The manufacturing industry’s relationship with digital transformation initiatives is a relatively new and often misunderstood partnership. Although most significant industries recognize (at varying levels) the necessity of digital transformation, manufacturers have plenty of room for innovation and growth. 

The partnerships of our Strategic Services teams and leaders in manufacturing have exposed some common misconceptions about Strategic Services and the impact this support has on companies that helped define the industrial age. 

For instance, contrary to the belief that manufacturers don’t embrace technology, we often encounter companies customizing technology. What’s also surprising is how often enterprise companies are unaware of the industry-specific expertise SSP teams contribute to digital integrations and the flexibility possible with an SSP partnership.  

New approaches to customer engagement, navigating complex supply chains, and using rich data to develop a meaningful end-to-end buyers journey, aren’t possible with outdated systems and archaic technology. 

Concerns about cybersecurity and a desire to maximize revenue potential by using more efficient workflow processes all contribute to the notable growth of managed services investment. 

With IT services investment forecasts totaling around $1.3 billion, more companies outsource managed services to do the heavy lifting while businesses focus on growth, particularly manufacturing companies. 

“For all economies, with the right skills, infrastructure, and policy frameworks in place, it will be easier to navigate change. What is needed is investments in skills for the jobs of the future, infrastructure that supports digitization and trade logistics, regulatory frameworks suitable for the digital age, and a business environment supportive of private investment,” explained economic and development experts Brahima Sangafowa Coulibaly and Karim Foda. 

“This agenda cuts across smokestack and smokestack-less industries. It offers the potential to travel down multiple paths toward structural transformation and economic development.”

What you don’t know about Strategic Services teams may surprise you. Today’s SSP provides more than basic IT tasks. Much, much more. 

Here are five areas of expertise that may surprise you and will change your mind about hiring a Strategic Services team to handle your company’s IT functions.  

 

1. Increased Efficiency 

Legacy manufacturing companies present valuable lessons about resiliency. Strategic Services Providers should evaluate the core competencies that carried the company through past economic challenges. Instead of abandoning those proven strengths, build around them to prepare for future initiatives.  

Managed services providers (MSPs) can help manufacturers optimize their IT infrastructure, reduce downtime, and improve overall efficiency by providing proactive maintenance, monitoring, and support services.

 

2. Enhanced Security 

A volatile business environment creates the ideal climate for fraud. Consider how current conditions can increase a company’s vulnerability to security threats, massive layoffs, supply chain disruptions, and siloed operations, with different branches using their own systems for workflow. It’s no wonder a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds. 

According to experts at Pairsoft.com, 66 percent of manufacturers credit cloud technology for improving business insights, and around 90 percent of manufacturers reported their data security improved after adopting professionally managed cloud services. 

In the middle of a corporate transition, leaders can count on their Strategic Services team to handle more granular tasks, like ensuring security is updated, and devices are accounted for. But they can also help manufacturers improve their cybersecurity posture by implementing best practices, such as regular vulnerability assessments, security audits, and employee training programs.

 

3. Cost Savings

The primary focus of a Strategic Services Provider is to consider variables and work together on digital transformation strategies to future-proof your system. 

“As someone who has firsthand experience with M&A, I know the success of a Salesforce.org merge is predicated on the success of the overall acquisition itself,” Carlos Montejo, Senior Vice President, Delivery Services, NA at Simplus. “Understanding differences in operating models, work culture, and core values and developing an overall integration strategy to harmonize all those variables (and many more) into one cohesive organization can be daunting yet exciting at the same time.” 

Coordinated teams can help manufacturers reduce their IT costs by providing cost-effective solutions and scaling services up or down as needed. 

 

4. Greater Flexibility

Outsourcing IT tasks is a strategic move when employee acquisition costs interfere with plans to scale up business operations. Partnering with a Strategic Services team means customers don’t have to worry about the expenses of hiring FTE. 

Regarding workload, contracting with an SSP means work is based on project pace and ongoing needs. Flexibility in project management ensures customers get the most value from this partnership and that the project progresses on schedule and within budget, with the most qualified team members in place.  

 

5. Access to Expertise 

An in-house IT team knows your company’s system well. But an SSP team coordinates with experts with experience in numerous software and applications that can integrate with existing systems for optimal system efficiency, scalability, data management and analysis, and customized results. 

Leading manufacturers understand their industry better than anyone else. Our approach to managed services is to leverage that experience by implementing technology that modernizes the brand, strengthens the company’s infrastructure with automation and better data analysis for improved customer engagement and efficient operations, and prepares this legacy brand for an evolving market space. 

This isn’t the typical, old-fashioned managed services that updates passwords and dusts keyboards. Today’s strategic services providers are more qualified than ever to ensure your IT upgrades and system innovation align with modern and future-focused business goals with optimal efficiency, security, industry-specific expertise, and value. 

Have more questions on outsourcing your IT? Let’s chat.