Onboarding Your Business to Managed IT Services
Onboarding your business to managed IT services can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Understanding the process ahead of time and having a clear plan in place can make the transition to a new IT partner easier and faster. In this month’s blog, we will explain the typical steps involved in onboarding to a new managed service provider (MSP), look at the benefits of a well-planned onboarding process and provide tips on how to best prepare for the transition.
What is Onboarding?
“The global managed services market size was valued at USD 312.72 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit USD 757.10 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2022 to 2030.”
- Managed Services Market Global Forecasts 2022-2030, Precedence Research, Dec 22
The MSP sector saw a massive boom in 2020/21 as the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people to work from home, and businesses rushed to put in place cloud-based and remote access solutions. Yet, post-pandemic, companies still understand the benefits of allowing MSPs to handle their IT requirements. Whether they are providing access to business applications, data backup and storage systems, or communications and collaboration tools, the demand for outsourced IT partners continues to grow.
If your company wants to employ an MSP for the first time or to switch provider, the new MSP will take control of your business’ systems using an onboarding process. Client onboarding is one of the most critical stages in the relationship with your new MSP, and a well-planned strategy and smooth transition are the foundation for a successful working partnership moving forward.
An ideal onboarding process means minimal disruption to you, your employees and your business, it also requires efficient data gathering and meticulous planning. After an initial assessment of your systems and requirements, and once proposals have been agreed upon, the MSP will use the information gathered to proceed with the onboarding process. If needed, they will work with your existing IT service providers to ensure a smooth transition with few interruptions to you and your business.
Once onboarding is completed, your new MSP will make sure existing systems are optimised, up to date and fit for purpose; upgrading, updating or refreshing where necessary. Once they have a better idea of how your business operates, they can and will suggest ways to improve your business with technology.
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Smooth Onboarding with Pinnaca
“Working with Pinnaca we now see a fully managed IT partnership as an essential investment.”
- Managed Services Market Global Forecasts 2022-2030, Precedence Research, Dec 22
Many businesses avoid outsourcing their IT or switching providers because they think that onboarding is a difficult or daunting task. However, as onboarding is so vital to success for MSPs, it’s in our best interests to ensure the process is as smooth and painless as possible.
Here are some of Pinnaca’s key considerations during the onboarding process.
Relationship Building - The onboarding process is the best way to get to know key people in the business and to find out what they need, what their challenges and goals are, and where they are experiencing problems. Strong relationships are built on trust, and it’s essential we establish solid foundations from the outset. The onboarding process provides the perfect opportunity for us to put ourselves in your shoes and recognise where we need to patient and responsive during the onboarding process.
Bespoke Solutions - Pinnaca creates personalised onboarding processes to help you feel comfortable with our solutions and services, and to make sure they are designed to fit well and align with your specific needs and requirements. We will set clear objectives and expectations so everyone is aware of what to expect from the onboarding process and beyond.
Precision Planning - We provide a clear outline of the onboarding process, including all of the necessary steps to get you up and running. This might include providing training documents, certifications, or knowledge based articles. A project plan will always include a timeline to show key targets and milestones in the process so you always know what’s happening and what to expect next.
Open Dialogue - Pinnaca has a lot of experience with onboarding, but we understand this is not usually the case for both parties, and we are prepared for frequent communication during the onboarding process. We do our best to use jargon-free language and make sure that all communication is clear and concise. We follow up on any conversations in writing so that all parties understand what is happening with the project, making sure you have all the resources needed.
Continued Feedback - Reporting becomes essential once onboarding is complete, and we believe it should be regular, especially where there are teething problems. Our aim is to ensure we continue to provide solutions that you can be confident with, and that you can champion internally, knowing you have chosen the best MSP for your business.
The Benefits of Onboarding with Pinnaca
Pinnaca manages onboarding with precision and has an outstanding reputation as an MSP that takes its clients to another level in terms of performance.
Improved Productivity
As well as freeing up time by handling your IT requirements, we can assess your day-to-day business processes to see where technology can help increase productivity. Automation solutions can take care of monotonous repetitive tasks, while improved communication and collaborative tools can get your teams working at peak performance.
Increased Efficiency
From utilising cloud-based solutions to give your employees access to vital business data wherever they’re working, to user experience optimisation that reduces unnecessary customer interactions, there are technological solutions we can suggest to help you make the most of your existing resources.
Improved Security
It is our business to know not only the latest technologies but the latest cybersecurity threats and how to deal with them. As well as proactively defending against known threats, Pinnaca can provide protected backup solutions, and be on hand quickly to recover your business data and minimise downtime should the worst happen.
Reduced Costs
With Pinnaca as your IT partner, you benefit from a whole team of technology experts for a fraction of the price and none of the hassle of employing a full-time in-house IT team. Furthermore, our combined expertise means faster access to cutting-edge IT solutions that suit your business and avoids wasted investment in unsuitable or outdated technologies.
What Are You Waiting For?
“The level of service & support offered to us over the years has been second to none.”
- John Haywood, Epos Manager UK & EU, Black & Decker
At Pinnaca, we have many years of experience offering managed IT services and have streamlined our onboarding process to be as simple and painless as possible. You can trust us with as little or as much of your IT function as required. We offer a range of outsourced IT services and support packages with prices that are accessible to all businesses.
Want to know how much you might pay for fast, reliable IT support from our experts?
Try our online calculator to find out.