Service providers are always on the look-out for the latest disruptive technologies in order to increase both sales and market share. However, this quest for the "next big thing" does not take into consideration the fundamental problems that they encounter on a daily basis, problems that both negatively impact their bottom line and the availability of their IT staff who are constantly "putting out fires".

Rather than updating their systems to eliminate difficulties, bottlenecks, and frustrations that arise, they merely purchase the softwares that everyone is talking about and spend a big portion of their yearly budgets on them.

What is wrong with this, you ask? Plenty.

First things first. If service providers merely purchase new softwares as they have done in the past, they land up with a cobbled together system which will prevent them from reaping the benefits of a manageable data center. They will continue operating as they do today, constantly troubleshooting, and not benefit from reductions in overhead costs and increased market-share which comes from providing innovative offerings and top-level customer support to their end-users.

It is impossible for companies to achieve their objectives using outdated systems or processes. If you have the right architecture it's a key competitive advantage. If you don't, your overhead costs will eat up your profit margins, eradicating the profit potential of your new offerings.

Secondly, new technologies - if given time to mature - become less complex and easier to manage and their quality substantially improves. In fact, some new technologies never make it in the marketplace. Therefore, your budget dollars should be better spent.

It is essential to move forward and update the way we work in your datacenter. This will result in reaping the benefits for years to come rather than being forced into a major overhaul when we least expect it, when we have not planned for it and are short on dollars and staff.

Want to offer the latest all the same? Do so via web-based software and SaaS. With no investment in software or hardware, and with minimal training and support, you can spend those budgets in the areas where they will have the biggest impact, thereby reducing the complexity of your datacenter.