Great Lakes Computer Corporation

Managed Service Provider

Managed IT Services

By

5 Characteristics of Best-in-Class IT Support

IT supportSmart SMB owners are learning a valuable lesson that is leading to increased productivity and cost savings. It is simply this – do what you have expertise doing, and allow others to do the same. You hire an accountant for your taxes. You hire an attorney for your contracts. Doesn’t it make sense then to hire an expert to manage your IT function? As with any other outsourcing relationship, in order to find success, you need to first vet the provider. Here are five characteristics of great IT support providers.

  1. General experience: This isn’t everything because some companies learn how to do things better than others. You could hire a company with 5 years of experience who knows how to do things much more efficiently and cost-effectively than another with 7. But, in general, the more experienced company will provide a higher quality of service and know how to better address your needs. If they’ve been in the IT business for a long time, that also indicates they have evolved along with the IT products they service.
  2. Experience within your specific industry: The IT needs for the healthcare industry versus a law firm, for example, are much different. Both will need extensive record keeping, but what is stored differs dramatically. Legal firms, which are often very small, also may need someone who physically visits the premises and makes hardware repairs.
  3. Custom solutions: When you talk to the representative from your managed services provider, note how much they ask questions versus provide answers. If they’re doing all the talking and telling you how things should be done, then how are they going to understand which services best fit your company’s needs?  If they’re giving you all the answers, then you’re probably getting a cookie-cutter solution that everyone gets. And that may not be the best for your company. The best managed network services provider asks many questions so they fully understand which services will drive the most value for your business.
  4. Client references: Any company worth their salt should be able to provide you with at least a handful of clients willing to serve as references. And if you really want to go the extra mile, actually call them. Few companies will follow through and contact the client references.
  5. BBB rating: Not all IT support companies have been around long enough to get listed with the BBB. However, the industry as a whole is getting mature enough that many companies do have this rating. Don’t view it as the final authority on the quality of a business, but do take it into consideration as another important factor.

If you check those 5 factors while you evaluate different IT support companies, then you’re sure to end up with a high-quality service provider.

Click me

By

Why the Manufacturing Industry Wins with Managed Services

managed servicesManufacturing operations rely on IT for just about everything. When you have machines doing your work, you rely on other machines to control them. IT is part of production, logisitics, supply chain, customer interaction, and more. If it’s a large organization, as manufacturing companies tend to be, there will likely be multiple locations as well and the data needs to be available between them. Focusing on making your widget while also ensuring all that critical IT is running effectively is a daunting task. Taking advantage of managed services can help. Here’s how.

    • Focus on the Future.As a manufacturing company, you likely already have an in-house IT staff, so why would you outsource any IT function? Because your team spends more time fire fighting than proactively working on the next big thing. It’s generally accepted that an IT person spends half their time dealing with printer-related issues. The next big chunk is spent on OE-related issues (that’s Operator Error).

      If you have an IT expert on staff, did you hire them because they were great at fixing printers or rebooting the Wi-Fi? Probably not. But, those that understand how IT systems work tend to be targeted at every turn by users who aren’t tech savvy. Managed services can include network monitoring for connectivity issues, or print supply monitoring for when the toner runs low. Your IT team can get back to focusing on projects that will grow your revenue versus keeping you afloat.

    • Enabling a Cloud Shift.The cloud is where data processing is happening. If you are resisting it, you probably have a shelf full of VHS tapes somewhere too. It’s not a fad, it’s a better way to work. (Read this article for all the reasons why: 8 Ways a Complete Cloud Solution Wins) However, migrating your data and apps to the cloud can be time consuming and complex. A managed service provider (MSP) can ensure your cloud shift is effective and reduce the likelihood of downtime during the transition.
    • Active Monitoring and Reporting. When it comes to IT failures or maintenance, are you proactive or reactive? Actively monitoring the state of your IT can enable you to prevent downtime which can save your business money and prevent production delays. Regular maintenance and performance monitoring can also extend the life of your IT equipment. In manufacturing, it’s vital for you to oversee the performance of your production line, not the IT involved in it. An MSP can ensure you spend your time managing your production, not worrying about your hardware.
    • Data Security Threat Detection and Prevention. In today’s online world, data security breaches are a daily occurence. Do you have the resources to devote an in-house person to full-time cybersecurity? That’s what today’s business environment demands. An MSP can provide up-to-date protection and 24/7/365 detection and remediation of threats.

