3 ways what we've learned about remote work will change it support forever

As businesses continue to adapt to the modern, restructured workplace, today’s IT marketplace has shifted focus towards subscription-based IT solutions. Rising in popularity, Device as a Service (DaaS) offers flexible technology procurement and deployment options to businesses looking for cost-effective opportunities that foster scalability for the future. The ability to pay for what you need now and scale for what you will need in the future allows businesses to shift their spending from capital expenditures to operational expenditures, freeing up their budgets for more strategic long-term business investments. Considering the disruptions in 2020, this ability is increasingly more enticing to businesses today. The right technology provider will not just provide DaaS, but also additional services and support to help you better optimize the benefits of this technology deployment model. To get the most for your money, your technology provider should function as a “one-stop-shop,” not just providing your hardware but managing, supporting, and securing it.

5 Things You Need From Your DaaS Provider

Services, Not Just Devices

Your DaaS provider shouldn’t just be providing your devices, but the services needed to support them as well. Besides the benefit of improving user adoption through skilled management and support, there are also cost and resource advantages. Outsourcing these services to your DaaS provider can free up time for your IT team to spend on other business initiatives and better facilitate more seamless adoption of the technology across your organization. Additionally, when your provider handles the IT-related management and transitions, you can save on costs associated with hiring and onboarding more staff to cover these initiatives.

Device and Vendor Options

From the technologies you need deployed and implemented to the vendors and OEMs you receive your technology from, options should not just be offered but expected. 

Device choice – This not only enhances your organization’s user experience, allowing your employees to select their preferred devices, but it also promotes more productivity. Tech Republic reported that sixty-eight percent of enterprise workers believe that they’re more productive when they’re allowed to select their own device. This is possibly because individuals work more efficiently when they’re using the devices they’re most familiar and comfortable with. For example, many users are well acquainted with Microsoft capabilities, advancing the user adoption of devices already preconfigured with Microsoft 365  tools and platforms.

Vendor variety – Every business is different, and because of this, some vendors and OEMs will be a better fit with your organization’s IT objectives and infrastructure needs. The “one-size-fits-all” approach just isn’t appropriate in such a diversified IT marketplace. In instances where you want to switch product vendors, maybe to a more affordable option, it’s not a simple or inexpensive process. If you want to work with multiple product vendors at once, it’s not only costly but also time-consuming to manage. A single-source managed service provider can help cut costs and eliminate the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors at once. 

Managed Network Infrastructure 

There are numerous network infrastructure devices to monitor (routers, firewalls, servers, systems, etc.). Having one source that provides, manages, and supports these infrastructure devices will better simplify the entire process, managing compatibility, connectivity, and security across networks and applications.  

It certainly helps to leverage a provider that has ready-to-go best practice processes in place to assess network needs, offer guidance, and provide services to design, build, and manage a new network infrastructure. ProExcel does this all while taking advantage of lower-cost alternatives for our customers. 

Endpoint Management 

Device management is intricate and time consuming. In fact, a 2018 IDC survey reported that 63 percent of IT decision-makers feel they would be able to devote more time to other projects if they spent less time on their device management. Considering that this was a pre-pandemic survey, the percentage is likely much higher now with more remote users. This also doesn’t account for the additional time spent on managing more than just the devices, but device access and network security as well.

Endpoint management encompasses the processes in place to detect, provision, deploy, update, and troubleshoot endpoint devices (e.g. computing, mobile, POS systems, servers). This is critical to being able to provide your distributed workforce with the apps, platforms and security measures needed to work Anytime, Anywhere, on Any internet-connected device (3 A’s).

As there are many intricate pieces to endpoint management, it is a big help when your provider offers holistic management solutions for you. We also host Microsoft 365 for advanced security, better device management, and endless collaboration. With Microsoft 365, we can provide more than just the familiar workplace apps, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but also powerful cloud services, device management, and advanced security, in one connected experience with the option of working best on Microsoft Surface device.

Onsite and Remote Support 

When a device, system, or network is down, it is especially helpful to have support options easily available with specialists that are already well versed in your organization’s IT infrastructure. Who better than the people deploying and managing your devices? 

As your employees work from home and in the office, it’s nice to have support that is equally as flexible as your organization’s workplace. Just as your users may differ in where they work, they will likely also differ in how they prefer their support.