Digital transformation promises enormous competitive advantages for manufacturers that are able to take advantage of advanced technology quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not always so easy.
For a lot of manufacturers, it’s a chicken-and-egg scenario: In order to make a massive tech upgrade, they’d need to spend money we don’t have. And they can’t save money without first investing in a massive tech upgrade. So what comes first? In the real world, the answer is managed IT. And in this blog, I’ll talk through why that is.
5 Common IT Challenges for Manufacturers
Before exploring what managed IT brings to the table, I wanted to talk through why manufacturers often get stuck when they go it alone.
1. Complex Integration Needs
IoT tools and automated equipment need to communicate with each other and with other tools. That’s no easy task when your internet can’t keep up, or your software is out of date.
2. Round-the-Clock Operations
For a lot of manufacturers, production lines need to run 24/7, which can make it difficult to schedule IT updates.
3. Evolving Cybersecurity Threats
Downtime can be very expensive for manufacturers, and unfortunately, cybercriminals know this.
What’s worse? Cybercriminals also know that connected manufacturing systems can be vulnerable to ransomware attacks that can shut down production lines.
4. Compliance Requirements
Navigating safety regulations, environmental requirements, data protection laws, and industry-specific standards requires a lot of resources and expertise. And just when you’ve gotten it figured out, something will change.
5. Talent Shortages
The IT and cybersecurity talent shortage doesn’t just affect the manufacturing industry. That said, manufacturers can have a harder time recruiting and retaining IT professionals than other industries.
The Benefits of Managed IT Support Services for Manufacturers
When I have conversations with business leaders in other industries, the decision on whether to grow their in-house IT team or to outsource some or all of their IT needs is more nuanced. We tend to have in-depth conversations about their goals and how Marco’s experts can help make them happen faster. We have frank conversations about ROI, and we weigh pros and cons together.
With manufacturers, though, it’s often more clear-cut. Here’s what I tend to talk about most often.
Reduced and More Predictable Costs
One of the most immediate benefits manufacturers experience with managed IT services is cost predictability and reduction. Hard to argue with, right?
Here’s how it breaks down. Not all managed IT providers use the same pricing model, but most providers will offer you predictable pricing, so it’s easier to plan ahead.
But isn’t managed IT more expensive? That’s a common assumption, but it’s often not true! When I talk to manufacturers, I’ll run the numbers with them, but these stats are good to keep in mind:
- 50% of companies saved 1–24% in annual IT costs when they switched to managed IT
- 33% saved 25–49%
- 13% reported savings over 50%
One reason managed IT can actually save you money? Well, large providers (like Marco) can secure volume discounts on software and equipment that individual organizations can't access, then pass those savings to clients. They can also optimize infrastructure to eliminate unnecessary redundancies and recommend more cost-effective tools that deliver the same or better results.
Access to Specialized Expertise
Cybersecurity is a specialized skill. And the same person who’s mastered it might not be the same person who’s good at providing help desk support, helping you with strategy, or integrating systems.
Manufacturers need all of these skills and more to be competitive. And unless you want the expense and the responsibility that comes along with maintaining a much larger IT team, outsourcing is the best way to get all of these skills without paying the full-time salaries that people with these skills can command.
Pro tip: If you haven’t already, you may also find that your business partners will soon want you to prove that you’re safe to do business with. Having expert support for things like vendor due diligence or cybersecurity insurance applications.
Enhanced Focus on Core Manufacturing Operations
By outsourcing IT management, manufacturers can redirect attention and resources to their core strengths — producing quality products, serving customers, and optimizing their processes. Technology becomes an enabler rather than a distraction.
Improved Operational Efficiency
I’ve found that a lot of manufacturers are working with technology that’s simply not aligned with their goals. A big focus at Marco is about approaching technology holistically to help achieve specific outcomes, and for manufacturers, one of the big ones is always increasing efficiency.
