To assess the state of Application Support Managed Services in the UK, we surveyed over 200 CIOs, CTOs and senior IT decision-makers. The survey revealed three clear stages of Application Support Managed Services (ASMS) maturity:
- Low levels of formal ASMS processes (starting out).
- Mid-level capabilities (mid-maturity).
- ASMS is an established part of operations (cutting-edge).
But why should organisations be concerned with their level of maturity? In addition to insights on what motivates organisations to aspire to ‘cutting-edge’ maturity, the survey revealed trends around the impact of outsourcing on ASMS maturity as well as the benefits of a mature approach.
Increased agility
Organisations that are highly mature in their approach to Application Support Managed Services are 12% more likely to use a blend of development approaches and are 11% more likely to have their own bespoke management processes in place. Low maturity organisations are 55% more likely to be using a basic waterfall process known to be slower and less agile than alternative methods.
Why does this flexibility matter? Organisations that are flexible in their approach can broaden their pool of opportunities by optimising ASMS for their specific needs. This might be through outsourcing or by improving internal processes, methodologies, or people resources.
Increased innovation
Finding the time and resource to facilitate innovation alongside competing demands is a challenge for many organisations. But our survey indicates organisations with cutting-edge ASMS maturity have more time available for developing new apps than their less mature counterparts. For 66% of these organisations, three quarters of their time is spent on new app development, compared to just 33% of those starting-out. In 63% of these lower maturity organisations, this falls to less than a quarter of their time, impeding growth. This indicates investing in ASMS is invaluable in freeing up resources for innovative new apps, which can drive productivity, efficiency, or competitive advantage.
Financial benefits
Although cost reduction was not identified as a specific driver for cutting-edge’ organisations ASMS, its absence may be evidence that optimised costs are a bi-product of ASMS maturity. It’s no secret improving ASMS maturity requires considerable investment, but in achieving this optimal level, cutting-edge organisations benefit from a level of efficiency that means cost-cutting measures are a lower priority.
Our friendly and fast Application Support Managed Services team can help you navigate your journey from starting out to cutting edge and reap the benefits of higher maturity. With a flexible and scalable approach, we act as a partner to support your business goals.
We’d love to help your organisation to operate at its full potential: Get in touch to speak to one of our expert team today.