How can managed service providers keep up with the rapid pace of technological evolution while continuing to offer value to their customers? It’s not a simple question, but there are concrete steps that MSPs can take to improve their business outlook heading into 2019. Our Director of Product Management, Himanshu Verma, recently wrote a column for Channel Futures explaining three areas that MSPs should focus on to remain competitive in 2019. Those areas are innovation at speed, embracing more of a service provider business model, and finding unique ways to differentiate product offerings. For example, here’s an excerpt from Himanshu’s article discussing how to differentiate Wi-Fi product offerings.
“Just take a look at the Wi-Fi and network services market. Wi-Fi is an incredibly well-known and mature solution category, wherein most vendors offer highly similar products – which often, collectively, provide about the same set of capabilities as the next comparable option. For this reason, it has become increasingly difficult for IT solution providers to meaningfully differentiate themselves in the wireless services arena. In response, I’ve seen IT solution providers differentiate themselves by tackling the issue of security in networking and Wi-Fi. Offering a wireless network that’s not only fast and scalable, but also secure, helps differentiate IT solution providers through an offering that ensures differentiated business continuity for their customers.”
While it can be difficult for managed service providers to stay on the cutting edge of technologies like networking and security, where the landscape changes so quickly, this level of change also presents a business opportunity. More and more small and mid-market businesses are turning to MSPs for help with these services due to their own budget and resource limitations. Smart MSPs can position themselves to gain new customers and become more profitable in 2019 – if they’re prepared for the challenge.
Read Himanshu’s article in Channel Futures to learn more about his three pillars for MSP success in 2019, and discover more security issues that MSPs should be aware of here on Secplicity.