[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_placement=”background” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|700||on|||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” parallax=”on” text_orientation=”center” title_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ text_shadow_style=”preset2″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
There are many reasons people start retail businesses. Among them are:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s probably a safe bet that v<\/span>ery few retailers go into business because they love doing inventory, keeping books, or managing information technology.\u00a0<\/span>As the retail landscape evolves and becomes more dependent on digital technology, store owners\u00a0<\/span>have adopted digital platforms that handle many of the tedious chores associated with their business. But managing that technology is often still\u00a0<\/span>up to them or their employees. And as rapidly as technology changes today, considering\u00a0<\/span>managed IT service providers to make sure their businesses and networks run smoothly<\/span>\u00a0seems like a wise idea<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Increasing Speed of IT Evolution ” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Since 2013, mobile e-commerce\u00a0<\/span>(m-commerce)\u00a0<\/span>has grown\u00a0<\/span>over 800%,\u00a0<\/span>from $41.71 billion to an expected $338 billion in 2020.<\/span>\u00a0And m-commerce is much more than e-commerce giants like Amazon, Wayfair and\u00a0<\/span>big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot. Social media has joined the sales parade by introducing \u201cbuy buttons\u201d which allow brow<\/span>sers to shop without leaving their site.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0a larger percentage of any store\u2019s sales \u2013 brick-and-mortar or e-commerce \u2013 are becoming more dependent on electronic syst<\/span>ems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Retail businesses are also\u00a0<\/span>more reliant on\u00a0<\/span>technology<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 49% use\u00a0<\/span>point of sale systems<\/span>\u00a0today<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>e-commerce\u00a0<\/span>platforms<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(57%)<\/span>, inventory management (40%)\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 than ever<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Brick-and-mortar stores also use digital technology to\u00a0<\/span>schedule deliveries,\u00a0<\/span>manage their workforce,\u00a0<\/span>handle customer loyalty programs<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>do\u00a0<\/span>advertis<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0and market<\/span>ing. Digital platforms essentially control all aspects of a retail business today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That means a\u00a0<\/span>poorly performing, or worse, completely crashed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>network is more than an inconvenience to a business.<\/span>\u00a0Yet retail businesses are slow to dedicate staff<\/span>\u00a0to IT or contract with managed service providers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are certain programs and protections\u00a0<\/span>you have to have<\/span>, j<\/span>ust like\u00a0<\/span>you have to have\u00a0<\/span>oil for your car<\/span>. Y<\/span>ou\u00a0<\/span>have to update your programs and keep them<\/span>\u00a0protected from viruses,\u201d explains C.J. June, Managed Services director for Paladin Data Corporation. \u201cYou can get that oil from just about any<\/span>body, but if you get it from\u00a0<\/span>the company that provides your network, you know it\u2019s going to work well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Having an up-<\/span>t<\/span>o-date retail network keeps businesses\u00a0<\/span>prepared for new technology. The\u00a0<\/span>continued\u00a0<\/span>rise of m-commerce<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the evolution to 5G<\/span>\u00a0networks<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0the Internet of Things (I<\/span>o<\/span>T)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are on the horizon.\u00a0<\/span>There are plenty of reasons that it\u2019s a good idea for not just retail businesses to consider managed services providers.<\/span> Here are four.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Round-the-Clock Support ” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In the world of digital retail, business is done 24\/7 which means problems can crop up while a brick-and-mortar store\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>closed<\/span>\u00a0and its owner is at home in bed. Even though\u00a0<\/span>the problem, whatever it is, might not affect routine business operations until the store opens the following day, managed service providers and their automate<\/span>d programs can spot issues and correct them before the doors open for business.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s the business of a managed IT services provider to be the watchdog of their clien<\/span>ts\u2019 technology. They keep an eye out for problems and often solve\u00a0<\/span>minor\u00a0<\/span>issues\u00a0<\/span>without the business ever knowing there was a problem.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always an extra set of eyes that are watching for issues stores may not see or know to look for,\u201d June explains.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe backup files \u2013 we check to see if those are working. The antivirus \u2013 we make sure that is working. Stores don\u2019t have to wor<\/span>ry<\/span>\u00a0about checking their<\/span>\u00a0computers or network to see if they are up to date or backed up. They can concentrate on doing what they got into business for and that\u2019s working with their customers.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Lower, More Predictable IT Costs ” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With u<\/span>nemployment<\/span>\u00a0levels at historic lows<\/span>\u00a0and technology changing as quickly as the weather, finding and retaining qualified IT staff is increasingly hard for small businesses.\u00a0<\/span>Managed IT service providers elim<\/span>inate much of the need for technical staff and frees up businesses to focus on customer-facing staff and s<\/span>ervices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Contracting with managed service providers also create<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0more predictable monthly costs which helps\u00a0<\/span>small businesses with\u00a0<\/span>bu<\/span>dgeting<\/span>\u00a0and strategic planning.<\/span>\u00a0Businesses today often run a variety of operating systems or programs.<\/span> Managed IT services providers can supply:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Improved performance ” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#cc6633″ icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – Improved performance ” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#3e5062″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Managed updates ” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#cc6633″ icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – Managed updates ” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#3e5062″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Internet fallback ” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#cc6633″ icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – Internet fallback ” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#3e5062″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Increased security ” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#cc6633″ icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – Increased security ” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#3e5062″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”Managed service provider” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n M<\/span>anaged IT services provider <\/span>solutions\u00a0<\/span>are also scalable<\/span>, which means they can grow with a business<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Many offer services ala carte or packaged system solutions that cover an entire network<\/span>\u00a0including off-site terminals<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Network infrastructure<\/span> can be overlooked when a company expands or downsizes. A managed IT services provider can solve those issues before they become problems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Improved Security …” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While cybercrime against companies like Target, eBay, Yahoo<\/span>, Equifax and others dominate the headlines, 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses<\/span>, according to the\u00a0<\/span>Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report<\/span><\/a>. And<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>Accenture Cost of Cybercrime Study<\/span>\u00a0says<\/span>\u00a0only 14% of those businesses are equipped to deal with an attack.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Increasing\u00a0Speed of\u00a0IT\u00a0Evolution<\/h2>\n
Round-the-Clock Support<\/h2>\n
Lower, More Predictable IT Costs\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Improved\u00a0Security\u00a0…\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n