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Tag: solutions

  • Managed Service Provider vs. Technology Solutions Provider: Key Differences and Value

    In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, organizations often rely on external partners to handle their IT infrastructure and operations. Two common types of partnerships in this space are with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Technology Solutions Providers (TSPs). While both can deliver crucial support, their roles, approaches, and value propositions differ significantly. Understanding these differences is essential for making the right decision for your business needs.

    A Managed Service Provider (MSP) typically focuses on the day-to-day management of a company’s IT environment. MSPs offer services such as network monitoring, data backup, security management, and technical support on a subscription basis. Their primary goal is to ensure that a company’s IT systems remain operational and secure, often serving as a remote IT department. The MSP model revolves around reactive and proactive maintenance—fixing issues when they arise and preventing them through routine monitoring and updates.

    On the other hand, a Technology Solutions Provider (TSP) takes a more holistic and strategic approach to IT. While a TSP may offer some of the same services as an MSP, such as system monitoring and support, their primary focus is on leveraging technology to drive business transformation. A TSP works closely with organizations to identify pain points, design custom solutions, and implement new technologies that improve operations and facilitate growth. Their role extends beyond just managing IT infrastructure to becoming a strategic partner in optimizing business processes through the right technology.
    The key distinction between MSPs and TSPs lies in the scope of services and the level of strategic involvement. MSPs are largely operational, providing services to maintain IT systems. TSPs, however, are solution-oriented, focusing on innovation and business improvement. A TSP’s value comes from its ability to deliver tailor-made solutions that address specific challenges, integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or cloud computing, and align technology initiatives with overall business goals.

    For businesses looking for increased value, partnering with a Technology Solutions Provider can offer significant advantages. A TSP not only ensures that your IT systems are functioning properly but also brings expertise in the latest technology trends, helping businesses stay competitive. By fostering innovation, improving workflows, and automating processes, a TSP can directly contribute to a company’s growth. This partnership is more collaborative, forward-looking, and aligned with long-term business success.

    In conclusion, while both MSPs and TSPs are critical players in the IT ecosystem, the strategic, transformative role of a TSP provides greater value to businesses looking to scale and innovate. Choosing a TSP as a partner means not just maintaining technology but harnessing it as a competitive advantage. This results in enhanced operational efficiency, better decision-making, and stronger market positioning.

  • What Will Work Look Like in 2021?

    2021 is here, and with it comes the hope of normalcy. As we’ve all learned, normal was a relative term, so now, we’re all saying the new normal. In the new year, there are many possibilities about what the workplace will look like, or if there will even be traditional workplaces anymore.

    What 2020 taught the business world is that you have to be resourceful, creative, and agile to survive. SMBs in many industries are still thriving because of this. That success comes in part from their ability to make remote work simple, easy, secure, and collaborative. Executives learned that it is feasible for employees to be at home and still do their jobs well. Some may be doing it even better. The next era could very well be the work from wherever age.

    Remote Work Doesn’t Mean Company Culture Fades Away

    Some of the most successful companies in the world are well-known for their cultures. Culture has become synonymous with the brand itself. Google, Southwest, Costco, and many lesser-known businesses crafted cultures that empower employees and support them.

    In a time when company culture isn’t stuck between two walls, it has to permeate virtually. The new normal of 2021 will be about businesses adapting and finding ways to provide their workforce with the right environment, even if they go to work every day in their home office.

    Enhancing the Work from Wherever Model

    Many companies were unprepared for a full-scale remote employee base. Telecommuting certainly was part of the story before the pandemic, but it was an outlier, not the rule. When they needed to quickly move people home to keep them safe while still maintaining productivity, many businesses made hasty decisions.

    When urgency is a factor in decision-making, it’s easier to make a misstep. If you need something quick, you can’t practice proper due diligence. So, you stick with what you know, like using Google Drive as a file share system or using free video conferencing tools without thinking through the limitations.

    Leaders now have a moment to pause and reflect on how they can improve technology tools and move to an integrated platform that they control. Companies will be rethinking their remote work strategy in terms of tools and structure.

    There are many options for what their new model will look like. You could reopen your office once it’s safe and the vaccine is widely available but still provide people the flexibility to work from home. Or you could move forward with a remote-first model.

    If moving forward with remote-first, companies also have the ability to expand their talent pool. Another potential consequence is that companies can retain employees who want to move outside of urban areas where the cost of living keeps them from homeownership or financial security. There has been no dramatic migration in the U.S. during the pandemic, but it has made people rethink their priorities. Keeping a job they like and moving to a more affordable community is a win-win for employees and employers.

    Businesses That Adapted Will Keep Doing So

    There has been no shortage of innovation in 2020 from businesses of all sizes. The ability to pivot is critical in surviving any kind of disruption to society and the economy. Some of the most important shifts aren’t going to make the headlines, but they show that SMBs, which are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, aren’t afraid of change or taking a leap.

