Information
technology has opened up vast new possibilities in human civilization. The global
spread of the Internet and the rolling proliferation of information
technologies have re-defined the very scope of human potential on this planet.
Any widespread service needs back-end support and technical assistance.
Thus, it is obvious that remote services have been a god send for the
information technology industry. Such services typically cut down on costs for
the average end user and supply a crucial part of the IT cycle. Computer code
and its maintenance go hand in hand. Support services are critical to keep the
wheels turning in the IT age.
Value proposition
Let’s
begin with the premise that keeping costs down are a vital part of any
enterprise. This is agnostic of the state of the market and boom-bust cycles. Remote
services basically reduce the cost of maintaining IT infrastructure, while
keeping the enterprise hale and hearty. In-house IT teams and help desks were
considered indispensable for many years but with the passage of time, it
emerged that remote services are just as good. In fact, annual IT budgets have
always factored in the costs of help desk services. Outsourcing the support
service has been seen to create major reductions in the price of such services.
Market Scope
The
market for remote IT support services
is diverse and widespread. With information technology making steady inroads
into virtually every aspect of human activity, information technology help desk
and troubleshooting services are enjoying a heavy demand. Distance and
geography have been demolished owing to the very nature of such services. A
systems analyst or system administrator located in one continent can offer
steady services over the Internet to clients in diverse geographies. Multi-year
contracts and well-defined scope of such services have proliferated over the
last decade. A glut of service providers is currently servicing the soaring
demand for such remote services.
Demolishing Geography
Industry
observers have noted over the years that the low-tech use of remote IT support services has
steadily contributed to a lowering of the overall cost of enterprise. While
computer codes have gotten progressively more complex, the simple choice of invoking
remote services has helped the industry to cut costs. A remote system
administrator is just as competent to troubleshoot as an on-site person. Teams
of remote administrators working out of a certain location can service market
demand across a range of geographies and time zones. It certainly appears to be
a win-win situation for the industry. The scalability of remote services also
creates a win-win situation for the customer.
Grooming New Talent
An interesting new aspect of remote services is that it helps groom new talent at the client site. The nuts and bolts of IT infrastructure need constant monitoring. While the very nature of the industry lends itself to automation, remote services can also help train and nurture promising individuals that can be subsequently absorbed at any number of sites. The timeliness of remote services also cuts down on reaction time from the onset of an IT problem. A quick remote check helps the IT administrator / help desk person to assess the nature of intervention needed and the follow up, as required.
