3 Things to Consider When Choosing an IT Maintenance Partner in 2023

As we move into uncertain economic times at the beginning of 2023, many companies will need to reassess their strategy and partnerships. For enterprises that rely on third parties for infrastructure maintenance, choosing the right partner is key to weathering the storm. 

With lead times for hardware still in double-digit weeks territory, maintaining what you already have will be a priority. Aside from the usual considerations when choosing an IT partner in any capacity, you’ll also need to consider the uncertainty and possible economic slump in the year's first half. 

But all is not gloom and doom, as the right partnership may open new doors and allow your business to flourish rather than suffer. 

In this article, we will discuss the following:

• How to choose the right IT maintenance partner.
• Where to find inventory for backups and spares.
• How to find availability and support.
• Where to find money savings.

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Inventory for Backups and Spares 

A big part of IT maintenance, especially for critical networks, is providing spare equipment when necessary. 

Suppose an internet service provider faces a malfunctioning router in one of their busiest service areas. The router is beyond repair or may take too long to fix. They need a replacement, and they need to deploy it immediately. 

However, their maintenance provider does not have the same router in stock and must secure it first to supply it. To make matters worse, the model is out-of-stock with major suppliers. The result is significantly long downtime that causes the company to lose customers and revenue. 

For companies that need an always-available infrastructure, spare hardware is essential. But if your maintenance provider cannot guarantee the availability of the spares, you might as well not have any maintenance. 

This is crucial for global infrastructure companies as they might need hardware in different locations. The only way to ensure that is to have the spares dedicated to your operations. 

Unfortunately, many maintenance providers don’t and can’t offer such a guarantee, as they don’t have an extensive inventory. Often, their spares are for all their clients, so they simply follow the first-come-first-serve rule. If someone else snags it before you, there may not be a spare for you when you need it.

OneCall’s Sparing Integrity Program

An ideal solution for your spare needs is OneCall’s Sparing Integrity Program. With dedicated spares for you sitting somewhere near you, there’s a guarantee that the device will be in your possession when you need it. 

You receive the serial number and location of the spare hardware. Furthermore, it’s not just sitting in a depot; it’s tested to ensure it’s up to the mark. There are service locations in over 160 countries, so no matter how widespread your tech footprint is, OneCall can quickly provide the spares. 

Availability and Support

Your maintenance partner isn’t someone you’ll need every day. However, you’ll need their assistance during times of crisis, especially when your infrastructure is facing issues. From misconfiguration errors to incredibly high traffic volume, many situations may call for help from your maintenance partner. 

You want an IT maintenance partner with round-the-clock availability and excellent customer service. Incidents can occur anytime, so your maintenance provider must be on standby to provide the service and assistance you require. 

To ensure this attribute, you need to consider three things:

• Geographical coverage.
• Tech expertise.
• Modes of customer support.

Depending on your enterprise’s geographical extent, you need a partner that has a truly global presence. At the very least, they should have a presence in the regions you serve, as that tremendously impacts the delivery time of services. For instance, if you require technical assistance on-site, the personnel from the provider can reach you fast. 

Similarly, you need to evaluate their technical expertise. Do they have expert hardware engineers on board? What certifications do their engineers have? How often do they train their technical teams? 

Lastly, you should consider the modes of customer support. What options do they provide? Is there a ticketing system? How long do tickets take to resolve? Do they offer phone or email support?

Asking these fundamental questions will help you choose the right provider who promptly offers the support you require. 

PivIT’s Global Coverage

With OneCall maintenance, you benefit from PivIT’s global presence. Whether providing spare parts or on-site technical support, PivIT’s resources in many parts of the world enable it to provide core maintenance services at short service level agreements (SLAs). 

PivIT has over 1,000 field stocking locations spread worldwide to suit the needs of enterprises with global networks. With SLAs as short as four hours, you can be sure that assistance is within your reach, no matter the day or time. 

Money Savings

The tech industry is feeling the impact of inflation, especially the big companies. The year 2023 may bring little respite as the fears of recession loom. Budgets will be tight, making most tech companies significantly cut spending. 

If you’re considering selecting an IT maintenance partner, money will be an essential consideration in 2023. You don’t want to overspend. Many IT companies and teams choose third-party maintenance providers over OEMs for this reason, and it’s now more relevant as budgets tighten. 

You need to analyze what savings you get with the maintenance provider you’re opting for. Compare their pricing and the services they provide with OEMs and other providers. At the same time, you shouldn’t fall for the “too good to be true” prices. 

Maintenance can make up a significant portion of your IT spending, so any savings on these contracts can significantly impact you.

IT maintenance itself can offer both short-term and long-term savings. With good maintenance, your infrastructure can last longer, even beyond its official service life. 

A dedicated budget with breathing room for maintenance for the year is best and would make choosing a partner easier. Also, you can always negotiate the terms and cost to get a better deal. 

Millions in Savings With OneCall

One of the qualities distinguishing OneCall from other maintenance providers and OEMs is that the program focuses on saving as much as it’s focused on the best service. Many examples of existing OneCall customers have made significant savings by removing maintenance complexities and adopting a hybrid approach with OneCall. 

In one instance, a global beverage company saved $1 million in maintenance by moving to OneCall, consolidating its fragmented coverage, and bringing it to the proprietary platform OneHub, designed for this purpose. 

Consider OneCall as Your Trusted Maintenance Provider!

The new year has brought new challenges for every industry, but even more so for the tech industry. Whether running data centers worldwide or providing communication lines in homes, maintaining your infrastructure would equate to survival in these challenging times. 

PivIT has the resources and experience to be the ideal IT maintenance partner you need to keep your operations running effortlessly. The OneCall maintenance program offers global coverage, quick SLAs, and a convenient dashboard to manage everything, even your other maintenance contracts. 

Risks like downtime and unavailability can damage business, and these risks become even graver when times are uncertain. This is where a provider like PivIT can be the cornerstone of your maintenance strategy, and OneCall can be the partner you can rely on!