It seems that a lot of the businesses we meet these days don’t have a standard self-auditing process in place for an annual review of their operating expenses. We typically see an immediate expense that we can help with right away. Take phone and Internet service for example, they rarely get assessed simply because this month’s phone bill is within the 10% range of last months, you hear dial tone when you pick up the phone, and you can get out to the Internet just fine with only a small handful of people complaining about how slow it is.

Phone bills are cryptic, contracts are filled with “gotchas”, and account management is virtually non-existent unless you are a Fortune 1000 company. Here are the facts - if you haven’t evaluated your telecommunications spend in the last two years then the following is typically true:

• You are probably overpaying to the tune of 20%

• Your invoices probably do not match your contracts (even if the sales guy seemed    really was nice and honest)

There are services that will better suit your needs and save you a significant amount of money, fortify your data network and increase reliability, productivity and all of that good stuff. But you are thinking where do I start, I don’t understand my phone bills, contracts, telecommunications services and I have no time or desire to learn. Then just give Axxys a call and we’ll do it for you at no charge. In most cases we can help you get a better service plan while reducing the overall cost.

Miss Communication
by Craig Kitch

Not long ago, I held a communication workshop for a restaurant chain and asked a pretty young lady to assist me in a demonstration. As she walked to the front of the room, I announced to the group that we had just held a beauty contest and that one of the finalists was with us today. As she turned to face the group, I introduced her as Miss Communication and asked for a nice round of applause. Following the ovation, I indicated that she was obviously pretty and smart and asked why everyone was using her for a scapegoat. “You blame her for everything”, I said. When the customer is not properly served, and complains, we blame it on Miss Communication. When two departments are not working well together and the corporate office wants to know what’s wrong, the answer is often Miss Communication. While this was obviously an oddball demonstration, I got their attention and made my point. Miscommunication has become such a scapegoat that many people accept it as a viable reason for any problem.

Good communication can build an empire and poor communication can destroy one. It is such an integral part of what we do, especially in the information age, that it boggles my mind as to why most companies invest so little in teaching their people good communication skills and then holding them to a standard. The accurate sharing of information is a skill that can be learned and developed continuously.

Communication is more than talking and listening. Genuine communication requires a deep understanding of another person’s perspective. But when you take into consideration all of our biases, behavioral idiosyncrasies, unspoken emotions, personal agendas and unshared assumptions, this can seem almost impossible. The best communicators know how to read other people. They see how others interpret their behaviors, leaving them with a gut-level appreciation for the needs of their co-workers. They are then able to adapt their communication styles in a way that creates an enduring working alliance among the group.

Communication is ultimately everyone’s responsibility, but most companies would agree that managers and supervisors have the greatest responsibility for ensuring the accurate transfer of information. In my workshops, I take participants on a journey of self discovery that allows them to understand their own motives and preferences learn the behavioral differences in others and then see how different people interpret their behaviors. They then have the insight they need to alter their approach with people of various styles and become more effective in communicating with everyone around them. At the end of the day, you can blame Miss Communication, and make no headway in life, or you can take responsibility for your actions and become a person of great influence.

Why You Need a Managed Services Provider

Information technology (IT) systems are expected to meet high standards of operation, while offering 24/7 availability, security, and performance. In today’s environment, you have to keep pace with the constant changes in IT, performance demands, and pressure to deliver competitive IT functionality. To meet these challenges, many organizations consider outsourcing their IT activities to be an attractive option.

What is a Managed Services Provider?

A Managed Services Provider (MSP) lets you delegate specific IT operations to them. The MSP is then responsible for monitoring, managing and/or problem resolution for your IT systems and functions.

Managed services providers offer services such as:

• Alerts
• Data backup and recovery for different devices (desktops, notebooks, servers, etc.)
• Patch management
• Security

Basic services often start with a monitoring service which notifies you of problems, but you resolve them on your own. More intensive services cover everything from alerts through problem resolution.

MSPs act as an extension of your IT department, taking care of routine IT infrastructure monitoring and management around the clock and freeing up your IT staff to focus on more important projects. An MSP proactively monitors and maintains your systems in order to help you avoid problems and downtime.

Outsourcing your IT is not like outsourcing other services: you maintain control of your IT. You decide what you want your provider to take care of and what you want to handle yourself. In addition, the MSP subscription model gives you more budget predictability.

Internal IT vs. MSPs

Sometimes it seems that the easiest way to handle all of your IT needs is to dedicate your resources to having an in-house team of IT professionals. While this may seem like the most fiscally responsible move, it can end up costing more than hiring an MSP.

A technology professional with five years of experience may be worth $70,000+ a year. That $70,000 salary only gets you one person, not a team of professionals with expertise and knowledge.

When you hire your own IT staff, there are also challenges scheduling around vacation, training, and illness. An MSP provides full time IT coverage, but vacations, illness, and other absences don’t affect your support.

There are also hidden additional costs when you hire internally—for example, training. Combining this with the cost of equipment and other supplies, expenses can quickly add up. When you have an IT partner or MSP, training and other “hidden” expenses are no longer your concern.

How to Choose an MSP

IT firms are a dime a dozen, but finding the right IT advice and technology professional for your business can be compared to finding a needle in a haystack. This list should provide you with the insight you need to select the MSP that is right for you.

• Do they follow industry standards and best practices? Are their technicians certified in the solutions and services they provide?
• Do they have experience serving other clients in your industry or of the same business size?
• Do they have enough resources to serve you effectively and in a timely manner?
• What are their normal business hours and availability outside of those hours? Can you contact them 24/7 in an emergency?
• Do you they properly document work so that you have accurate and complete records?
• Do you trust them?

MSPs have become an attractive option for many organizations and should be an integral part of your overall business strategy, involving senior executives and key IT staff. The decision to hire an MSP is not one that should be made lightly. It is a decision that can have a significant, long-lasting influence on the reputation and the performance of your organization. If you are interested in how you can benefit strategically, financially, and technologically by working with an MSP, please contact Axxys Technologies at 214-297-2100.