I'm a Network & Sysadmin working at an MSP, and I've noticed that cabling issues make up about 80% of our task queue. The whole process is quite lengthy and tedious, often requiring substantial supervision. Our approach involves finding a cabler, conducting a site survey for an accurate quote, getting approval from the client's HQ, scheduling site visits, and often troubleshooting on-site with the tech. Sometimes, just one run can cost around $1,000! I'm really looking for advice on how to optimize this process. How do you guys handle cabling issues more efficiently?
6 Answers
It's crucial to establish a good relationship with a reliable low voltage contractor. Also, having skilled internal techs can really help troubleshoot issues in real-time, which saves the contractor’s time and keeps things moving smoothly.
We just have a low voltage technician on our team, which really helps in managing these tasks more effectively.
We have a licensed low voltage line of business, covering everything from access control to VOIP and CCTV. Our drop rate is $250 each, which is more manageable. We even take on jobs from other MSPs and local utilities.
We usually connect the cabler directly with the customer. This way, we don't have to get involved too much. We can recommend a couple of options, sorting between a pricier and a more budget-friendly cabler. Just a heads up, the affordable one can be less communicative with customers, so we let them know upfront. We also bill for any time we do end up spending on these situations.
I never worked in MSP, but I always thought about subcontracting anything that would take more than a reasonable day to complete on-site. For smaller tasks, I didn’t have interns to help out, which made the workload a bit tougher.
Can you clarify what you mean by 'cabling issues'? It's surprising to hear that 80% of your tasks are related to cabling unless I’m missing something about your role.
Wait, what does LOB mean?