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Business Performance
Posted on Author Admin Categories Data Center, Digital Marketing, IT Consultancy, Uncategorized

Boost Your Business Performance with MSP Services

Every business owner wants to achieve continued success for their business. Several processes and tasks need to be taken care of in creating and maintaining a successful business. Most owners cannot handle these because there is too much to do and not enough time. For this reason, many business owners rely on the services of IT managed service providers, or MSPs.

If you’re a regular reader of our blogs, you’ll remember that we have covered some of the most valuable services MSPs can provide for your business. Here is a quick look back at those services and how they can boost your overall business performance.

Quarterly Business Reviews

Quarterly business reviews, or QBRs, give a thorough and accurate assessment of your business performance over the last three months. While you can conduct your QBR, it is much better to relegate the job to an MSP, who will give a completely unbiased review of your business. The QBR lets you know the areas where your business needs improvement and which ones are doing well.

Technology Business Consulting

If you find it hard to understand IT processes at work or are clueless when solving IT-related problems, join the club! Most business owners are not IT experts, but the technology business consulting services offered by MSPs can be very helpful in giving you at least a solid understanding of the basic concepts and functions needed to run your business.

Technology Hardware Programs

Like the previous service, technology hardware programs are helpful for non-techy business owners. You no longer need to confuse yourself by figuring out which hardware to use. Your MSP will recommend and help you choose the best equipment that meets your needs.

Vendor Management

If you work with suppliers of products or services regularly, vendor management services can be very beneficial. Efficient vendor management will lead to a better professional relationship with your vendors and reduce overall expenses by speeding up the onboarding process and guaranteeing that they complete all deliveries on time.

Operating Environment

Smooth and organized operations are crucial to the success of a business, both on a day-to-day basis and in the long term. With an MSP ensuring that your operating environment is seamless, you can enjoy benefits like full coordination between multiple locations, adequate bandwidth for all business processes, and being updated with current technology trends.

Business Phone System

When your MSP sets up your modern business phone system, you can enjoy benefits like integrating several phone functions, cost efficiency, and scalability. The phone systems that are available today also have built-in functions to protect privacy, increase data security, and broaden access for your clients and business partners.

Cloud Computing

We have repeatedly stated how the cloud network has proven to be instrumental in the growth of many businesses, and we will repeat it here. For a very reasonable monthly fee, the cloud gives you access to advanced business tools that you would otherwise have to spend hundreds of dollars on. It also gives you unlimited storage space for all your business data and programs, which makes it easier for you to grow. Cloud computing also increases the productivity of your employees and minimizes system downtimes that disrupt business operations.

Security

Network and data security are crucial to businesses now more than ever when online threats are so rampant. One slip and you might inadvertently expose your business to serious security risks. On your own, all you can do is install an antivirus program and implement basic security precautions. But with the help of an MSP, you can safeguard your business in its entirety, and your network and data are secure.

Business Budgeting and Planning

It might seem unnecessary to use IT resources for something as basic as budgeting, but these days, even this fundamental business procedure has become quite complicated. With the prevalence of hidden costs almost everywhere you look, you will need to monitor your business spending to ensure that you don’t spend more than you should. Our hidden costs calculator can help reveal these unnecessary expenses so you will avoid them in the future.

Final Thoughts

When you look at these tasks individually, you will probably be able to accomplish them well on your own. However, you can’t just pick one or two of these processes. You’ll have to do every single one of them. How can you do that yet still have time to run your business?

We can provide all these business services and so much more. If you want to learn more, call us to discuss in greater detail just how we can help boost the performance of your business. To make sure you are using an MSP that works best for you, we are offering you an on-demand webinar where we talk about choosing the best managed service provider. Click HERE to listen to this important information and let us know if we can assist you in any way.

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Technology
Posted on Author Admin Categories Data Center, Digital Marketing, IT Consultancy

Understanding the Technology That Runs Your Business

No matter what kind of business you run or what industry you are in, we all know that technology is crucial to our success. Using the right technology can put your business on the path toward growth and success. And a lack of proper IT tools and strategies could make you fall behind your rivals and lose considerable profits.

