5 Reasons Why Your Retail Business Needs Managed Services

A Managed Service Provider is the Partner You Didn’t Know You Needed

The Managed Service Provider (MSP) industry is growing rapidly to keep up with the increased technology needs of retail businesses worldwide.  MSPs typically provide the design, installation and ongoing management of the entire information network for a retail business.

Whether you are just opening your doors or you are an established business, here are five ways a MSP can benefit your overall and daily operations.

1. Faster Buildout or Implementation

If you are in the planning or building stage of your retail business, using a MSP can speed up the process to getting your doors opened faster.

Having one provider for all of your technology needs can save you countless hours searching for separate vendors for the many different pieces that make up your network. Add to that the number of hours it takes for you or your Construction Coordinator to organize estimates, site visits, installation appointments and follow-up visits.

An established business can also benefit if they are in need of an IT network overhaul.  Technology changes happen fast and the trends in the retail market require a much more sophisticated network if you want to keep up.  Think about the long-term sustainability of your retail business and you’ll find that technology plays a major role.

A Managed Service Provider can eliminate the need for multiple vendors for your tech needs and can implement needed changes much faster than upgrading in individual pieces.  They can take a broader view approach than separate providers that are simply concerned with their one portion of your overall system.

For a list of the many services that Cipe Solutions bundles and provides to retail businesses, click here.

2. Stay Up-to-Date

Technology improves and moves faster than any other part of your business.  However, you probably didn’t get in this business because you are a technology expert.  In fact, new tech updates can be quite disruptive to your every day operations.

The use of the cloud for data management, financial numbers, inventory management and other operations is almost a non-negotiable in this era.  Managing digital platforms and increasing automations are important factors in today’s retail industry.  Keeping up with these key pieces of your business may be out of your realm.

A MSP can work in the background to keep everything running smoothly at your location and in the cloud.  Fewer disruptions and easier transitions to new technology or updates is an ideal benefit to working with a MSP.

3. Less Downtime when Problems Arise

Without a Managed Service Provider, you may be left scrambling when a technology problem arises.  Trying to figure out what has gone wrong and how to get it fixed can eat up time and money from your bottom line.  It can also interrupt the ideal customer experience that you want to provide.

One major feature of using a MSP is that they are usually working proactively behind the scenes to avoid any major crisis.  However, if something does go wrong, you have one provider to call to solve the issue.

When a Managed Service Provider has control of the entire IT network in your retail business, problems can be solved faster and more efficiently.

4. Let You Keep Your Focus On People

As a retail business owner, your leadership abilities are put to their best use when you get to focus on the people in the business.  Hiring a MSP can allow you the freedom to deal with human connections rather than network connections.

Knowing that the IT portion of your business is being managed can give you the much needed time to work “on” your business rather than always “in” it.  This is time that you can use to create and execute an exceptional customer experience.  It is also hours that you can use to develop your employees and shape a culture and work environment that makes them happy to be there.

5. Ease of Growing and Scaling

When it comes time to grow your business or scale to multiple locations, a Managed Service Provider will make the process much easier.

Technology touches almost every aspect of your retail business and having one company managing every piece means that they will be able to handle growth with very little disruption.  If you open another location, a MSP can simply replicate from one store to the next.  They can also keep all locations connected for a birds-eye view of your entire enterprise.

A Partner In Your Business

Managed Service Providers are much more than a vendor or provider to your retail business. With the many services they provide, the vigilant upkeep and the constant monitoring of your technology assets, you will soon see them as a partner in your business.  As you embark on growing or scaling in the future, you will be glad to have them by your side.

Cipe Solutions is a Managed Service Provider that provides technology solutions to franchised retail and QSR companies.  To learn more about how we can help you and be a partner in your business, contact us to start a conversation.

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