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The Beginner’s Guide To On-Demand IT Services

By TechDogs Editorial Team

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Overview

We’re Gen-X — generation expectation, that is. We’d love an on-demand day, every day. On-demand culture came about because millions of people had the same old first-world problems — getting places, ordering take outs and finding affordable places to vacay. In the workplace, we all get a little Veruca Salt (remember that greedy, demanding, spoiled brat from ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’) when our IT technology doesn’t work. We want it and we want it now! In a world where everything is at our fingertips, why should we wait for tech support? Especially when it’s a quick fix. On-demand IT Services have taken small-to-medium businesses by storm and transformed the way we look at tech support delivery. In Part Two of our two-parter on IT services, we explore how we got to our always-on, always-available lifestyle and dive into On-demand IT Services — what they are and how they work — and we finish up with a little peek into the future of the on-demand model.

TechDogs-2D Image With Character Delivering On Demand It Services To A Business Employee IT Service Delivered!-"On-Demand IT Services"

Imagine - you drive to the office and find a parking space within seconds using the SpotHero app, book your lawn service through TaskRabbit® and order weekly groceries through Instacart - all before you reach your desk. After work, a drink with colleagues quickly turns into three or four, so you book an Uber home and — because you really couldn't be bothered to cook — you order a DoorDash to arrive almost at the same time as you do.

Later, you sit down with your food while binging on Netflix (read - browsing your phone while Netflix plays in the background). You book cozy Airbnb accommodation for your mini break this weekend and use Rover.com to find the perfect pet-sitter for your dog.

Phew! Clicking buttons all day ex-haust-ing.

When we think of humans generally, we like to imagine a big, fat, fluffy cat. We're lazy yet high maintenance. Our personal lives are pretty much utopian. So, it's hardly surprising that we've turned our attention to our professional lives and want everything to be equally convenient.

Well, good news — we're getting there.

Just as the on-demand economy transformed the way we eat, travel, buy, rent, read, watch and date, it has changed how we purchase, implement and use IT services. In Part Two of our two-part special on IT services, we dive into the demand for On-demand IT Services.

Plug alert: if you haven't yet read Part One, we wholeheartedly recommend you do so, especially if you're interested in finding out more about Managed IT Services because, you know, that's what it's about.

On-demand IT Services? That's A Thing? What's The Difference Between On-demand IT Services And Managed IT Services?

TechDogs-Dive Into The Demand For On-Demand IT Services-Grab-And-Go Solution For Companies That Have A Specific IT Problem On-Demand "IT Services VS Managed IT Services"

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On-demand IT Services isn't just a thing. It's a hot new thing.

On-demand IT Services offer a simple, grab-and-go solution for companies that have a specific IT problem. We're not talking about all-singing, all-dancing, always-on, fancy-schmancy Managed IT services. We're talking about the bread and butter of tech support — a basic service to fulfill a basic need.

Managed IT Services is an ongoing agreement between a provider that offers IT services for a monthly fee and a client who pays said fee. On-demand IT Services, on the other hand, are more go-with-the-flow. No commitment. No long-term contracts. No muss. No fuss.

How Do On-demand IT Services Work?

Have you ever used a laundromat or a beauty salon or a pet grooming parlor? You wake up one morning, look at the huge pile of dirty clothes/ragged fingernails/smelly dog and think, "I have to do something about that."

So, you book your appointment, get a time slot and rock up. Shortly after, you walk out with clean clothes/ sassy fingernails/ a powder-scented pooch and all is well with the world.

You get on with your day. Job done.

That's how On-demand IT Services work. You wake up one day and something's wrong: your network may be down, your printers are offline, your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is playing up or Susan can't get into her emails — again. So, you call an On-demand IT Service provider who books you in and fixes your problem - and all is well with the world.

You get on with your day. Job done.

It's almost too simple to be true, isn't it? Well, it’s simple because it has to be and in the next section we will discuss why.

The Rise Of On-demand Services

To understand what is driving the need for On-demand IT Services, we should first look at On-Demand Services in general and human nature in particular. When we take a long, hard look at ourselves, it isn't pretty.

We're time starved.
We're on the go.
We're dominated by technology.
We're impatient.

If you feel victimized right now, same here. We are victims: victims of our success, that is. Technology enables us to do more and boy, do we want more!

In the beginning, ‘more’ looked like Managed IT Services. Managed IT Service providers run your IT solutions for you 24/7/365, provide you with access to up-to-date IT technologies and industry insight. However, more isn't always a good thing. Sometimes more is too much. Entrepreneurs saw this problem and created a solution: On-demand Services.

Allow us to explain - Food delivery has been around for decades. For a while, having pizza or Chinese takeout every weekend was a-okay. Then we got bored. Maybe we don't want pizza or Chinese food anymore. Perhaps we want sushi, or burgers, or Mexican. Maybe we want fast food. Maybe we do want pizza - but only from our favorite Italian place and maybe we want it delivered.

Wouldn't it be great if we could order food from any restaurant delivered to our door? The solution? Uber Eats and Postmates.

So, what does this look like for IT services?

