When evaluating managed services for your critical business systems, the question isn’t whether you can afford professional management; it’s whether you can afford to go without it. ISE’s managed services for IBM i and Infor XA systems don’t just provide peace of mind; they deliver measurable returns that often exceed their cost within the first year.
The Hidden Costs of Self-Management
Before diving into the value proposition, let’s examine what self-managing your IBM i and Infor XA systems really costs your organization:
Staff Time and Expertise Gaps: Maintaining expert-level knowledge across IBM i administration, performance monitoring, patch management, and Infor XA application management require a significant ongoing investment in training and certification. The average IBM i administrator salary ranges from $80,000 to $120,000 annually, and that’s before considering the challenge of finding qualified professionals in today’s competitive market.
System Downtime: Unplanned outages can cost businesses anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 per hour, depending on your industry and system criticality. Even a single four-hour outage can cost more than an entire year of managed services.
Inefficient Resource Allocation: Without continuous performance monitoring and optimization, systems often run at suboptimal levels, leading to unnecessary hardware investments and poor user productivity.
How ISE’s Managed Services Deliver ROI
1. Proactive Monitoring Prevents Costly Surprises
Our comprehensive monitoring services work around the clock to identify potential issues before they become business-critical problems. By monitoring CPU utilization, memory usage, disk space, and system jobs continuously, we catch performance degradation early and address it before it impacts your users.
Real Value: Preventing just one major system outage annually can save you tens of thousands of dollars—often more than the entire cost of our managed services.
2. Expert Knowledge Without the Overhead
ISE’s managed services give you access to a team of certified IBM i and Infor XA specialists without the overhead of hiring, training, and retaining a full-time staff. Our experts handle everything from routine system administration to complex patch management and hardware console operations.
Real Value: Instead of paying $100,000+ annually for a dedicated administrator (plus benefits, training, and potential replacement costs), you get access to an entire team of specialists for a fraction of that cost.
3. Streamlined Operations and Reduced Complexity
Our managed services eliminate the complexity of coordinating between multiple vendors and internal resources. We handle system patch management, application updates, backup monitoring, and performance optimization as integrated services, reducing the administrative burden on your internal IT team.
Real Value: Your internal IT staff can focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth rather than routine maintenance tasks, multiplying their value to your organization.
4. Comprehensive Backup and Recovery Management
System failures and data loss events can be catastrophic for businesses. Our managed backup and recovery services ensure your systems are properly protected with monitored backups, tested recovery procedures, and expert support when restoration is needed.
Real Value: The cost of recovering from a major data loss event, including lost productivity, data reconstruction, and potential regulatory penalties, can easily reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
5. Built-in Professional Services
Every ISE’s managed services subscription includes 10 complimentary professional service hours annually, plus comprehensive system health assessments twice per year. These services help optimize your systems and identify opportunities for improvement before they become costly problems.
Real Value: Professional services typically cost $150-250 per hour. The included services alone represent $1,500-2,500 in annual value.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Consider this typical scenario: A mid-sized manufacturing company with IBM i and Infor XA systems experiences two four-hour outages annually due to preventable issues, spends 20 hours per week on system administration tasks, and invests $15,000 yearly in training and certification for its IT staff.
Annual Cost of Self-Management:
· Two 4-hour outages at $15,000 each: $30,000
· 1,040 hours of internal staff time at $50/hour: $52,000
· Training and certification costs: $15,000
· Total: $97,000
Annual Cost of ISE’s Managed Services: Typically 40-60% less than self-management costs, while providing superior coverage and expertise.
Beyond Cost Savings: Strategic Value
The true value of ISE’s managed services extends beyond direct cost savings. By ensuring your systems run optimally and reliably, we enable:
· Improved User Productivity: Faster response times and fewer system issues mean your team can focus on productive work
· Better Decision Making: Comprehensive system health assessments provide insights for strategic planning
· Regulatory Compliance: Proper backup procedures and security management help meet compliance requirements
· Scalability: Our expertise helps you scale your systems efficiently as your business grows
The Bottom Line
ISE’s managed services don’t just pay for themselves; they typically deliver returns of 200-300% or more in the first year through prevented downtime, improved efficiency, and optimized resource utilization. More importantly, they provide the foundation for reliable, scalable systems that support your business growth objectives.
When you partner with ISE for managed services, you’re not just outsourcing system administration; you’re investing in expertise, reliability, and peace of mind that enables your business to thrive. Click here for more information on ISE’s Managed Services.
Ready to see how ISE’s managed services can transform your operations? Contact Monica Hill at monica.hill@iseteam.com to discuss your specific needs and discover the potential returns for your organization.
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