Small businesses don't necessarily have small needs, and you certainly don't have small challenges. What you do have is unique needs--and not all tech and workflow solutions are designed to fit. Is managed IT services in the same boat, or can it be a good match for your business?

Let's find out.

Small Business Considerations for Managed IT Services

The first thing to know about managed IT services is that it's designed based on solutions, ideas, and procedures that work no matter what industry you're in or how many devices you use. That's because many tech problems and concerns, regardless of their size, can be traced back to a few core issues that are the same across all setups.

With lives literally on the line, there's no room for inefficiencies and frustrations in healthcare workflows. Fortunately, staff and medical experts don't have to deal with these issues alone. Managed services providers can adapt to healthcare needs and improve working environments in more ways than one. Here's what that looks like and how to choose a provider who keeps their promises.

What Do Managed Services Providers Do?

Managed services providers can take a lot of roles and wear even more hats, but above all else, they're supposed to be a partner for your company. That means they do a few key things:

Healthcare work is undoubtedly critical, but that doesn't mean it all has to be done by hand. Workflow automation solutions can help healthcare organizations eliminate repetitive manual tasks and save time for more important work. Here's what to know about automation and what it means for the people saving lives.

What Is Workflow Automation?

Workflow automation is just what it sounds like: It's a solution designed to make your workflows take care of themselves. Using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and a host of other tools, workflow automation allows you to step back from manual tasks.

Frequently Automated Workflows

Although every industry has different needs and goals, most try to automate the most repetitive, time-consuming work. Examples include:

It's true that budgets are important in every organization, but schools in particular know that every dollar needs to be stretched as far as it can go. That's why over-ordering and, consequently, overspending on print supplies can be such a significant problem.

Here's what every school needs to know about print supply problems and why managed print is the ideal solution.

Where Does Overspending Come From?

Every school is different, and so is every print environment. That means there's no single explanation for why over-ordering and overspending might be common in your educational institution. However, there are some common scenarios that help explain where these issues stem from:

While it might be tempting to think that big savings only come from big changes, that's not always the case--especially in the education industry. Little shifts in unexpected places can make a big difference, and so can steady updates to processes and tech environments. It all starts with your school's printers--and that's where managed print services comes in.

Print Management for Schools?

When you hear what managed print services is all about--managing workflows, devices, connections, and print supplies--you might think this solution is only for traditional workplaces. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.

In reality, managed print is for any business that relies on printing. That includes healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and--yes--education.

When you're part of a business, costs are a fact of life; cost inefficiencies don't have to be. Today, we'll break down why the difference matters, how to catch and calculate cost inefficiencies, and how you can eliminate these problems once and for all.

Costs vs. Cost Inefficiencies

You've likely heard the old saying, "You have to spend money to make money." It's a gentle reminder that business costs aren't necessarily the enemy--but wasteful practices, bad habits, and other inefficiencies are.

What separates a cost from a cost inefficiency? Here's a quick breakdown:

Educational institutions often have tight budgets and large student bodies, so decision-makers must be creative when choosing solutions. One potential way to get more by spending less is to lease office equipment--so here's your guide to making it happen.

A Quick Look At Leasing Office Equipment

It's easy to look at all the latest printers, copy machines, and other office equipment and feel like there's no way your school could ever afford it. Fortunately, that's where leasing comes in.

When you lease office equipment, you're essentially renting it for a set period of time. You'll make regular payments, generally including interest, and you'll get certain rights in return. Some leases just give you the machine itself; others include service and maintenance agreements, which means your provider will handle anything that may go wrong during the lifetime of your lease.

Just about any business can benefit from workflow automation, but it's also true that every industry has its own unique needs and challenges--and so does every individual company. That's why we're putting the spotlight on different industries to see how workflow automation rises to the occasion.

Today, we'll look at hospitality to find out how workflow automation helps create "home away from home" for guests (and better work experiences for employees). Let's get started!

Hospitality: Why Workflow Automation Matters

First, let's ask the big question: Why does workflow automation deserve a place in the spotlight?

The simple truth is that everyone is looking for a more automated experience these days. Automation brings simplicity, lower costs, and better experiences--but it also showcases a certain level of digital competency that modern businesses absolutely must possess.

Manufacturing is the beating heart of global supply chains, which means new technologies and solutions really need to carry their own weight if they're going to support this fast-moving industry. That's especially true when it comes to workflows. Luckily, that's where workflow automation comes in.

What Is Workflow Automation?

Workflow automation is a way to make repetitive, monotonous tasks take care of themselves. From scanning and data capture to order processing and expense approvals, workflow automation is here to make your life easier.