In 2022, managed service providers (MSPs) are looking for innovative business approaches to include sophisticated premium services in their portfolio of services. Cutting-edge MSPs are expanding their business model by adding new services and proactively targeting items such as enhanced customer experience. MSPs have made changes that have helped employers with the mass transition to remote work, managing technology systems, and networks that were necessarily relocated from centralized office environments to home offices. According to research, managed services trends are changing as providers are putting an increased focus on customer experience and cybersecurity as the industry moves forward.
While companies increasingly have more options to go direct for pure technology solutions, MSPs continue to add value in many areas – primarily in providing exceptional customer service and taking work off their client’s plates. Business consulting is also becoming more valuable to companies looking to make the best choices regarding technology, cloud solutions, and AI offerings, which are increasingly driving business behaviors and consumer-facing applications. Companies have so many options and choices that it can be overwhelming and nearly impossible to make the right decisions for their organizations. Managed service providers offer much-needed guidance and can help with intelligent business decisions that can move an organization forward. The relationship and trust built between MSPs and their clients can be invaluable to those who don’t have the personnel or resources to make informed choices.
Cybersecurity is another arena where MSPs are offering invaluable service to their customers. In fact, 93% of MSPs have reported that the increased sophistication of cyberattacks – and the necessary cybersecurity to combat them – influences the services they offer in their business service portfolios. Help desk services, network services, storage, and device management continue to be the main part of the MSP menu, but “premium” offerings are becoming more mainstream. These services include data analytics, cloud-based application services, compliance consulting, and business applications-as-a-service. MSPs are also increasingly looking at opportunities with emerging technologies such as IoT (the internet of things), blockchain technology, virtual reality, and AI. Approximately 50% of MSPs have added premium services to their services, expecting robust growth in the new areas. Companies will likely be looking for help in these emerging areas, especially with the ongoing personnel crisis and skills gap that many IT departments are experiencing. While professionals with these capabilities exist, their demand often prices them out of the market for small to midsized companies needing these skill sets. Providing training and paying for education for existing employees is one avenue but takes away from their time doing their day-to-day job. For many companies, outsourcing these newer skilled positions to managed services companies makes sense.
Therefore in 2022, the need for advanced and innovative services is meeting companies’ skill gap issues, making managed services more vital than ever. With a deep bench of expertise and the ability to train employees on cutting-edge technologies, managed services trends are helping smaller companies to access the resources they need to move forward and thrive. Alliance IT is a managed services firm located in Sarasota. We provide consulting, outsourced services, technology sharing, and more to organizations seeking the best skills with limited budgets.
Call Alliance IT today for a consultation and more information on how we can help your company excel.
