reduced budgets and resources and with the right program, can extend capabilities and help organizations leap frog past their competitors.

The benefit of a Managed Services Program (MSP) is not simply about outsourcing services to gain operational improvements and reducing budgets, or at least, that isn’t the only lens through which to consider the approach.

Extend Beyond Support Tickets

Many organizations have the notion that an MSP is simply an expensive extension of your technology’s technical support team and will quickly opt out of, what is perceived as, a premium support offering.?However, they will find out very quickly, unless it’s an actual product defect the issue is not covered by the support agreement.?If you are looking to have a discussion on implementing new functionality or an issue that does not involve a defect, it very typically requires a purchase of consulting time to engage a technical resource.??With most MSPs, they will (or should) focus on solutions and even work directly with your technology provider to expedite a resolution on a product defect (I know we offer this).?Ultimately this saves time, saves money with a one-stop resolution and maintains operational continuity and momentum.?

Hire A Team for the Sum of its Parts

The ideal MSP should provide a unique advantage over more traditional resourcing models. ie. inhouse resourcing. It should provide you with a breadth of skills and experience that is near-impossible to secure in a single individual.?

On the surface, hiring a salaried employee, or even a fulltime contractor sounds like a reasonable plan to bridge a skills gap, but as your business evolves and the market changes, you are challenged with yet another skills gap.

With the right MSP provider, the personnel that comprise your MSP should evolve with your business and with the knowledge specific to your organization already in-hand, seamlessly integrate into your day-to-day operations.?

Focus On Managing Your business, Not Your Project.

Hiring a consultancy to execute on projects is the norm and working with trusted vendors proves successful – most of the time.?But what is the experience when the scope of the engagement changes, or your priorities shift??Project management will initiate a change control process that engages all parties, from procurement, project sponsor, project personnel, to re-scope, true up budget, initiate changes to payment milestones and execute on a change order that requires stakeholder signoff.?This process can sap the momentum from any project, which can result in missed dates and cost overruns.?

Through the right MSP, a change in scope means a discussion on the immediate priorities, shifting focus as needed and agreement on next steps. That’s it.?No need for drawn out discussions. No need for additional paperwork.?No need for budget discussions.?

The Bottomline.

There are so many benefits of a managed services offering that extends beyond the few points above but it requires due diligence in finding the right partner and time to tailor a program that addresses your immediate needs, while setting your organization up for long term success.

If you are looking for an MSP provider for your revenue operations, reach out and schedule a call with us.?

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