Managed IT service providers combine highly trained, qualified professionals with the advanced skills and experience to remotely monitor and manage IT infrastructures in the cloud or on a manufacturer’s premises. Many have the capability to manage infrastructure on a global scale, so that a manufacturer with international locations can benefit from consistent standards across all sites.

Great Lakes Computer is a trusted Managed IT Services Provider. We offer a range of managed services from network monitoring to cloud computing to managed print. We have the knowledge and expertise to ensure your IT is there to support your manufacturing operations. 

By

How to Make More Money While Doing Less

managed service providerWe’ve certainly got your attention with that headline, right? Too good to be true? Not at all. Entrepreneurs are known for having great ideas, but they are equally notorious for thinking they can do it all. Many SMB owners are the first to admit that they “wear many hats”. They tend to hold the reigns, from accountant to manager and sales to procurement, potentially to their own detriment. So how can you possibly make more money while doing less? Smart outsourcing of day-to-day tasks.

Previously, outsourcing was reserved for the enterprise-level operations with big budgets. But, technology in general, and cloud computing specifically, has made these services realistic and applicable to businesses of any size. How can paying someone to do a task you could do in-house make you more money? Because you are buying yourself the time to focus on revenue-generating activities. You are using your expertise in the best way possible, and letting others do the same.

What Services Should I Outsource?

There are some functions that are quick to be outsourced, like payroll and background checks. Then there are the more complex or vital functions like marketing, blog writing, IT management, and accounting. When deciding what to outsource, determine which functions of your business make you different from your competition, your “core competencies.” The services that aren’t in this group you can consider outsourcing. There are a wide range of service providers from independent freelancers to small firms that specialize in being outsourced service providers for SMBs.

Who Is Providing these Services?

There are many providers who recognize that specializing in a particular business function could create great economies of scale for clients. These managed service providers can leverage their expertise to get the best results for their clients. Additionally, technology has enabled us to work remotely without a disruption in level of service. When it comes to functions like IT hardware management, data and network security issues, and printing functions, having an expert focused solely on this technology can be a boon to your bottom line. Even if you have in-house IT staff, do they have time to maintain all your hardware and networking needs while also innovating to help you grow?

How Do I Choose a Service Provider?

Today’s world runs on recommendations. We don’t go anywhere, or buy anything, without doing some quick research on what others have experienced. Managed Services should be the same. Ask other business owners that you trust. Ask for a list of references, and take the time to call them. Find a provider that understands your business needs and that values security. Check out our blog post Top Criteria for Choosing an IT Managed Service Provider.

How Do I Outsource Successfully?

The biggest factor in success, once you have chosen a function and provider, is to clarify your expectations. For example, if you value quality over speed then they need to know that. Don’t keep providers in the dark about your goals. You are paying them to act on your behalf, so give them access to the tools and information they need to successfully do their job. The challenge here is to outsource functionality securely, in a manner that does not put employee personal information or customer data at risk. 

When you outsource, you can focus your time, attention and resources on your company’s core competencies – and spend your time setting new goals and finding ways to achieve them.

Investing in the services of a Managed Service Provider pays off in dividends in the form of more time to focus on and grow your business. It also reduces the potential costs resulting from catastrophic hardware failure or data loss. The key is to find a provider you can trust. Your MSP is not just a vendor, but a partner that wants to see your business succeed and operates in your best interest. Great Lakes Computer can be that partner. We offer a range of Managed Services that can manage your IT and help you get back to what you’re good at.

Contact Us