Practical Applications of Technology for the Modern Business

Most business owners understand that a reliable IT system is necessary for network security. Internal and external communications, database management, and other high-priority areas. But IT is also valuable in improving practically all aspects of your business. Let’s look at the following not-so-typical applications.

Onboarding

In most companies, onboarding is the transition process your new employees go through right after they come aboard. This process can take a lot of time. Through technology, you can speed up the onboarding process by using paperless forms, digital introductions, and online training, allowing your new employee to adjust quickly and work with minimal delays.

Offboarding

Similarly, when an employee leaves the company, there is an offboarding process for efficiently managing their exit to reduce business risk and workflow disruption. Manual employee offboarding is the traditional method, but we have already shown this to be risky and tedious. With the help of technology, you can increase the speed and efficiency of the entire process while also strengthening the security of your business.

Cloud Computing

The cloud platform is a very cost-effective alternative to traditional business solutions. By transferring a portion of your operations onto the cloud, you can save funds you might otherwise spend on physical hardware. In addition, you will also enjoy better resource management, increased efficiency, and portability of business operations.

Business Automation

By automating business processes like data collection, billing, and monitoring, you can relieve your staff of these tasks and let them concentrate on their duties. Using technology frees up time for your employees and reduces business costs.

Information Security

Online threats are continuously becoming more rampant in this digital age. Employing the right IT strategies for security is crucial to keeping your data and your network safe. It also protects the confidentiality of your business information and the privacy of your employees.

Remote Work

Technology allows people to work from remote locations and deliver high-quality performance without being physically present at the workplace. This benefit has been helpful in the last couple of years. Also, remote work gives businesses easy, fast and convenient access to experts from any part of the world.

Business Expansion

There are a lot of tasks to take care of during business expansion, like scouting for a new location. Canvassing for new suppliers, hiring new employees, purchasing new equipment, and so on. By using technology, these procedures can be simplified and made more organized.

Ways to Keep Your Business Updated with the Latest Technology

Having the right technology for efficiently running your business is essential, but not enough. Keep your business updated with the latest IT solutions as time passes. Technology changes rapidly, so you need to keep up with it to stay ahead of the competition. Here are some of the best ways you can keep your business updated.

Being Proactive

As opposed to being reactive, being proactive means being able to expect new IT developments and plan for these changes accordingly. Instead of solving a technical problem when it happens, you should be able to predict it and already have the necessary IT solutions in place before it even arrives.

Partner with an MSP

Since most small businesses can’t stay on top of technology on their own, the practical solution is to work with an MSP, or managed service provider. A good MSP will keep your technology updated for you. Choosing the right MSP helps your business keep up with technology and provides many other services for the growth of your business. If you need and help with new technology, or if you’re ready for upgrading your old equipment, we are here to help you. It’s our job to make sure your business operates as smoothly as possible. To make sure you are using an MSP that works best for you, we are offering you an on-demand webinar where we talk about choosing the best managed service provider. Click HERE to listen to the webinar and let us know if we can assist you in any way.

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IT Provider
Posted on Author Admin Categories Data Center, Digital Marketing, IT Consultancy

The Right IT Provider Is Crucial for Your Success

In the digital era that we live in, we cannot overemphasize the significance of an IT provider for the different aspects of your business. It is impossible to start or operate a business without relying partly on IT services and support. It is a challenge to stay competitive in your industry if you do not have a trusted IT person or managed services provider by your side.

Ways of Getting IT Support

There are different ways to get the IT support you need for your business. Each method has its pros and cons, and the choice will depend on your business. And the particular needs of your operations.

Having an Internal IT Guy

Some companies hire an IT expert as a regular employee, which seems convenient as there will always be someone to rely on if any technical issues arise. However, this is a limited strategy since you will only benefit from the skills of a single individual. And they will not be available on weekends, holidays, vacation days, or when they’re sick.

Break-Fix Method

Many small businesses use this method, which means they will only hire an IT professional whenever the situation calls for it. When something breaks, they will contact an IT professional to fix it. This approach appears to be the most cost-efficient, but when emergencies happen, especially outside business hours, it might not be easy to find help.

