Companies like ADP, which manages corporate payroll and human resource applications, have been around for years. Perhaps it is the proliferation of service providers - applications and otherwise. As we've talked about, the number of service providers eagerly adopting the ASP label continues to rise. In addition, functions are changing. It doesn't help matters that many of the service providers we've spoken to are just as confused as their customers.
Many providers have roots in managing other aspects of the IT infrastructure.
Because application management involves administering not just software but also the network it runs on top of, these providers can bring a lot to the table in terms of expertise. Unfortunately, most do not clearly articulate the services they are capable of providing. For the answer, look no farther than those providers that know their business, understand their competitive advantage - and make hard promises about what kind of service their customers can expect. Though SLAs are the norm in relationships with providers of WAN managed services, many companies shy away from asking ASPs for guarantees. The more SLAs become part of the ASP equation, the more likely clarity will come to the market.