A recent article in Government Technology caught the attention of our team. Speaking about smart cities initiatives, Arizona-based design and technology manager Jake Taylor said, “The day of one-size-fits-all solutions is completely gone. So, what you see now is cities having to take up the reins because there’s not an industry solution that meets their custom need.” According to the article, “cities are increasingly working with smaller businesses and other subject matter experts to find a partner who will help them create a customized solution.”
That’s something our team has experienced over the years when working with local governments. Every government entity is different, and each has unique requirements. So why should your agency restrict itself to a cookie cutter solution, instead of paying only for the specific services you need?
Why “Out of the Box” Managed Services Isn’t Always the Best Option
Delivering IT services “out of the box” is an appealing way for companies to price and deliver their products and services. In fact, marketers use the “in a box” concept often. It implies simplicity and speed; when dealing with complex technologies, it’s reassuring to think you can purchase a complete solution or set of services ready to go. However, that doesn’t make a one-size-fits-all solution optimal for your organization and its complex requirements.
For example, although “out of the box” IT services may look easy to deploy, on closer inspection there are always going to be customizations, integrations or workarounds needed, either to fit your existing technology stack or your internal processes. There may also be services or products included in the offering that you simply don’t need – but will still have to pay for.
Often a large Managed Services Provider (MSP) will offer an all-in-one solution because it makes it faster and easier for them to onboard clients. But working with a larger MSP isn’t necessarily better. Clients may receive less dedicated service, or have to accommodate the MSP’s process, instead of their own. The MSP may require a certain level of maturity in the organization’s tech stack and be unwilling to support older technologies they don’t routinely cover.
Your Organization Deserves Services that Fit Your Requirements
Your organization needs a technology partner who can work with your existing systems and does not require you to buy additional solutions as part of the package.
At InterDev, our advantage is offering services that are customized for your organization’s specific requirements, regardless of your size or your current technological maturity. We offer a full suite of managed IT services including networks monitoring, desktop and server updates, help desk support, backup and recovery, and cyber security. Alternatively, we can also provide virtual CIO services to help you with technical or budgetary issues. We are also available if your agency would simply like to purchase a block of hours of a technical resource to use as needed.
With over 40 years of experience providing services to local governments and small businesses, we understand that, when it comes to keeping their IT infrastructure optimized and secured, every organization faces unique challenges.
Don’t settle for an MSP in a box. Talk to us about how we can customize a managed services offering that meets your needs and your budget.