    These adaptations are happening in every facet of the company. These businesses recognized both needs and opportunities. Most were able to do this with a remote workforce. They were still able to serve their customers by transitioning to a remote contact center, hosting virtual events in lieu of in-person ones, and leveraging technology to stay connected.

    Virtual Hiring and Onboarding

    Another part of the 2021 new normal will be hiring and onboarding virtually. As the economy continues to rebound, hiring will pick up. Candidates can expect their interviews to be via video call. Once hired, they’ll likely do all their onboarding virtually as well. There will certainly be concerns about a new hire acclimating if they aren’t in an office. However, motivated workers will take it in stride.

    To ensure this rolls out well in 2021 and beyond, businesses should define their new onboarding process and work to improve it. Much of this comes down to company culture, which will play a role in how well these new workers perform. Additionally, they’ll need simple technology that allows them to communicate and collaborate easily. It shouldn’t take days to get people up to speed on your stack. If it does, that’s a disconnect to rethink.

    Looking Forward: One Thing Is Certain

    The business world is doing a lot of looking ahead right now. It’s extremely hard to have any assurances about 2021. The only certainty is that work from anywhere will be a permanent part of the new normal.

  • Remote Work Is Here to Stay

    What Lies Ahead for Businesses Tomorrow?

    The new normal has settled in on the business world, at least for now. To accommodate for the current environment and public health emergency, many workers have shifted to work from home mode. This significant change will forever impact the way people work as companies realize that remote work is productive, cost-effective, and efficient. Remote work will begin to be part of operational models. So, what does your organization need to be prepared? The right tools and technology will make all the difference.

    Remote Work Was Already Growing in Popularity

    Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak that caused workers to be at home, remote work was already growing in popularity. In Out Of Office: Remote Work In 2023, one study found the number of full-time remote workers doubled between 2018 and 2021. This data provides clear insight into the fact that companies were already changing their mindset on the work environment and understanding the benefits of offering flexible work schedules.

    Why Working from Home Is Here to Stay

    The new normal has settled in on the business world, at least for now. To accommodate for the current environment and public health emergency, many workers have shifted to work from home mode. This significant change will forever impact the way people work as companies realize that remote work is productive, cost-effective, and efficient. Remote work will begin to be part of operational models. So, what does your organization need to be prepared? The right tools and technology will make all the difference.
    These investments and new perspectives won’t disappear after stay at home bans are relaxed. Even industries with regulations around data collection, storage, and sharing, like healthcare and finance, are learning that remote working environments can be just as secure as those in a corporate office.

    Moving Forward: How Remote Work Doesn’t Change Your Operations or Strategy

    Having most or all your employees working from home doesn’t have to impact your operations or strategy. There will be some adjustments that have to be made, but, for the most part, things stay the same. Additionally, there are significant advantages to having a remote team.

    Work Environments Stay Consistent

    For operations to not be affected, ideally, you want employees to have the same work environment at home as they did in the office. The best way to meet this need is with a UCaaS (unified communications as a service) platform. A unified communications platform has everything you need to support remote workers.
    Employees have the same access at home as they would at the office. It combines all communication tools—phone, video conferencing, instant chat, and email—into one hub. UCaaS lives in the cloud, so your team needs only an internet connection to access it. Of note, when using UCaaS, you should also consider any security or privacy requirements and make sure you select a solution that meets these needs.
    The flexibility your team will have with UCaaS could actually make them more productive as communication becomes streamlined and simplified. It even boosts collaboration between employees because they can communicate more easily and share files as needed. While it’s easy to think that collaboration is enhanced by being in the same room, that’s not always true as there could be barriers to this you’re not even aware of, like conflicting schedules, no areas to meet, or other challenges.

    Sizing Up Your Infrastructure

    How you operate doesn’t need to change when going remote, but you’ll want to evaluate your infrastructure. This assessment comes down to three major components for setting up your team for remote work.

    • Reliability: UCaaS is cloud-based, so it’s much more reliable than legacy phone systems. However, not every UCaaS is the same, so look for very high uptime percentages.
    • Security: If you work in a regulated industry or not, you need to protect your data. Pay attention to how a system encrypts data and if it does so only in transit or at rest, as well.
    • Support: When you partner with a UCaaS provider, it’s important to find one that is responsive. Most providers have 24/7 support, but what’s their service level agreement (SLA)? Make sure it fits your needs.

    The Cost of Remote Work

    Does remote work cost your business more? The simple answer is no. In fact, it can decrease costs. The technology and tools you use in the office transfer to working from home. There are no additional costs associated with making your UCaaS mobile—they are designed to offer this flexibility. With UCaaS, you can have unlimited calls and meetings.

    Workers Adapting

    The final element of the future of remote work is how employees will adapt. If they’ve already been working from home occasionally, they have an idea of what to expect. For those new to this, they may need some tips on how to work remotely effectively. The good thing is that their tools are in the same place, so they don’t have to reinvent how they work.
    Remote work is the present and future for many organizations. Are you prepared? See how NTELogic Elevate delivers an exceptional experience for remote workers.