A Modern Guide to Outsourcing Application Management Services

It’s safe to say that these days, every business relies on applications. Applications handle everything from scheduling to email. Well-performing applications are crucial for providing user satisfaction, retaining and attracting customers, and the success of your business overall - and good application management services AMS) are critical to ensure your apps run smoothly and securely.

Understanding Business Applications

Although every business requires a different assortment of applications to operate, but most modern companies rely on apps from a few key categories.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

Just like applications, customer relationships can be difficult to manage. Businesses with a large pool of customers rely on these customer relationship management (CRM) platforms to help them categorize customers, create targeted content, and nurture leads overtime. Examples of widely used CRMs are Salesforce, HubSpot, and NetSuite.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software supports automation and procedures in finance, HR, manufacturing, supply chain, services, procurement, and other areas. It is a comprehensive corporate management tool. Examples include SAP and Oracle.

BPM (Business Process Management)

Applications for business process management (BPM) enable enterprises to automate, streamline, and control their recurrent business operations. A customizable digital form to gather data for the process and an automated sequence of activities to handle the data are the standard components of business process management solutions. Examples include Monday, Miro, and Creatio.

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Software programs called database management systems (DBMS) are used to store, retrieve, and run queries on data. Users can create, read, update, and remove data from databases by using this as an interface. Examples are MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle Database.

Challenges to Internal IT Departments

The number of applications required for modern business adds up quickly - and this isn’t even considering the numerous specialized apps companies may acquire overtime.

Due to an increase in app capability and complexity, managing and monitoring just one application can be both difficult and time-consuming. Add on the daily password resets, troubleshooting, and other issues that IT professionals need to handle, and you get a scenario that can easily overwhelm an in-house IT team.

Not only is this a recipe to burn out your IT team, but it could also result in more serious consequences. App crashes or downtime translates to missed opportunities, unhappy customers, and overall, hurts your business.

With the increased complexity of modern applications, it’s harder than ever to keep them secure. If your IT team doesn’t have the bandwidth to quickly fix any bugs or issues, that could put critical business data and systems in jeopardy.

The solution? Utilizing an application management service.

What are Application Management Services (AMS)?

Application Management Services (AMS) are services performed by a third-party provider. Companies outsource this responsibility, including the monitoring and maintenance of applications, to alleviate the stress that performing these services can place on internal IT teams. Ultimately, the goal of AMS is to optimize the performance of applications, ensuring that they are operational and available while addressing any issues along the way.

Types of AMS

AMS providers have many different responsibilities that are all a part of the application management process, and each plays a key role in providing excellent app experiences.

Application Monitoring (AM)

Application Monitoring consists of monitoring performance and accessibility. This can allow businesses to identify issues before they become serious problems, making certain that apps run the way they’re supposed to and therefore avoiding unnecessary downtime.

Performance Management (PM)

It’s not enough for apps to run. They should also be optimized to provide the greatest efficiency and output possible. Organizations can make sure that their applications are operating at peak efficiency by using performance management. This might involve finding and fixing performance hiccups, fine-tuning server setups, and optimizing application code.

Maintenance and Support

Support and maintenance are essential parts of an AMS. This might involve applying security patches, updating software regularly, and performing other tasks to maintain app functionality.

To assist enterprises in resolving any problems that may develop with their applications, AMS providers can also offer technical assistance. Occasionally, an app will stop working properly or crash. AMS providers respond to these cases, getting apps back up and running with the least service interruption possible.

Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are top priorities for any business, and AMS plays a crucial role in keeping your applications and data safe. AMS providers help you implement robust security measures to protect against cyber threats, while also ensuring your applications comply with all relevant regulations.

Enhancement Hours

To minimize any disruption to your business, your AMS provider will schedule system upgrades for times with minimal impact. This ensures operations can continue as usual, maximizing uptime and productivity.?

Routine Tasks

To stay secure and access new features, every app requires occasional updates with the latest patches, security fixes, and functionality enhancements. AMS providers efficiently manage this update process.

Benefits of AMS

We’ve already touched on some of the benefits AMS provides, such as increased efficiency, performance, and security, but let’s go a little deeper.

Access to Expertise

Application solutions are often considered a specialized expertise, and not a skill you’ll find in your average IT department. By utilizing AMS, your company gains access to the expertise needed to monitor and maintain applications without needing to train internal staff or hire new employees.

Cost-Effectiveness

In addition to saving money by not needing to hire new staff, by outsourcing AMS, you only pay for the services provided. You also don’t need to pay for hardware, such as computers, software licensure, or any other networking equipment - the AMS provider will supply everything they need to manage your apps.

Core Business Focus

By shifting responsibility for your apps to a third party, you free up your internal resources. Not only does this relieve stress, but it allows you to direct your focus to functions and initiatives related directly to your business.

Choosing the Right AMS Provider

Alright, you’re convinced - going with an AMS is the right call for your business. So, what now? How do you pick the right provider for your needs? When choosing an AMS provider, you should consider the following factors.

Relevant Experience

The AMS provider should have a proven track record in managing applications like the ones you use. This ensures they can effectively address the specific challenges of your application environment.

Customization

The AMS solution should be customized to fit your organization's unique needs. The provider should collaborate with you to create a personalized plan for managing your applications.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

The AMS provider should offer SLAs that promise a specific level of service and support, including a commitment to timely issue resolution and continuous monitoring.

Strong Security Practices

The AMS provider should have a robust history of maintaining application security and compliance. They should follow best practices and stay current with relevant regulations and standards.

Price

Of course, the cost of your AMS should be affordable and within your budget. The provider should be clear about their pricing, avoiding hidden fees or unexpected costs.

Consider Outsourcing Your App Management

When it comes to app management, you aren’t alone! AMS providers are available to help lighten the load for your internal IT teams, and make your apps perform better than you ever thought possible. Through constant monitoring and regular maintenance, AMS improves security and operation of apps, decreases downtime, and still offers savings to your business. In our increasingly complex technological world, we must look for simple solutions to modern problems- and it doesn’t get simpler than this.

At Stefanini, we support the systems you already rely on. Our long-term partnerships include Microsoft, IBM, SAP, and Salesforce. We capitalize on best-of-breed partner technology and a homegrown cognitive intelligence platform, SophieX, to deliver a highly flexible, nearshore, agile AMS model.

Speak to an expert today!