We need tech support for our organization but maybe our budget and needs can't justify paying for a Managed IT Service. Maybe it's too expensive. Perhaps we don’t need an IT team on call 24/7. Maybe it's too inefficient for us to choose an on-premises solution.

Wouldn't it be great if we could purchase high-quality tech support as and when we needed it and for an affordable price?

The solution? On-demand IT Services.

What Are The Features Of On-demand IT Services?

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We see you. You're scratching your head and thinking, "Nah — what's the catch? These services can't be as good as Managed IT Services."

It's a fair question, so let's look at some of the features you can expect from an On-demand IT Service provider.

24/7/365 IT Help Desks
System Repair
IT Installation
Technology Administration
Network Security
IT Consulting

These services are typically delivered by service desk analysts, network engineers, solution architects, project managers and system administrators. Now, we don't know about you but to us that sounds like a pretty comprehensive IT solution and one heck of an IT dream team.

Spoiler alert: On-Demand IT Services aren't for everyone.

Are On-demand IT Services For Me?

If you work for a multi-national corporation with thousands of team members, your local On-Demand IT Service provider isn't going to cut it. Then again, if you work for a multi-national corporation with thousands of team members, you likely have the budget for an enterprise solution.

Ask yourself these questions:

Are you a small-to-medium-sized business?
Are your IT needs pretty basic?
Are you dipping your toe into tech services to understand whether you're ready to commit to Managed IT Services?

If yes, then yes — On-demand IT Services are for you. Now, since you’ll be investing on an On-demand IT Service provider, let’s look at what upgrades and improvements you might get in the future.

What Is The Future Of On-demand IT Services?

As we've seen, this is a sharing - caring industry. Well, maybe not quite - but learnings from one sector certainly benefit others.

More Skill-based Services

Now that we're so au fait with sourcing services at our fingertips, organizations are looking at how they can bring highly skilled people to the masses. We’re starting to see telehealth doctor appointments, legal advice and therapy services — all on-demand. Expect to see this translated into the tech industry too, with increasingly technical IT solutions and support delivered as and when you need it.

Speed

The rise of on-demand so far has been pretty quick and super disruptive — kind of like a three-year-old child. However, we're expecting to see some Roadrunner-esque acceleration over the next few years. Digital disruption leads to exciting innovation and as organizations scramble to make up lost ground, we should prepare ourselves for on-demand world domination [cue evil laugh].

App Development

As On-Demand Services become intertwined in our lives, there'll be a use-case for our devices to ‘talk’ to each other - and us. App development will be vital for this to be successful. Safe to say that app developers who specialize in "on" demand will be "in" demand. #dadjoke

Partnerships

Why create an On-Demand Service when you can invest in one? That's what General Motors did with Lyft to create an on-demand vehicle network. Expect to see more partnerships, acquisitions and investments, driving the on-demand sector forward.

Conclusion

On-demand IT Service providers have seen an enormous opportunity to create more accessible, scalable and flexible tech support solutions. While these technologies might not be suitable for everyone right now, who knows what the zany innovators in this space might create in the future, inspired by our boring, everyday IT problems.

After all, who would have thought that charging people to stay at a stranger's house overnight or get into a stranger's car at 2 a.m. would ever have been billion-dollar ideas?

If you're thinking, "Hang on. This On-demand malarkey won't cut it for my organization. We need ongoing IT support and specialized products," check out: The Beginner’s Guide To Managed IT Services, where we dive into full-service subscription-based IT solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between On-demand IT Services and Managed IT Services?

On-demand IT Services and Managed IT Services offer distinct approaches to addressing IT needs within a business. Managed IT Services typically involve an ongoing agreement between a provider and a client for comprehensive IT support and management, often on a subscription basis. These services are more all-encompassing, providing continuous monitoring, maintenance, and support for IT systems. On the other hand, On-demand IT Services offer a more flexible, pay-as-you-go solution for specific IT problems. There are no long-term commitments or contracts involved, allowing businesses to access basic tech support services as needed without the extensive coverage provided by Managed IT Services.

How do On-demand IT Services work?

On-demand IT Services function similarly to other on-demand services in different industries. When a business encounters an IT issue, such as network downtime, printer malfunctions, or software glitches, they can contact an On-demand IT Service provider for immediate assistance. The provider schedules a service appointment and addresses the problem promptly, allowing the business to resume normal operations swiftly. Unlike Managed IT Services, which involve ongoing support and maintenance, On-demand IT Services offer a quick-fix solution for specific IT problems without the need for long-term commitments.

Are On-demand IT Services suitable for my business?

Determining whether On-demand IT Services are suitable for your business depends on various factors. Typically, small-to-medium-sized businesses with basic IT needs find On-demand IT Services beneficial. If your organization requires occasional tech support without the resources or necessity for a comprehensive IT management solution, On-demand IT Services could be a suitable option. Additionally, businesses exploring IT services or hesitant to commit to long-term contracts may find On-demand IT Services preferable due to their flexibility and affordability. However, large enterprises with extensive IT infrastructure and complex requirements may require the comprehensive coverage provided by Managed IT Services instead.

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On Demand ServicesOn-Demand Economy IT Management IT Consulting IT Help

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