Third-party Maintenance Services & Hardware Support

You receive notice that your equipment is coming up on end of life [EOL] and now you are faced with either choosing for your hardware to go unsupported or paying the OEM more to cover your EOL assets.

You might consider running your equipment without support because your current IT team has the knowledge to keep it up and running. However, this can put you in a tight spot if your team is unavailable for whatever reason. Whether that be a reduction in workforce, vacation, or sick leave, you always want redundancy of skill to handle these situations. That’s when TPM is the better option.

When it comes to maintaining your mission-critical infrastructure, there’s simply no substitute for dedicated support from a reliable third-party provider. Without this level of protection, your team may not be able to acquire replacement components or install and configure them properly, putting your entire operation at risk.

A quality third-party maintenance provider will not only keep your systems up and running, but also save you a significant amount of money in the process. If you’re looking for peace of mind and cost savings, we recommend partnering with a reputable third-party maintenance provider.

If you have not purchased an extended warranty for your assets and they’re approaching End of Service Life or even End of Life, the OEMs will not provide service for your hardware. If the OEM does provide service, it likely will not be a long-term solution and ultimately they will try to upgrade you to new hardware unless you run your environment without coverage.

If you are working within a tight budget and there is no reason to decommission your current hardware, using TPM maintenance providers will help you maintain your current hardware while saving your budget.

If you’re experiencing bandwidth issues with your IT team, you might need to consider outsourcing maintenance to a third-party provider. This can be especially helpful if you have a smaller IT team or if your regular staff isn’t equipped to handle the demand.

Third-party maintenance providers can offer you the necessary help at a fraction of the cost of hiring new staff or expanding your department. Plus, you won’t have to worry about issues escalating quickly and overwhelming your team.

When moving to the cloud, most companies are surprised to find out they need short-term coverage to bridge the gap between on-premise and cloud solutions. Costs increase while you’re moving to the cloud because you are essentially running two environments at once. This inflated cost is often referred to as the “double bubble”.

OEMs lack the flexibility to deal with the unforeseeable time scales and the decommissioning of assets at different times. Even if you only need a couple of months of protection, an OEM might get you to buy a full year of coverage.

Therefore, third-party maintenance providers are indispensable during a cloud migration. Some providers even offer short-term solutions, ranging from one month and upwards. This way, you won’t drain your budget on assets you ultimately do not need. Look into providers that can offer you capital upfront and then lease back the assets you need and decommission them within your time frame.

Third-party maintenance or 3rd party maintenance is a service provided by independent companies that aren’t the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). These companies provide support for hardware equipment like servers, storage, and network gear.

Many businesses are leveraging TPM to extend the life of their IT assets, reduce operational expenses, and enjoy a more flexible, personalized support model.

Often, businesses find themselves questioning the difference between OEM services and third-party maintenance. TPM typically provides a more cost-effective solution, offering 50-80% savings compared to OEMs. They also offer more customizable support, including end-of-life and end-of-service-life support that OEMs usually discontinue, thereby extending the useful life of IT hardware.

Selecting a TPM provider requires careful consideration. Factors such as the provider’s expertise, range of supported devices, response times, and customer support quality play crucial roles. Additionally, it’s worth considering the TPM provider’s geographic coverage, especially if your business operations span multiple locations. Ensuring that the chosen provider meets your specific business needs can maximize the benefits of third-party maintenance.

Third-party maintenance vendors can be a great asset to any company, providing crucial support and ensuring your environment runs smoothly. However, it is important to choose the right vendor for your needs. There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a third-party maintenance provider.

First, make sure the vendor has experience with the type of equipment you use. Second, ensure the vendor has a good reputation and can provide references from satisfied customers. Third, get quotes from several different vendors and compare prices. By taking the time to do your research, you can find a third-party maintenance vendor that will meet your needs and provide quality service.

Not all vendors are the same and the experiences you can have with them can vary dependent on your SLA. Some specialize in specific lines of hardware and mainframes. Others may have a broader reach to cover multiple OEMs. Consider how involved you want a vendor to be in your ticket-handling process. Some will provide a portal where you can do everything you need from a customer perspective. Others simply give you a phone number and an email address as a way to handle issues and make changes.

The longevity of employees is also important. Are you constantly dealing with a new point of contact from your vendor? Consistent and happy employees typically translate to good service and happy customers.

Questions to ask yourself about the provider: How long has the company been around? Does their typical customer profile match that of your company? Some TPM companies live in the SMB space and may struggle to keep up with the needs of an enterprise environment. Are they providing feedback and options or simply taking orders and moving on? Both might be okay for you however look for a company that has a reputation for going above and beyond for your company.

There are many advantages to adopting data center maintenance services from a third party. One of the biggest benefits is reducing IT expenditure by switching from the manufacturer. TPM services are often more flexible when compared to OEM contracts, especially when it’s time to decommission assets due to unforeseeable circumstances or during a lengthy cloud migration.

The decision to use third-party maintenance ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. If you’re looking for cost savings and flexibility or you need around-the-clock support, working with a third-party provider may be the right choice for you. In general, third-party providers are best for businesses that don’t have their own IT staff or need faster repairs.

ReluTech offers third-party support that matches the quality of OEM maintenance, but at a fraction of the cost. Offering flexible break/fix contracts and parts available with short lead times differentiates ReluTech from the competition. If you’re curious about how much your business can save, check out our third-party maintenance offerings and get a quote today!

Third-party maintenance has been around for decades but gained mainstream attention in 2015.  A 2019 Gartner report  examining the hardware support market found that it’s increasingly more common to use a hybrid maintenance strategy with OEM-authorized and OEM-independent maintenance. 

TPM’s increasing popularity has led to an ecosystem of independent support providers for servers, storage, and networking equipment. TPM pricing continues to become more and more aggressive as vendors compete against each other for renewal opportunities. read the entire article here