Managed Service Provider

Contracting an MSP is the most reliable way of getting IT support for your business. Working with an MSP gives you access to top-quality support and other services you may need. They will not only fix your problems but can also help you set up, manage your network, improve your data security, and even grow your business.

Choosing Your IT Provider

As in any other industry, there are some problems that you might encounter with hiring an IT expert. Some providers might not have the right skills you need. Consequently, certain individuals may impose unreasonable prices. Some do not communicate well or respond too slowly when you need them. To avoid these problems, be meticulous when selecting your MSP.

Interviewing a Potential IT Service Provider

The interview is the first and possibly the only time that you will get up close and personal with a potential IT provider. So you need to take this opportunity to ask the right questions. There might be dozens of things that you want to know. But given the limited time of an interview, it is best to stick to the most important topics. Ask them about the IT services they will provide for network upkeep, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity insurance. Ask about the level of expertise they possess and gauge whether this will be sufficient for the needs of your business. It is also worth asking about their guarantees for task completion before deadlines and within the budget. We have compiled a list of 21 crucial questions that you should ask a potential IT provider before hiring them. Click here to check out the list.

Knowing When to Replace Your IT Guy

Despite your intense scrutiny during the interview, you may still hire someone who is not the best fit for your business. For this reason, you must consider the first few days or weeks of a new IT provider to be a period of observation. Watch out for signs that show that you might have made the wrong choice. For starters, if they are consistently late or do not show any sense of urgency when you call in an emergency issue, then it would be best to replace them immediately. The same is true if you find out they bill you with extra charges not mentioned in the initial quote you’ve received. Or if they make the initial problem worse or more complicated because they could not deal with it properly.

Conclusion

IT services are crucial for your business, but you should not just get them from anyone. You must have the right IT service provider to ensure smooth operation and the ultimate success of your business. We have prepared an on-demand webinar that illustrates what could happen if you do not have a MSP. When you partner with us as your Managed Service Provider, you will get superior technical support and reliable customer service. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss how we can help take your business to the next level!

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Business ROI
Posted on Author Admin Categories Data Center, Digital Marketing, IT Consultancy

Do You Know Your Business ROI?  

Business ROI, or return on investment, is a tool used to measure the profitability of your business based on your various costs and the profits generated by these investments. The performance of the business ROI can also have an assortment of implications on the different aspects of your business.  

A positive ROI indicates that an investment has delivered welcome profits. But it’s more than just a metric used to monitor the feasibility of your business investments. By maintaining a solid ROI, you are also creating positive effects on your total cost of ownership, R & D, job security, business continuity, and many more.  

It Provides a Financial Metric 

The primary function of a business ROI is to provide a means to measure the success of your business per investment made. It lets you gauge how well or how poorly you are doing, letting you know which to keep and which to drop. For instance, an investment with a decidedly positive business ROI is worth keeping, while you should avoid an investment that shows a negative ROI at all costs. It also lets you compare different profitable assets to find the best choices.  

What is TCO? 

The total cost of ownership, or TCO, is the sum of the purchase price and the operating costs of an asset over its lifetime. As your ROI grows, your total cost of ownership on your various assets also increases.  

More Access to Resources for Innovation 

The more your business earns, the more accessible resources become. Once you can set up your business plans and strategies to generate a good business ROI, you will have started a dependable cycle of profits that will provide you with funds for research and development.  

Reduce Investment Losses 

Thorough planning is crucial each time you make any kind of investment. Study the feasibility of each business investment to increase the chances of getting a good business ROI. There will always be a risk because you never really know if an investment will give you good returns or not, but with careful thought and planning, you can stick to those investments that are more likely to generate positive results.  

Job Security 

One of the contributing factors to excellent business returns is the performance of its workforce. If your employees are delivering results, there won’t be any reason for you to downsize or shuffle your workforce. Thus, a higher business ROI increases the job security of your employees and may even give them better benefits and perks. 

Competitive Advantage 

In any industry, it is among the primary goals of a business to have a competitive advantage over its rivals. Maintaining a good return on investment gives you an advantage and makes you more attractive to potential clients when compared to your competitors. These days, potential clients and customers don’t just look at the product or service you offer. They also examine the internal components of your business, which is why having a favorable business ROI will be an advantage. 

