Hundreds (if not thousands) of school districts across the country have started to take advantage of managed technology services. This popular shift allows schools to focus on education, not on fixing miscellaneous technology issues that arise throughout the school year. But why have so many school districts decided to outsource their technology?
We have identified 5 telltale signs that will help you determine if your district is in need of a managed technology service. Take a look at them below:
1. There is lack of technology strategy and vision.
If you had to explain your district’s technology strategy and vision today, could you do it? For many, the answer is no. Whether the IT team owns the strategy and vision, or the responsibility is that of the school board or district leaders, everyone must share a common vision and strategy in order for technology to evolve and improve in the district. When there is no clear strategy, it is difficult to advance technology at the district.
2. IT can have high department turnover.
It’s no surprise that technology is a booming job market. Everyone is looking for talented technology resources. That means that your school district isn’t just competing with other local districts for tech talent. You’re competing with large and small businesses (both of which can typically pay a higher salary).
Once qualified technology staff are found, they often leave for a higher paying job within a matter of a few years. The best way to ensure that a district won’t run into technology staffing issues and turnover is by outsourcing its technology.
3. Your hardware can’t be trusted.
Do you have unreliable IT infrastructure? Messy closets? Do you experience regular interruptions to IT service? Are there long-standing problems within your network? If so, it may be time to consider a managed solution. Our Albert solution combines both hardware and service into one effective package. This ensures that a school district not only has the service that it needs, but it also has sustainable hardware that doesn’t go underutilized.
4. There are lengthy wait times for IT support.
Technology is imperative to an entire school district. In fact, most teachers rely on technology to effectively teach and communicate within their classrooms. Therefore, when technology support is needed, oftentimes, teachers expect immediate support and a quick fix to get back on track. Simply put, teachers cannot afford to wait days upon days for IT support. After all, the entire mission of a school is to teach its kids. And when technology goes haywire, learning can be greatly affected. Ensuring that your technology is reliable, and supporting teachers with quick technology fixes makes learning more productive.
5. Technology stats and reporting aren’t accessible or insightful.
Is your district tracking technology work orders? Do you track customer satisfaction? All district leaders need visibility to the technology statistics and reports that inform them as to whether their technology is working for them or against them. It’s important that school districts have Help Desk performance statistics as well as frequent updates about problem areas, advancements and future tech plans.
If your district is experiencing any of the issues above, it may be time to look into a managed technology solution. Our Albert platform, for instance, simplifies and combines the way technology is delivered to schools. Albert and its strategic technology management empowers schools to take a big leap forward and is worth looking into if your district struggles with any of the telltale signs above.
Contact us today to learn more about Albert and our managed solutions.
