The systems that business owners rely on can rapidly change depending on immediate needs. In an effort to stay ahead of recent trends and remain responsive to shifting customer needs, managed service providers (MSPs) tackle these challenges by managing complexity.
Getting Back to Basics
Mergers and acquisitions can introduce new levels of complexity to an existing business, especially when demand exists to adapt quickly. This can result in businesses utilizing systems that turn out to be a bad fit for their current needs or that are poorly implemented for the task at hand. For example, poor or nonexistent documentation can easily throw a wrench in an already-complicated data migration.
In cases such as these, going back to square one is often the best possible solution. Doing so can help businesses retrace their steps and implement additional solutions to improve and eventually perfect the existing system.
Consolidation Is the Key
Another area where MSPs can help clients simplify and economize their tech needs is by consolidating existing tools and services. For instance, a single carefully constructed app may be able to take the place of a dozen existing programs with similar functions, thus saving clients time and money.
Managing complexity through consolidation helps clients realize both short- and long-term savings and enhances overall responsiveness to fast-changing trends and scenarios.
Putting the Brakes on Application Creep
After consolidating redundant applications, it’s important to prevent application creep from cluttering the existing inventory. Overlooking this important step can result in added complexity and reduced responsiveness to changing business needs.
Enterprise architecture (EA) teams can be instrumental in mitigating application creep, namely by encouraging the use of existing applications for new challenges as opposed to creating brand new applications for a specific purpose. EA groups and CIOs must also recognize when it’s better to replace or modify outdated technologies rather than add to them.
The Cloud as a Key Ally
An unexpected source of complexity often comes in the form of cloud technology. Many IT professionals find it difficult to combine cloud and on-site systems without introducing a great deal of complexity into the mix. However, diving completely into the cloud may not always be the best step to take.
Instead, it’s important to determine areas where cloud technology can successfully manage complexity. For example, businesses can start by migrating non-essential systems to the cloud and keeping tabs on performance and cost results through comprehensive monitoring and troubleshooting.
Simplification as a Value Proposition
Businesses often turn to MSPs to reduce expenses and simplify currently complex systems. Therefore, MSPs must demonstrate the cost benefits of managing complexity while addressing application creep and other key challenges.
MSPs that understand how to manage complexity in a broad range of technology environments can be an asset to any innovative business. Contact us to learn more about how eXemplify helps companies simplify technology.