Is Your MSP Conducting Business Technology Reviews?

No matter the line of business you’re in, outsourcing your IT services to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) provides a world of benefits. Both your internal systems and your online presence will be optimized and streamlined, tech problems will be taken care of right away, and you’ll have more time to focus on what matters.

Aside from providing excellent customer care and competency in their field, great MSPs employ the best IT experts, are there for you when you need them, stay up-to-date on new technology, and … they do one other important thing.

They conduct Business Technology Reviews.

What are Business Technology Reviews?

Business Technology Reviews or BTRs are meetings your IT services company regularly conducts with you to assess the effectiveness of your current tech investments and them, your managed service provider.

A BTR occurs annually or quarterly, and it’s up to your MSP to book the appointment; you shouldn’t have to. When you see that your MSP is taking the initiative with BTRs, it’s a great sign that you’re working with a leading company. At a BTR meeting, you’ll be able to provide feedback to your MSP about the service they’ve been providing and the technology you’ve been investing in.

What are the specific benefits of a Business Technology Review?

For you, the client, the benefits of BTRs are numerous, and if you are on one of our all-inclusive support agreements with Alliance Business Technologies, BTRs are included with your service. You’ll have an open platform to discuss any bugs or issues you’ve been having with your technology or possible problems with computer systems, email, the website, etc. Just remember that for immediate problems, you shouldn’t wait for the BTR and should merely contact your MSP right away — that’s what they’re there for.

In the end, if your MSP conducts BTRs with you, your business will see the following benefits:

• Improved current technologies and/or the implementation of new systems where needed
• Saved money when you limit spending where it’s not required
• Enhanced compliance with regulations and security
• Improved productivity
• Streamlined efficiency

For your MSP, the most significant benefit of Business Technology Reviews is showing you that they care and are monitoring your success. This goes a long way in maintaining their clientele.

BTRs also allow a MSP to highlight your company’s return on investment or ROI (your investment being them, for the most part). As a client, they want you to be alerted to the fact that their company cares about you and that their services are worth it. Whether there are problems to fix at a BTR meeting or not, your MSP wants to reiterate that you need them.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for you, the client. After all, you hired them and are paying them for their services. Allow them to show off for you, and don’t be hesitant about voicing any issues you have so that they can be fixed quickly. A MSP who conducts BTRs with you wants to keep you as a client.

When will your first BTR meeting be as a new client?

Naturally, as a new client, you won’t have a business technology review right away.

Even after a few months post-contract signing, there just won’t be enough time to verify that your new systems, technologies, and other implementations are working correctly and providing you with the necessary benefits.

Therefore, your MSP will likely schedule your first BTR for at least 90 days after you go live.

But keep in mind that your MSP shouldn’t wait too long to conduct your first BTR. After all, the first review meeting is the most important because most problems will have become evident at this time.

While you can certainly contact your MSP right away whenever you need them throughout the first 90 days, as a client, it’s likely you’ll feel better bringing up issues in a formal meeting — especially when the problems are rather large or pervade several types of technology.

You want to know that your MSP is on the ball and ready to ameliorate any issues right away.

Where are most BTRs held?

In a perfect world, you’d meet one-on-one, face-to-face with your MSP for your business technology review. However, this won’t necessarily be possible, and that’s okay.

After all, if your MSP has numerous clients and is conducting BTRs with everyone, they would always be at BTR meetings. And on your end, too, you’ve got work to do and may not have time to schedule formal sit-down meetings four times a year — just to check-in on technology that’s already been established and working.

Instead, it’s likely your first BTR will be face-to-face, if possible. If you’re a large client, your MSP should definitely make this effort. After that, however, most BTRs are held via video or phone conference.

In the end, Business Technology Reviews remain one of the absolute best ways to stay in touch with your MSP about the efficacy and benefits of your current technological investments. Companies who provide them are likely to take a better interest in their clients’ success — and that means good things for you.

Be sure to contact Alliance Business Technologies and ask about our BTRs with an Account Representative today.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.