Managed Service Providers (MSPs or service providers) are in demand in recent years due to the unprecedented work-from-home pilot, driving the need for remote connectivity. Amidst this growth, MSPs are looking for the right mobile device management solutions that can rise to the demand. Any Managed Service Provider can find it challenging to identify the perfect fit when numerous MDM providers are available.
Most MDM platforms may perform similar functions, but it is necessary to realize the long-term innovation and quality benefits before partnering. To help MSPs evaluate the suitable one, here are a few key factors to consider before partnering with a mobile device management provider.
MSPs: Here’s what to look for in an MDM provider
1. Total Cost of Ownership
Consider a cloud-based solution to manage and secure mobile devices. The solution must be capable of providing features that assist organizations to optimize their infrastructure, licensing, and management costs.
Device management solutions should reduce administrative overhead. For instance, a solution that manages access to applications based on user groups or individual roles and automates security patches and updates can save time and money.
2. Quality Support
MSPs are always on the lookout for solutions that make their job more efficient as they take on more customers. To improve efficiency, look for one that provides complimentary training sessions to familiarize the sales and IT teams. Scalefusion offers extended benefits such as pre-sales consultation from implementation experts for simplifying deployment and migration plans for diverse use cases.
MDM providers should act as a liaison between the service provider’s IT department and customers to fix bugs and issues. The reliability can be measured by the amount of downtime experienced before the provider solves the issue, how frequently issues recur, and the IT personnel’s overall satisfaction level.
At a minimum, the MDM provider should have a dedicated number or an online chat feature that will enable customers to speak to a support representative immediately. Additionally, a comprehensive client portal should be accessible to MSPs, offering real-time access to service status, user management tools, and troubleshooting resources. In the absence of 24/7 customer support, there should be portal guides and process documentation available for quick learning.
3. Robust Partner Marketing Program
MSPs need to articulate the MDM’s unique proposition for customer buy-in. To tap into the device management’s value, service providers should check for a partner with a go-to-market program. During sales outreach, MSPs need marketing support to promote the MDM solution. This includes ready-to-go marketing assets and on-demand digital marketing.
Few MDM providers participate in a co-marketing partnership where MSPs can combine products and expertise and promote a shared offer–such as creating a co-branded piece of content for the sales team.
Learn More: Scalefusion MDM Infinity Partner Program
4. A Feature-rich MDM Solution
The enterprise is full of different mobile devices–everything from smartphones, tablets, and laptops to rugged devices and media-rich kiosks. No matter the mobile device–or operating system–to keep track of, the MDM solution should be equipped with features that can manage devices, end users, and anything in between.
Here are a few points to consider when selecting an MDM solution:
- The reporting and inventory feature should consolidate all the enrolled devices and associated information into easy-to-understand reports. Daily updates should be generated automatically without any manual inputs.
- The cloud-based platform should be accessed from a single pane of a console with no hardware to buy, install or maintain–with no associated fees. The MDM solution should follow an agile development cycle, releasing updates in hours and days.
- Protecting corporate data is one of the highest priorities for organizations today. Unsurprisingly, data security is one of the biggest challenges. The MDM solution should have robust security capabilities that are easy to implement. For instance, if a mobile device is lost or stolen, the MDM should be able to remotely locate, lock and wipe it.
5. Transparency
MDM pricing should be transparent and free from hidden charges. Managed Service Providers must be able to take advantage of a well-structured pricing system that supports businesses of all sizes, from SMBs to enterprises. Consider a device management solution that MSPs and customers can trust for a long-term business relationship.
Wrapping Up
Customers today want a holistic solution to manage multiple device types across different operating systems. For MSPs, this presents a challenge: traditional or single OS MDMs are a hard sell to buyers. Managed Service Providers should consider the above parameters to determine if an MDM partner is the right fit for their business.