An MSP Can Help Boost Your Returns 

Exerting considerable focus and effort towards improving your business ROI is very worthwhile because, as you can see, it can affect several areas of your business. Improving your returns does not only mean getting higher revenue. It also has a lot of positive implications for your business, your employees, and your clients.  

One way of ensuring that you get a good business ROI from your investments is by working with a trusted managed service provider. Your MSP can provide multiple tools and strategies to keep you on track to achieving your goals and generating profits. 

For some extra help, we have prepared a comprehensive on-demand webinar that clearly illustrates what could happen to your business if you do not have a managed service provider by your side, as well as the multiple negative impacts this can have on your employees and your clients.  

Conclusion 

If you want to learn more about how an MSP can help improve your business ROI, contact us and we will be happy to discuss how our services can help boost your returns and your overall business performance.  

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Posted on Author Admin Categories Data Center, Digital Marketing, Uncategorized

5 Reasons Why Planning Business Growth Matters

When starting a business, it is only natural for the business owner to dream of success and growth for their new venture. But having a dream is not enough. There also needs to be a strategic business plan to ensure that the business will thrive.

Unfortunately, many small business owners have the mindset that planning is only for large companies. Some of them don’t think that learning business planning skills is necessary. They don’t realize that planning for growth is one of the most important things you should do for your business. Here are five tips to help you build your business plan.

Good Plans Lead to Good Business Decisions


From the moment you start your business, and every day after, there will be decisions to make, both big and small. Often, you will make these decisions on the spur of the moment, without the opportunity to sit down and carefully examine the pros and cons of each one.

If you do not plan for this, it’s easy to make the wrong choices. This mistake is especially true if your business is expanding by adding new locations or hiring more employees. But if you have a solid business plan geared towards growth, it will guide you in making wise decisions every time.

Planning Helps in Setting up the Budget


Having a budget plan is essential to keep your business expenses under control. Along with business growth, there will also be a lot of unexpected costs. An efficient budget helps ensure you have sufficient cash flow to keep the business going with the right balance between income and expenses, despite the adjustments you must make.

You can’t just go into a business without a clear idea of where your funds are going. Therefore, business planning for cost and budget should consider your present situation and several possible future scenarios.

Avoid Software Licensing Liabilities


Running a business involves the use of different software that requires licenses. Failure to comply with the terms and restrictions of the license can have dire consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to have a plan for software licensing before you purchase any.

Most software that businesses use these days is expensive, and that is why you need to budget for it from the beginning and decide which ones you need for your business. This way, you won’t have to purchase unnecessary platforms that you won’t end up using.


Planning Helps with Change Management


Change is not only inevitable in business but is a sign of growth. When you take on new personnel and expand locations, this will lead to significant changes in your business structure.


Without a well-laid-out plan, you can easily get lost amidst all these changes. But if you can implement effective business planning strategies for managing whatever changes might come your way, unexpected events will not catch you off guard. Instead, you will make a seamless transition into the new phase of your business.


Infrastructure Planning Keeps Your Business Updated with Changes


Technology changes quickly. When running a business, you need to be prepared to implement frequent upgrades and updates to your IT infrastructure. Getting left behind by your rivals in the industry will have a negative effect on your business, so you must focus a considerable amount of your business planning on infrastructure changes.


The Role of an MSP in Business Planning for Growth


Nobody knows your business and its objectives better than you do. However, there will be times when you will need expert advice, particularly in areas that are not part of your core competencies. IT, for instance, or financial and legal matters. When you partner with a dependable managed service provider, you will gain an advantage, especially if you have ambitious plans for growing your business.

As a managed service provider, we have all the tools and the knowledge for business planning to facilitate a continuous and organized shift toward whatever new direction you are planning for your business. If you want to learn more, please contact us so we can discuss with you the many ways that we can be of service to your business.

To find out more about why planning business growth matters, watch this on-demand webinar where Crystal demonstrates the various ways of how a professional MSP take your business to a whole new level of success.

Planning Business Growth
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