Nick Martin Shares Mainstreet IT Solutions Journey From Break/Fix To Managed Services
The transition from a break/fix IT service model to a managed services business can be a significant undertaking for any IT service provider. While the break/fix model has been a popular approach in the past, it can be challenging to scale, inefficient, and may not deliver predictable outcomes. As such, many IT service providers are moving towards a managed services model to deliver more value to their clients while achieving better business outcomes. This article will explore critical vital steps to making this transition successful.
Listen to Mainstreet’s journey here.
Step 1: Identify the benefits of a managed services model
The first step in transitioning from break/fix to managed services is identifying the latter’s benefits. Managed services offer several advantages, including predictable monthly revenue streams, better efficiency, increased scalability, and improved client satisfaction. A managed services model allows IT service providers to proactively monitor and manage their client’s IT systems, preventing problems before they occur and ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Step 2: Define your managed services offering
Once you have identified the benefits of a managed services model, the next step is to define your managed services offering. You need to consider what services you will provide, how you will deliver them, and how you will price them. Your managed services offering should be designed to meet your client’s needs while aligning with your business objectives. Consider what services are most important to your clients and what services you are best positioned to provide.
Step 3: Build your team
A successful managed services business requires a team with the right skills and expertise. You need to ensure that you have the right people in place to provide your services. This may involve hiring new staff, retraining existing staff, or outsourcing some services to third-party providers. You must also ensure that your team has the right tools and technologies to deliver the services effectively.
Step 4: Create a marketing strategy
Once you have defined your managed services offering and built your team, you must create a marketing strategy to promote your services. You need to identify your target market, understand their needs, and create messaging that resonates with them. You should also consider using a variety of marketing channels, including social media, email marketing, and content marketing, to reach your target audience.
Step 5: Implement the suitable systems and processes
To successfully transition to a managed services model, you must implement suitable systems and processes to support your business. This may involve investing in new tools and technologies, such as remote monitoring and management software, to enable you to manage your clients’ IT systems proactively. You must also ensure robust processes to manage client onboarding, service delivery, and ongoing support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transitioning from a break/fix model to a managed services business requires careful planning, execution, and ongoing management. By identifying the benefits of a managed services model, defining your services offering, building the right team, creating a marketing strategy, and implementing suitable systems and processes, you can successfully make this transition and position your business for long-term success. With a managed services model, you can deliver more value to your clients while achieving better business outcomes, making it a worthwhile investment for any IT service provider.
