Now You Can Have a Successful Business AND a Personal Life

4 ways an “as a service” model can reel in frantic business paces and result in better profitability.

Tom LeBlanc

It’s the old tortoise and the hare analogy.

Since the AV integration business for years was based on product- and project-based profits, firms would frantically scurry for the sale and the project that would deliver that payday.

That one payday. Those are hares.

Since product-based margins are dwindling and project-based profits are harder to achieve due to highly competitive bidding, that business model no longer makes sense for AV integration firms. The better solution and one that some of the most forward-thinking firms in the industry are adopting is an “as a service” or managed services approach in which margins on product or project sales are less pivotal because they’re securing long-term partnerships and stimulating cash flow through relationships with customers.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO AS-A-SERVICE

Tips, advice, and long-term solutions on how to transition your business to an as-a-service model, and why it’s beneficial to do so.

Part 1: Why Change Your Business Model?—analysis by CI editor Tom LeBlanc

Part 2: How to Plan for the Big Transition

Part 3: Managing Cash Flow

Part 4: Adapting Your Sales Strategy

Part 5: Transitioning Your Existing Clients

Part 6: Business Process Automation

Part 7: How to Retain Clients

Check back for analysis of each section of the Ultimate Guide to As-a-Service to be released on CommercialIntegrator.com.

Those are tortoises.

Here’s the thing about migrating to an “as a service” model: It’s easy for me to say it’s critical to do so and much more difficult for integration firm executives to shift from business models around which their firms are built.

Business software provider Connectwise, which specifically targets companies the sell, service and support technology, has an excellent resource that every integrator struggling with diminishing margins ought to read, The Ultimate Guide to As a Service. The first chapter lays out exactly why it’s essential to shift to a more managed services-based business model.

While Connectwise is direct about the fact that growing pains are almost unavoidable, the good news is that another inevitability is that businesses will improve in every imaginable way under an “as a service” model.

Here are some of the major takeaways from The Ultimate Guide to As a Service Part 1:

1.) Cash flow goes up. Stress goes down.

Integration firms have been beaten over the head with several years of emphasis on why recurring revenue is so important. A few more lumps can’t hurt.

Think of it this way. With recurring revenue from managed services cash flow becomes more stabilized. That means less worrying about payroll. Whenever I ask an integration firm CEO what keeps them up at night their answer is always the same: the well-being of their employees, their employees’ families, their employees’ mortgages; their employees’ kids’ tuition and the list goes on.

With those worries mitigated, yes, those committed executives will likely still be kept up at night. But at least they can use the time to think more productively about strategic business moves and reinforcing those employees’ security.

2.) Your business becomes stickier … and that’s good.

All integration firms strive to be engaged with their existing customers. All firms want to increase the value that their clients see in their relationship. An “as a service” model is all about attaching the integration firm to the client on a long term basis and establishing yourself as an indispensable partner.

A “stickier” relationship will not only lead to repeat business but to continual business.

3.) It’s an investment in your company.

If you knew of steps you could take to dramatically improve the value of your home, you’d probably do it. Shifting to an “as a service” model and locking in high quality revenue increases what your company is worth—and that’s significant even if you would never consider selling it.

Managed services builds a “legacy of value,” as Connectwise calls is, that is important whether an owner is looking to sell or pass the company along to the next generation. It cites estimates that a business with recurring revenue is worth 16 times more than a one-time revenue model.

4.) You might find out what work-life balance is.

Running a business can be a life-sucking, personal opportunity-missing venture. A big reason for that is the aforementioned need to constantly chase the next chance for profit in order to protect and secure a business that supports your valued employees. That, however, is based on the premise that business needs that profit opportunity to secure cash flow and keep operations ticking.

An “as a service” model is based on a different premise. It’s less about chasing that profit opportunity and more about long-term nurturing of relationships that are locked in and provide consistent cash flow. It’s a slow-and-steady wins the race scenario and one that perhaps leads to more freedom to enjoy work-life balance.

So we’re back to the tortoise. And, in case you don’t remember, the tortoise wins the race.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!