It’s hard to imagine your company functioning without the IBM Mainframe-based foundation that supports your information technology system. Yet for many companies legacy systems are bringing increased concerns about the cost of operating and updating IT infrastructure. They’re seeing IBM Mainframe outsourcing as an intriguing alternative.
Outsourcing can help you control costs, streamline remaining internal IT systems and increase both productivity and service levels. And when you’re ready, it can help ease your company’s transition away from mainframe legacy operations to new enterprise-wide systems.
Here are four ways your company could benefit from IBM Mainframe outsourcing:
1. Cost savings.
You can reduce both operational and capital investment expenses, eliminating the need for hardware, maintenance and upgrades, physical space and related overhead costs as well as labor associated with in-house Mainframe function.
You won’t have to expend high-cost staff time researching the latest Mainframe-related industry intelligence. The right IBM Mainframe outsourcing partner will have in-depth industry experience. It’s their job to follow best practices and keep up with regulatory, compliance and security issues on your behalf.
2. Scalability.
With outsourcing, you get only what you need to meet your unique business requirements. You aren’t married to fixed levels of service or personnel, so you can smoothly and quickly adjust to seasonal or project-based fluctuations or rapid company growth.
And you only pay for what you get. You can accurately predict costs, which improves forecasting and budgeting.
3. Sharper focus.
IT infrastructure is critical for business function, but you’re not in the IT business. IBM Mainframe outsourcing can help you refine your competitive advantage by enabling you to concentrate on core activities -- research and development, new market opportunities, building stronger customer relationships.
Instead of worrying about where you’ll find skilled professionals to replace legacy-savvy retirees, you can focus on recruiting top talent to beef up key areas or support new initiatives. You can re-direct IT staff toward more strategic thinking, planning and researching new opportunities.
4. Stronger overall results.
IBM Mainframe outsourcing is a flexible solution that’s tailored specifically to your company. You can minimize costs yet ensure optimal performance and 24/7 maintenance and support. Consistent, reliable service levels eliminate worries about something breaking down or staffing deficiencies when people get sick, go on vacation or leave. Your outsourcing partner can even make recommendations to streamline or enhance remaining in-house IT infrastructure or services.
Outsourcing lets you play to your company’s strengths rather than allowing growing Mainframe concerns to overshadow other needs.
Reaping the benefits requires advance planning.
IBM Mainframe outsourcing is your best choice only if it helps achieve overall strategic goals and implementation tactics. What are your key service level requirements?
An IT consulting firm that specializes in working with companies like yours can help assess your situation. A knowledgeable consultant can often uncover deficiencies or opportunities you may overlook. And they can help you use that information to choose the most appropriate vendor or outsourcing partner and negotiate the most valuable service level agreements.
They’ll help you look for solutions that provide:
- Fully managed, round-the-clock system software support and computer operations.
- Fast, reliable data center migration.
- Disaster recovery capability that meets your specifications at the best possible price.
- Carefully-considered system architecture that offers the right hardware, software, networking and storage capabilities.
- Potential runtime improvements – do you need to increase capacity? Or fine-tune internal performance?
You may discover that IBM Mainframe outsourcing is the solution you’ve been looking for to help secure your company’s IT future, cost-effectively.