How To Find a B2B Managed Services Provider That Will Help You Reduce Costs & Maximize ROI

If you’re reading this post, you’ve probably reached a tipping point with your B2B and are ready to hand over the reins to a trusted vendor. Great! We’d love to help you.

Whether you’re currently working with a B2B managed services provider, or beginning the search, there are a few factors to keep in mind to ensure you choose the right one and maximize your return on investment. 

It’s important to remember that not all B2B managed services providers are created equal. Ultimately, your provider should be easing the burden of B2B on your business, not creating more headaches. You should be able to hand over control so you can free yourself from partner onboarding and focus on business-critical tasks.

Assess Their Experience with B2B

Look for a provider that has multiple years of experience hosting and managing B2B partner connectivity and a proven track record of success. Also, review the list of companies and brands they’ve worked with and their industry expertise to determine if they can deliver in your space and be a good fit for your business. Remember, not only are you looking for an extension of your own team, but you are also looking for a vendor who has a proven track record and is there to support you. Finding the right partner for your B2B managed services is key–it shouldn’t be a burden on you or your team.

Check Up on Support Services and SLAs

Carefully review their standard support and resolution times and what is stipulated in the contract language. Are they willing to make exceptions? Can they deliver after hours and help when you need it? Are they willing to go above and beyond? This is important should you run into technical issues during non-standard working hours. We hear time and time again that the reason why managed services experience has been a challenge in the past is simply because of the lack of support they receive when they need it the most. 

Examine Their Methodology & the Impact on Your Business

Search for a B2B managed services provider that clearly lays out their methodology and the specific standards they work with as well as the trading partner communications they support. Also, ask what kind of impact or potential disruption you should expect if you decide to work with them. Oftentimes, businesses are caught off guard by the impact engaging a provider can have on their workforce and trading partners. That shouldn’t be the case. It should be a seamless process which easily scales with your business over time. 

Consider the Technology

Examine who your vendor partners with and the technology and platforms they’ll be using. Ultimately, while it might not be at the top of your list of questions, it’s probably one of the most important as it will affect your costs. Remember, after all, you’re doing this for a reason–to get the most out of your partner onboarding and reduce costs. It’s critical that when it’s all said and done, your provider understands your business goals and can give you a clear path on how to get there. 

Understand What You’re Getting (look for real-time analytics)

There are many vendors out there offering B2B managed services, but as we mentioned previously, not all of them are equal. While evaluating potential vendors, make sure you have a good understanding of what’s included, but more importantly, understand how it aligns with your business goals and objectives. Does it include everything you need to be successful? Choosing a vendor who offers not only managed services but also real-time data analytics is critical for empowering your team and allowing you to meet those KPIs and objectives. Measuring your success and identifying opportunities for improvement will ensure your B2B processes are firing on all cylinders.

If you’re not sure where to begin…

Take a look at our Syncrofy Integration Cloud offering. It helps companies like yours solve many of their common, daily integration challenges. From communication strategy, data transformation, and translation to data security visibility and analytics—we pride ourselves on being experts on everything integration. That paired with our outstanding client service makes us stand out from the rest.

To learn more about how Syncrofy Integration Cloud can help your business realize the value of a modern B2B integration, contact us today for a free consultation.