Managed IT Services: How the Not-For-profit Sector is Bringing Technology Providers Onboard to Win Donors and Support Beneficiaries

It is a common misunderstanding that outsourcing to a team of specialists can be more expensive than nurturing an inhouse team.

Rarely is this myth so clearly disproven as when businesses outsource to managed service providers delivering technical solutions and expertise on which they can operate and grow. Outsourcing to an MSP means that in addition to receiving the required service or solution, they benefit from the combined expertise of the MSP’s team, continuously updated software, and applications, and a security wrap.

These benefits of outsourcing seem particularly relevant for NFPs which have a great reason to minimise their cost-base, wish to drive value out of their investments, and will benefit from not having to invest in and then sweat hardware and infrastructure that can quickly go out of date.

The NFP sector is often full of employees and volunteers on a mission trying to help beneficiaries in the simplest and quickest way. This means that IT support for charities has to be robust, reliable and simple to use. The important thing about how technology evolves is that the newer it is – the more it fits these criteria. Working with the right MSP means it is always up-to-date, dependable, and secure.

A great MSP wraps its arms around employees, volunteers and beneficiaries and solves technology challenges for non-profits. Benefits IT can deliver include:

• Enhanced collaboration and communication. This allows team members in disparate locations who need to share the most up-to-date information securely and quickly to do it from any agreed device.
• Efficient reporting and data management so that leaders can make strategic decisions at pace and effectively communicate their reasons to stakeholders.
• Improved marketing and communications to attract and retain donors in new markets and locations.
• Digital fundraising to enable improved donor journey and personalise their experience.
• Security to protect all parties and brand reputation which can easily be marred by a data breach.
• Optimised beneficiary experience allowing team members to focus on the areas that they need to whilst automating activities which do not require their input.
• Business continuity and disaster recovery allowing charities to continue their crucial work during unforeseen or unexpected circumstances.
• Training and onboarding so that everyone benefits from all technology integrated. This means that everyone is benefitting early on, and new deployments do not negatively impact morale or productivity.

NFPs should not have to suffer legacy equipment, they can operate in the same way as an enterprise business. NFPs tell us that they are time poor and role heavy. They have much to achieve and never enough hours in the day. They also tell us that they are willing to embrace AI. In fact, 90% of organisations are planning an AI investment and 17% have already fully integrated AI. To do this easily and effectively they will benefit from the providers that they can trust.

Benefits a great MSP like Wanstor can deliver include:

• A dedicated NFP helpdesk and service desk manned by experts in cloud, networking, security, and AI.
• Advice on how to achieve and benefit from the most appropriate price reductions on solutions like the Microsoft Suite.
• Security monitoring and proactive problem resolution.
• Cloud and digital transformation consultancy and deployment with no disruption and at the right pace to meet your organisation’s requirements.
• AI tools to help you to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.