Here’s what your tech should be doing for you:
- Increasing uptime
- Streamlining manual processes
- Optimizing performance
- Making it easier to verify product quality
Strengthened Cybersecurity and Risk Management
Because manufacturers make such a tempting target for cybercriminals, following cybersecurity best practices is non-negotiable. A large managed IT provider can make it easy to save on the expertise and tools you need.
They can also make it a one-and-done solution, including things that many internal IT teams struggle to provide:
- Continuous security monitoring
- Fast threat detection and response
- Engaging and effective security awareness training
- Disaster recovery planning
- Robust data protection
Scalability and Flexibility
Manufacturers need infrastructure that can grow and adapt. A managed service provider should be able to help you with:
- Providing you with seamless service through an expansion or an acquisition
- Adjusting their service level to your needs
- Evaluating new tools on your behalf
Regulatory Compliance Support
If your managed IT provider already has a proven track record of working with manufacturers, you won’t be stuck trying to reinvent the wheel whenever regulations change.
Your IT provider can help you:
- Understand which regulations apply and what they require
- Maintain detailed records
- Make sure your systems remain compliant
- Prepare for and navigate any audits
Advanced Technology Implementation
Industry 4.0 technologies offer tremendous potential, but implementing them effectively requires specialized knowledge. If you’re hoping to add IoT devices or modernize your ERP system, a managed IT provider will have the expertise needed to make sure you get good results.
Better Decision-Making
A managed IT provider can help you collect the data you need to make informed decisions, identify trends, and anticipate challenges.
Enhanced Employee Experience and Retention
In a competitive labor market where manufacturers struggle to attract and retain talent, making your workplace a less frustrating, boring, or stressful place to be can make a huge difference in terms of recruiting and retaining your best people.
Round-the-Clock Support
Even if your in-house team is fully staffed and has all of the capabilities you need, what happens when your top IT person goes on vacation, and you have an emergency?
With a managed service provider, it’s much easier to get 24/7 support, so you get 24/7 peace of mind.
What Makes Marco’s IT Managed Services Different
At Marco, we've spent decades perfecting our approach to managed IT. To us, that means acting like strategic partners, not vendors, and working as a seamless extension of your organization. And it means that we’re keeping an eye out for innovations that can make your life easier — so you don’t have to.
Partnership Over Transactions
We don’t do “cookie-cutter” IT, and we get to know your business before recommending solutions. To ensure no one gets lost in the shuffle, each client receives a dedicated technical account representative to make sure they receive the technical mentorship and support they need.
Transparency and Visibility
Our Marco Insights Cloud platform offers real-time analytics about ticket resolution times, recurring issues, and system performance. We don't consider a problem solved if it keeps recurring. We investigate root causes and implement lasting solutions. Our Insights Cloud is also a treasure trove of technology intelligence, where you can find our recommendations tailored to you.
Proven Manufacturing Expertise
We've helped manufacturing clients operate more cost-effectively, boost employee satisfaction, grow, and much more. We already know what solutions tend to work well at organizations like yours and why, which takes the guesswork out of tech decisions.
Predictable Per-User Pricing
We price services per user, making bills predictable and services affordable for businesses of all sizes. The less obvious benefit of this price model? Our interests are aligned with yours. We grow when you grow, and we're incentivized to prevent problems rather than profit from fixing them.
Exceptional Support Standards
We maintain a 98% live call answer rate and resolve 97% of issues remotely. Our help desk operates around the clock because we understand that for manufacturers, downtime isn't acceptable.
We’ve also added multiple ways to get support! For example, if you use Microsoft Teams, you can create a support ticket or get simple troubleshooting instructions without leaving the platform.
Strategic Technology Partnerships
Our relationships with leading technology manufacturers and software companies allow us to pass volume discounts to clients while staying current with emerging technologies.
Low-Risk Entry
We understand that trust is earned. Many manufacturing clients start with a technology or cybersecurity assessment — a low-risk way to see how we work and get an objective evaluation of current infrastructure. From there, we can always discuss whether a partnership makes sense and develop a customized plan.
If you're wondering whether fully managed IT (or another IT support plan) is right for you, we have an in-depth case study about how we partnered with a manufacturing client. I’ll attach it below!
