Six Goals of Successful Managed IT Solutions
At a basic level, Information Technology (IT) Management handles the technological resources used in a company. More specifically, IT Management handles the treatment, storage, and protection of information, a daunting process that involves the collection, storage, selection, comparison, and distribution of data. With all the unprecedented turns this year has taken, the team at Element Technologies has had to find new, adaptive solutions for our clients, as well as within our own company. 2020 has been a lesson in accepting change and overcoming challenges, but it has also been a time to reestablish the basics of what we do: Manage IT.
IT management doesn’t have to be a problem or a point of stress within your company. It’s just the opposite. Your IT department exists to optimize operations and make your day-to-day life more comfortable. At Element Technologies, that daily goal has remained the same throughout this hectic year. For many years now, technology has been an integral part of daily routine on an individual and company-wide level. This year, companies have been dependent on technology in a way they never have before. Making dependable IT support more essential, whether to function as a company or to maintain growth as a business.
Successful managed IT solutions enable process optimization, cost reduction, and greater management efficiency, for a start. The implementation of the right software and processes make an IT team capable of improving your company’s relationship with your customers. Additionally, Managed IT Solutions guarantee the security of all vital information your company deals with. Let’s look at these goals in more detail. Below, we’ve outlined six essential goals that Element Technologies strives to meet with every client, and which every client should expect from managed IT solutions. Keep in mind, these goals aren’t necessarily what we do, they’re the benefits we achieve for our clients by doing the best work we can—whether during a global pandemic or not.
1. Increase Productivity
Today, people have technology in all areas of their lives, and entire systems and processes are being moved to digital formats. Documents that could once be printed and handed out around a conference room table now must be distributed to employees digitally while remaining accessible throughout meetings. How much time do your employees spend looking for important information to carry out their daily processes? And how much time could be saved if all the data were just a click away? While this is only one example, successful IT Management Solutions increase productivity in all sectors of a company. We implement tools that make your team’s routine more agile, eliminating repetitive and delayed tasks so your employees can focus on what they do best.
2. Reduce Costs
While outsourcing and implementing IT Management may have some initial costs, this investment can prevent many unnecessary costs in your company long term. Our first point above is an easy example; the smoother your systems run, the more productive your employees can be. While that isn’t reducing costs, it is increasing the output of your employees. The best IT Management will also know what hardware and software is ideal for your company, saving you from unnecessary purchases of expensive equipment.
3. Reinforce Security
With companies’ employees spread throughout home offices and remote networks, there is much discussion about the problem of data security. Many companies deal with sensitive information concerning company processes and the personal data of customers and employees. This is especially true for organizations in the legal and medical fields, though information security is critical to businesses in every industry. A leak of information can do more than just seriously damage the image of your business. In fact, data breaches and compromised systems cost companies far more than the expense it takes to build a layered, secure system. Effective IT Management should oversee this sector. Element Technologies not only understands the importance of cybersecurity, we’ve made it one of our specialties.
4. Improve Customer Relations
Your company probably has different customer service channels. Ideally, these service channels should be integrated so that your team always has centralized information. If a customer came in contact via email and later decided to call the company, he expects that he will not need to repeat all the information from the first contact. For example, imagine that your company received a customer complaint via email. Without software that centralizes information about customer contracts, one of your sales agents contacts the same person the next day, offering an upgrade of your service plan. That customer will feel unattended—even frustrated. With well-integrated service channels, this imagined customer could have been assisted, rather than snubbed by an apparently ill-timed sales attempt. Effective IT Management should allow all sectors of the company to have access to information vital for the excellence of service that their customers expect.
5. Optimize Processes
Consulting information, organizing data records, and identifying potential problems are vital processes for any company’s proper functioning. Without adequate software and processes, these simple tasks can become difficult and delay employees from doing their jobs. This kind of optimization can be as complex as setting up new document management systems, or as simple as encouraging individual users to set up their passwords in a system like LastPass. In general, good IT Management saves companies time and money. More importantly, it makes the employees’ routines more pleasant, contributing significantly to increased productivity.
6. Identify New Opportunities
Your clients will not be the only ones to benefit from an integrated and efficient data collection system and consultation. When all your information is centralized and accessible to your team, it is easier to identify and assess opportunities. For example, it is possible to know when your customers are approaching a profile for service upgrades so you can then identify the right moment to offer complementary products to those already acquired by your company.
To conclude, investing in proper IT Management Solutions is one of the most critical decisions to ensure your business’s success. From complex cybersecurity systems to setting up collaborative software, IT Management exists to support other fields—your fields—and has proved again and again through this season of change how important it can really be—and how important it will continue to be in the year to come.
If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact Jeff Alluri at jalluri@ele-ment.com or Craig Sixta at csixta@ele-ment.com
