When researching different ITSM (Information Technology Service Management) solutions for managing your organization’s IT services, you may have noticed that prices can vary greatly from one tool to another.
At first glance, some of these prices may seem like good deals. However, most of the time, these attractive prices conceal additional costs.
In this article, we take a look at some of the hidden costs of certain ITSM solutions on the market.
Hidden costs based on the distribution model of the ITSM solution
When researching your next ITSM solution, you should inquire about the distribution model behind it, since this could have a significant impact on the total cost of ownership.
For example, on-premises ITSM tools often come with a number of additional fees related to installation costs or complicated licenses that may depend on the size of your infrastructure or the number of users.
In contrast, software as a service (SaaS) uses an annual subscription model with a fixed amount per user that includes the majority of these fees. On the other hand, the growth of these costs as well as those related to the reversibility of these services, which are often completely overlooked, must be anticipated.
However, some on-premises ITSM solutions also operate on an annual subscription basis. For example, the iTop Professional tool does not charge any additional fees per user or installation fees.
Support and upgrade costs for your ITSM solution
Updating your IT Service Management solution can be difficult, since you need to ensure that your existing processes work just as well in the new version of the tool. Assistance from your ITSM provider may therefore be required.
Ask about the support and assistance fees charged by your provider, as in some cases these costs can add up fairly quickly.
At SEI, we offer credits for our ITSM consulting services at very competitive prices. You can use these credits at any time and only when you need them.
The hidden costs of configuring an ITSM solution
Implementing your various ITIL processes on your own based on the specific needs and requirements of your organization can be complex. Under certain circumstances, it may even be necessary to outsource this task to third parties, which can be quite costly.
However, you can use graphical editing tools that are designed to help you configure your ITSM solution. For example, iTop Professional gives you access to ITSM Designer, an editing tool that allows you to tailor your solution to your needs, even if you have little in-depth knowledge in this field.
The importance of transparency
Before choosing your new ITSM solution, make sure you do your research and inquire about the potential hidden costs to avoid unpleasant surprises.
One of our mottos at SEI Team is to be as transparent as possible at all times. When you choose our services, you can rest assured that you are dealing with a reliable company that puts customer satisfaction first.
We invite you to contact us for more information about our services and the iTop Professional ITSM solution!