There has never been a more critical time in history where businesses have needed to be agile in the face of change than this past year.

2020 will go down in the history books as the year that was a catalyst for organisational transformation. And yet, in the face of unprecedented change, businesses remain under increasing pressure to do more with less in this fluid business climate.

There is no denying that 2020 brought more change to the world. However, whether change is planned or unexpected, it tends to increase operational complexity and is almost always disruptive to an organisation.

This is especially the case when an organisation is going through a digital transformation. However, it is important to realise that a digital transformation is not only about simply implementing more technology or making operational changes to standard business procedures — it's about reimagining the entire business model to be more resilient in the future.

Businesses have realised very quickly that ageing technology platforms are no longer able to support a remote workforce and that meeting customer needs doesn't diminish in the face of change. The time to reinvent and adapt to the changing landscape is now.

The path to reinvention can be achieved by leveraging a managed services approach to help minimise the disruption associated with both anticipated and unanticipated change.

A managed services provider (MSP) delivers proven processes, professional oversight, specific software knowledge, and industry-specific knowledge to support and maintain multiple facets of an organisation's IT requirements.

When entrusting an MSP to manage day-to-day processes and provide oversight and insights, an organisation can concentrate on doing what they do best — running their business.

Aligning the benefits of engaging an MSP to an organisation's business objectives will deliver the results needed for successful organisations to thrive in times of change.

Some of the benefits of engaging an MSP include:

Scalability

An organisation's technology needs often fluctuate over time. An MSP can respond to these changing requirements in real-time, thereby mitigating disruption and providing business continuity.

Access to expertise

Any time new technology is introduced, there is a learning curve. This could present a challenge for a less experienced IT team, and this is where an MSP shines.

Cost savings

One of the most significant benefits of engaging an MSP is the cost savings. Costs associated with overhead, hiring, and enabling new IT staff are reduced when engaging an MSP.

Support on demand

Most MSPs provide 24/7 support that is offered in multiple time zones and languages. This reduces the chance of unnecessary business downtime that can negatively impact operational effectiveness.

Proactive vs reactive approach

Costly downtime can be avoided when engaging an MSP, as they take a proactive approach to monitor and manage an organisation's infrastructure and can recognise, analyse, and troubleshoot any issues before they impact the business.

Compliance

Meeting changing compliance requirements can keep a CIO up at night. But leveraging an MSP can shift that responsibility by ensuring that an organisation's technology systems adhere to national and international standards.