Why manufacturers (OEMs) choose a third-party service provider

Benefits of partnering with a third-party service provider

Access to qualified technical labor

Finding qualified, capable technicians can be a difficult task. The shortage of skilled labor in some locations presents a real challenge.

A third-party service provider has access to knowledge and experience from a larger talent pool of qualified technicians.

This can make it easier for a company to accomplish its goals quicker, than vetting candidates or training in-house staff members.

Save time and money

Outsourcing routine maintenance and support means paying for – and getting with a solid SLA – a high caliber of service that ultimately benefits your equipment — improving machine function, efficiency, and life span. And a great customer experience translates into increased return on investment.

Capacity planning for growth and scale

Do you have the resources to get to market quickly and meet customer demand?

Do you want to build a nationwide service infrastructure?

Whether the business is an emerging startup or an established company, it may not have the technical resources needed to launch into a new market sector. Scaling internal resources can also pose a challenge, making it difficult to adapt as quickly as desired to handle additional customer needs.

Peace of mind and budget flexibility

Here are some questions businesses consider when looking at the potential value of an outsourced service provider:

• Do you have the knowledge, time, and capital to deliver consistent customer service?

• Can you complete your required project rollouts and upgrades or proactively schedule routine maintenance services at the agreed time intervals based on your customer needs?

Using a third-party service provider can help free up operating expenses while providing quality services to customers.

Greater focus on core business

Outsourcing service delivery can free in-house staff to concentrate on other facets of the business. Leaving service delivery to a third-party provider means getting results without overseeing the entire process or committing personnel and resources to providing it.

Is a third-party service provider right for your business?

Many manufacturers are finding now to be the right time to look at outsourced, third-party services. As you begin to look, ask yourself:

What can the third-party service provider do to make your life easier?

You have invested an awful lot of time, energy, and money to create your IP and build your brand with your customers. If you’re feeling hesitant, it makes sense. You don’t want to turn your service and support over to just anybody.

A third-party service partner should bring value by reducing the effort required by your team and being attuned to your business needs. Outsourcing and choosing the right third-party service partner should, in turn, reduce your internal management costs and increase your operational efficiency.

Here are a few questions to consider when evaluating a potential third-party service provider:

• Expertise: Does the provider have experience working with your equipment and do they have the technicians qualified to perform the work?

• Scale: Does the service provider have the resources where and when you need them geographically?  What sort of hours and SLA’s can they support?

• Program management:  Does the service provider offer dedicated project managers and program support?

Our Technology Lifecycle Services professionals would be happy to answer these and any other questions you may have. You can learn more about the global scope of our service offering by visiting our Ricoh Service Advantage web page.