Managed Services

Why Co-Managed IT Services is a CIOs Secret Weapon

Co-managed-IT.jpg

Despite the major budgetary cutbacks some technology departments are experiencing, C-Suite expectations for innovative business technology solutions continue to rise. The fact is that CIOs and their teams are forced to do more with less. While an individual CIO’s duties and responsibilities will vary based on the needs of the organization, there are a few common ideas that the majority of them dream about making a reality.

CIO Fantasy #1: Improving Operations while Reducing Costs

Most CIOs could think of a hundred different ways that they would put additional resources to use. The issue is that expanding teams, upgrading technology, and implementing new solutions all cost money. Even solutions that make financial sense in the long run are met with a challenge when additional capital is required up front.

Solution: Co-Managed IT can take over aspects of regular technology operations for a flat rate fee that can scale and contract along with your organization. Re-purposing part of your IT budget to a local managed IT provider gives your company a group of experienced technicians who are there when you need them and frees internal resources to focus on new initiatives.

 

CIO Fantasy #2: Having the Best Technology Using the Least Number of Vendors

When an IT team takes a look at the devices that are connected to their network, the odds are that there are going to be a variety of manufacturers. Each of those devices has different types of hardware and software. The list of support contacts that your team works with is probably a long one, but imagine if you could eliminate every number but one.

Solution: There is a way to have the best technology, from as many different vendors as needed and still only have one point of contact. Vendor management solutions give CIOs ‘one throat to choke’. The only support number needed is to the point of contact inside the co-managed services provider.

 

CIO Fantasy #3: Reducing the loss of time/resources when onboarding and training new employees

Depending on the experience level of your new hire, training can take weeks or months. By onboarding this new employee, you’re making a pretty risky investment. Not only are you banking on them working out, you’re also tapping into your team’s available hours by pulling resources off their tasks to train. If the person doesn’t work out, you’ve wasted effort and you have to start over again with another hire.

Solution: Outsourcing a few of the routine tasks that are assigned on a regular basis to your internal IT department, can immediately free up your team to focus on internal projects. This reduces a portion of the need for you to interview, hire and train new employees, much of the cost associated with the hiring process. By leveraging a Co-Managed IT service provider it becomes the service provider’s responsibility to hire and train staff in order to support your company as the organization grows.

 

CIO Fantasy #4: Being Included in Technology Related Executive Decisions

For many CIOs, being included in major decisions is not nearly as out of reach as it used to be. CEOs are looking for CIOs who take action and implement solutions that improve business operations. The CIOs journey away from data center management, toward agent of innovation, has been a tough climb, and CIOs are going to continue to prove themselves to remain an influencer of their organization. In fact, 40% of CEOs expect their CIO to implement a large IT project that improves operations by the end of the year.

Solution: CIOs and their IT department don’t have any time to waste. They’re going to have to research, evaluate and implement a project in order to stay significant. By utilizing a trustworthy co-managed solution, the combination of getting more out of your budget, and the higher degree of efficiency and productivity within your organization, will reinforce a CIO’s position as a capable decision maker.

Co-Managed technology is a solution designed to function as a part of an in-house IT department. Their technicians are experienced and knowledgeable, allowing them to fill in whatever gaps an internal IT department needs fulfilled. From answering support tickets to performing routine maintenance, CIOs can utilize a co-managed solution to help his team make their dreams a reality.

Ruben Lombrana