Learn how managed IT services for small businesses can help you free up more time to devote to business strategy by letting your managed service provider take care of the tech.
Digital technology is always evolving. From the online shopping behaviours of different generations to the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, how we use technology shapes how we do business. It’s no surprise then, that many small businesses see digital technology as important for their future success.
69% of small businesses agree that technology is now about much more than efficient working and has become part of how a business competes.
Telstra Tech State of Play report [PDF, 797KB]
While the blistering pace of innovation offers opportunities for efficiency and growth, it can be hard to keep up. According to our Tech State of Play research, over half (54%) of small business leaders agreed it’s hard to stay up to date with developments.
Whether your business is growing, your customer expectations are changing or you’re adapting to market conditions, your technology needs will likely increase too. For example, more staff may mean you need to buy and manage more software licences. New locations may mean you have more network devices, such as routers, in your IT environment.
If you don’t have the luxury of a large IT team, you may find you have to manage everything from day-to-day operations to long-term strategy. This is why many businesses are turning to managed IT services.
Managed IT service use is growing according to MarketsandMarkets. The analyst firm says the following reasons are driving greater use:
Managed IT services can help add value to your operations across a variety of areas. These include network device and endpoint management, cybersecurity, and providing helpdesk support.
Here are five ways managed IT services can help you improve business operations, employee experience and team collaboration.
Spending time thinking about your business can help you plan for future success. Yet, time is one of the most precious resources for any small business leader.
Having the time and capacity to get everything done is a top concern for business leaders surveyed in our Telstra Tech State of Play research. And our research revealed it’s a concern that’s grown significantly over time according to
What do you spend most of your time doing? Do you spend a lot of time on routine IT monitoring or maintenance tasks? Or do you wish you could have more time to spend on projects that will have a real impact on your business?
Managed IT services can free up your resources to focus on your business while a partner manages your everyday IT operations. It’s not about giving up control. It’s about prioritising your time on your core areas of expertise. That way, you can have the greatest impact without having to focus on managing complex IT environments.
Small business leaders often discount their own time. When calculating the cost-benefit analysis of managed services, be sure to put a dollar amount on the hours you spend on IT tasks.
If you rely on the internet, business apps or other connected technology, getting your digital environment working optimally can help boost productivity.
Our Telstra Tech State of Play research uncovered that nearly half of employees report problems at least once a month. Reliability and speed of fixed network connections are common causes of disruption. Yet only a fifth of business owners acknowledge the same issue. Employees also report IT problems are more frequent than in the past.
Nearly a fifth of employees report IT issues have become more frequent in the past 12 months.
Telstra Tech State of Play research
Managed IT service providers (MSPs) can fine-tune and secure your IT environment on your behalf. MSPs can take care of routine tasks such as managing patches, implementing policies and optimising your network devices or endpoints. to run at peak efficiency. This can help reduce downtime and improve the performance of your digital tools.
Managed services can help you manage patches and policy compliance proactively. Along with automated updates, these simple steps help secure your business data and improve your technology’s performance.
Employees of small businesses face challenges with the complexity of business software and systems. Lack of certified and skilled professional support can exacerbate these problems, contributing to increased downtime.
Without fast, reliable support, employees use informal approaches to try to solve their issues. This can risk compounding downtime if staff are trying to help each other resolve technology issues. It can also create security vulnerabilities.
47% of employees try to figure things out themselves when they have a tech issue at work.
Telstra Tech State of Play research
Managed IT services that provide help desk capability can offer your people the support they need quickly.
Check in with your teams regularly to learn about their experience of your IT support, and whether it’s operating as well as you’d like.
Outsourcing IT functions can be a cost-effective way to get access to sophisticated services and technical skills.
The right managed services partner can help you benefit from solutions and expertise that might otherwise be limited to larger businesses. This is particularly true in fast-moving areas such as cybersecurity, where threats and countermeasures can change almost daily.
As your business grows, one of the biggest IT challenges is scaling resources to meet demand. Outsourcing specific IT functions can give you the ability to scale your resources up and down as needed. This flexibility can help ensure your IT capabilities change with your business. You can focus on the bigger picture without getting distracted by IT logistics.
An MSP provides specialised expertise and resources that can be deployed quickly. This can help you stay agile in a fast-moving market. It relieves the pressure of investing in ongoing upkeep of certifications and training, recruitment or IT tools.
Look for managed services providers that offer the capabilities and expertise you need, without charging you for those you don’t.
Many leaders agree that technology can help their business operate more efficiently. Over half (58%) of small-business leaders surveyed in our Telstra Tech State of Play research agreed that embracing digital technologies is a priority to become more efficient. But as your use of technology grows, managing it all can take up a lot of time.
Managed service providers can help take the pressure off. Outsourcing IT management to expert partners can offer an efficient way to optimise your technology environment. They can help enhance your operations by improving productivity, enhancing security and boosting team collaboration. And they can help free you and your team to focus on what really matters to your business.
Download your Tech State of Play report to help propel your business further through technology.
