5 Reasons MSPs Are More Valuable than Ever

Jason Beal

Small businesses run on grit, institutional knowledge and strong customer service. It’s no surprise, then, that the dedicated folks who oversee these organizations often wear multiple hats, one of which might include managing the acquisition and management of office technology.

It’s a critical duty that can’t be overlooked. After all, two-thirds of business leaders believe their companies must pick up the pace of digitalization to remain competitive or face losing ground to competitors, Gartner data has found. And a recent Harris Poll survey found two in three employees struggle when workplace tech and training aren’t strategically deployed.

When it comes to managing IT upgrades, planning a digital road map and, of course, dealing with the software and devices that support vital everyday functions, smaller organizations can’t go it alone. (Those tasks are just as key to medium and large businesses that might have internal IT staff but are unable to focus on big-picture planning.)

MSPs Play Central Role

As the past year has shown, managed service providers can play a central role by delivering IT services, support and strategy so a business can focus on what it does best. Here’s why:

• There’s a big shortage of IT talent. Countless industries are struggling to hire right now, and the IT sector is no different. In fact, these in-demand folks have a 13% attrition rate due to their employability, according to LinkedIn research. That talent shortage is why organizations might find it a tall order to hire (and retain) an employee not only with basic IT know-how but also specialized talents in the fields of digital transformation, collaboration and cybersecurity. Outsourcing these duties to a trusted MSP can save a business time, money and hassle.
• Strategic planning requires time and skill. Companies are busy, and there’s an endless to-do list that demands constant attention. But by working “in” the business rather than focusing on the business dynamic, end-users may simply end up chasing their tails (in other words, scrambling to “keep the lights on” and to maintain IT infrastructure). This cycle drains bandwidth needed to form and execute a long-term IT strategy. Fortunately, this is what MSPs do best: help customers keep their heads above water and prepare them for what’s next.
• “Do it yourself” is simply getting too hard. Remember when a modern workplace was defined by email, mobile devices and that pesky photocopier? No longer. Increasingly diversified and complex, technology touches every part of a business — and a company’s in-house IT team has a lot to worry about beyond its network, equipment, applications and storage. Have they weighed public cloud versus hybrid, consolidating software-as-a-service solutions, and implementing tools such as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation? That’s where MSPs that offer advice to understand broader trends and to deploy only the right solutions are most valuable to small businesses.
• IT is no longer a sunk cost; it’s an investment in agility. Maintaining strong technology and support is an ongoing task. Businesses can’t just purchase equipment and leave it at that. MSPs help companies invest in the right technology in a way that meets their budgets and their balance sheets (from consumption-based and pay-as-you-go fees to a flat, recurring rate) so these IT expenses are more transparent and palatable. Smart MSPs will also be able to identify critical add-ons for data governance and backup, among other things, and break down the costs and benefits for leadership to justify the expense.
• MSPs’ crowdsourced wisdom benefits everyone. There’s strength in numbers. That means MSPs serving multiple clients with diverse needs and experiences can apply the evolving intelligence and best practices across their entire customer base. And to avoid “reinventing the wheel” each time, MSPs may develop specialized software integrations and workflows with an existing client — or create user guides, training materials, and policies and permissions documentation. Leveraging shared wisdom allows an MSP to work more efficiently and to ensure business needs are not only met but exceeded.

Jason Beal is senior vice president, Global Channels & Partner Ecosystem, at AvePoint. He is committed to building relationships with MSPs, solution providers and systems integrators, as well as expanding AvePoint’s global distribution networks and cloud market presence. He spent eight years working in Europe with Palo Alto Networks and Ingram Micro, leading global distribution and commercial channels, advanced technologies division and EMEA public cloud go-to-market. You may follow him on LinkedIn or @AvePoint on Twitter.