Articles

RSS

Best practices templates offer guidance on service offerings, pricing, agreements and on-boarding customers

New tools and resources designed to assist providers of managed information technology (IT) services build better businesses are now available from CompTIA, the leading nonprofit trade association for the IT industry and MSP Partners.

The four new business templates cover critical elements of operating a successful managed IT services business, including developing appropriate customer service level agreements; strategies for on-boarding new customers; how to price services; and deciding which services to offer. The templates are available to CompTIA members through the Member Resource Center and to master level members of MSP Partners.

"As the managed services market has matured, best practices, policies and procedures have been crafted, defined and proven," said Dan Wensley, vice president, Level Platforms, and chairman of the CompTIA Managed IT Services Executive Forum. "The templates now available are the first of many new and exciting initiatives we have embarked upon over the past 18 months, and are designed to help propel the success of all those involved."

The business templates were developed in cooperation with the Institute for Partner Education & Development and are based on extensive research of the current managed services market.

"We've created easy-to-use business templates based on the real world successes of many of the industry's top managed services providers," said Jim Hamilton, senior director, member relations, CompTIA. "With these tools managed services providers can avoid costly trial-and-error scenarios and quickly establish themselves with customers as a successful and trusted technology advisor and solution provider."

Templates available to CompTIA members and master level members of MSP Partners include: - CompTIA Managed Services Agreement - For use by companies providing software-as-a-service, cloud computing, data management, website development or hosting, network monitoring or other services to customers. - Client On-Boarding (On-Premise Managed Services) - Provides a detailed list of best practice activities for on-boarding new clients to an on-premise managed services environment. - Pricing Model Considerations - Designed to educate newly formed solution providers on the pricing model alternatives to consider as they build their managed services practice. - Best Practices for Customer Offering - Provides information on the most common offerings now being deployed by newly formed managed service practices.

"I remain honored to chair the Managed IT Services Executive Council, which has provided the opportunity to work with 16 industry leaders in concert with CompTIA to help deliver education, training and materials for the advancement of our industry," Wensley said. "Special thanks to co-chair Ted Roller and the 15 members of the executive council for their continued efforts."

About MSP Partners
MSP Partners was established in 2007 as an alliance of leading IT companies in the managed services arena that recognized the importance of managed services to their channel partners. The companies joined together with a common dedication to the development of their solution provider communities by creating a comprehensive source of education on MSP success. CompTIA acquired MSP Partners in 2009 and it is now part of the Managed IT Services Community at CompTIA.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.comptia.org.

SOURCE: CompTIA