TSP • @myTSPnet
Maintenance may not seem like the most interesting topic — at least until consequences for failing to do regular maintenance grab all the headlines with both hands.
When making choices about where to allocate budgets, maintenance often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. New toys are fun and interesting, but equipment that’s already paid for needs to be handled with courtesy or else it could break, leading to costly repairs or even the need for replacement. In other words, the price of replacing a server fan that’s nearing the end of its life is a lot gentler on the bottom line than the cost of replacing the server, especially when you think of the potential catastrophe of having a server go down.
Managing technology services in-house can put a lot of strain on any department, especially given the diverse expertise required to manage upkeep on phones, virus software, operating systems, desktops, notebooks, printers, servers, and systems. Even something as mainline as conference room equipment needs to be checked for maintenance needs, which is easy to forget about until the big conference is tomorrow and something breaks. If your key maintenance person goes on vacation, will their backup know what to do in case of an emergency? What if it’s in the middle of the night or on a holiday?
The level of expertise necessary to maintain multiple complex technologies is making it more and more cost effective to employ a team of outsourced experts. Third party experts can handle comprehensive maintenance needs, whether a business requires ongoing server repairs, device and system restoration, preventative and emergency maintenance, or all of the above.
Flexibility is key when choosing a maintenance services provider, and we don’t mean flexibility on the vendor’s side. A great partner should have options that work well for the client, whether that’s a service window or guaranteed response time.
Working with vetted partners comes with other perks and cost savings, too. When you partner with a business that specializes in maintenance services, they should have connections with multiple parts depots. Your package should include supply chain support and asset tracking, which is much better than hoping to locate a rare part on your own and guessing how to negotiate the best price.
The right vendor should also keep track of key performance indicators (KPI) to let clients know exactly where their maintenance needs stand, how those needs are being met, how much is being saved, and the projected costs of putting certain maintenance off if budgets become tight.
Maintaining a bridge may not be hot news, but a bridge collapse will cause chaos. Don’t avoid maintenance hassles and hope they’ll magically go away. Instead, trust an enterprise partner who will take the headache out of maintaining your tech investments.
