At the same time, security threats are increasing faster than a single expert can keep up with, and lower work efficiency caused by problems with systems and workstations quickly becomes costly, not to mention the risks related to data, as recent alarming data protection-related incidents have shown.
At its best, professional IT service is an invaluable companion that facilitates its client’s business by ensuring the security and functionality of systems and by constantly developing IT.
Better than DIY
From the perspective of IT services, the basic idea is very simple: everything must be done better than the client company could do themselves. The aim is also to do the work so good that no other service provider can match it. Yet, outsourcing should be a simple operation, without having to select among a multitude of alternatives or making additional purchases.
Fulfilling such a service promise requires not only mastering the latest technological solutions, but also close collaboration between the client and the service provider. This operating model requires integration and an understanding of the client’s processes, as this is the only way of developing them holistically.
The work begins by understanding the business and the current situation, using them as a basis for creating an overall picture and defining the goals. Next you model the paths that will be taken, where to start, which areas require immediate action and what can be scheduled for later. It is also important to keep in mind that changes often involve lost working hours, so with carefully planned progress, the impact of changes on everyday work can be kept at a manageable level.
Besides effective tools, it is also important that a modern IT partner can give its client an up-to-date snapshot of the situation. Monitoring, analysis and reporting on findings enable critical business decisions to be made when, for example, terminal devices that have reached the end of their lifecycle can be screened and proactive actions taken. Reports must not be hidden behind requests or tickets; the client must be able to see the same overall picture as the IT partner. In practice, this means a view that compiles information about systems, devices, licenses, and services.
Technology is constantly developing, and services need to keep up with it, so an IT partner should proactively make suggestions that are useful to the customer’s business. In any problem situations, the IT partner will also take responsibility of repairing and developing on its own initiative.
Employee experience at the core
Even though we are living in a rather technology-centered society, people are the cornerstones of a successful business. There is tough competition for the most skilled people, and the only way to succeed in that race is the ability to offer employees excellent tools and a good working environment. Problems with devices and software impact not only work efficiency, but also the employee experience and the meaningfulness of their work. When the tools are working, work goes smoothly and produces results. Employee experience is primarily a culture that can flourish in a state-of-the-art technology environment.
Although the employee experience is shaped differently, for example, for a coder and an accountant, IT services must be able to respond to employee’s wishes equally. In a modern work community, responsibility no longer rests on the shoulders of an individual person; each piece of the jigsaw is important.
The purpose of information security is to facilitate things and make them run more smoothly, despite the often-heard concerns about logins, settings and certificates complicating work. The truth is, however, that in a secure environment, everything works in a standardized fashion instead of having multiple confusing practices. In a modern workplace, home or office, all devices are connected to a network, which means that everything needs to be manageable, analyzable and up to date 24/7.
Work is done in faster cycles than ever before, and everyone expects quick reaction. It is difficult – and pointless – for people to try to keep up with everything; automation is the answer. Competition is no longer about having the best server hardware, but about how things have been automated. This is also the basis of modern, efficient service production. Automation lightens the workload and speeds up processes, and in addition, operating models are scalable due to standardization. Automation improves quality in an increasingly complex world.
When computers replaced typewriters and the term Automatic Data Processing, or ADP, was introduced, the adoption of technology brought a competitive edge. The pace of change is accelerating even further, and what is more important than technology is the way in which it can be utilized. At StarIT, we are honored to help our clients succeed and develop their operations through technology. We do this flexibly and in close collaboration with our clients, and the way we operate sets us apart from the competition.
What would modern IT outsourcing mean in your organization?
Please contact us and find out more:
sales@starit.fi
+358 9 3152 3010
