For SMBs,
back-office accounting and data processing often aren't the first managed IT service people think of. But depending on the size and scope of financial data processing needs, it can be a good idea.
In the end it's not all that important whether these functions are completely outsourced to an MSP or co-sourced as one-off projects. What's important is lightening the work load, ensuring off-site storage and restoration capabilities and choosing the right MSP.
Managed server hosting can offer an IT service provider and/or an IT organization a total package for Web solutions. You can usually get these services at a good price as well. Such services are a good fit for mid-sized businesses in need of scalability.
There are silver bullets, so to speak, for a managed hosting proposition, but there are also ways to drive the point home as a service provider:
Don't think of it as sales. Instead, think of it as client maintainence.
Shut up and listen. As outlined in a recent MSPTV Webcast I hosted with Joe Nardone, owner of IT service shop Expert Data Labs, it's not about technological jargon involving hosting services, but about hearing out a client on their needs.
Show and don't tell. If you have a real-world example of how managed server hosting situation has and is working for an SMB client, use it.
Posted by Jabulani Leffall on July 09, 20100 comments
So often IT service providers think mainly of computer services they can offer clients, but many IT service shops have long mixed telephony and telecommunications services along with their PC and operating environment offerings.
With the explosion of mobile networking for business, perhaps now's the time to think about a splicing of services.
Mobile network operators are increasingly seeking both SaaS and hardware-as-a-service solutions to monitor and deploy their mobile networks.
Posted by Jabulani Leffall on July 09, 20100 comments