MSP Documentation And Implementation Strategy Overview 2024

Documentation platforms such as the Hudu documentation platform have really only existed for the past decade. Prior to 2014, if you asked most service providers what a documentation management solution actually was, you would likely have found Microsoft Sharepoint as the most common answer.

I clearly remember having started my own MSP in around 2004, grappling with the lack of effective documentation solutions. Before I even purchased connectwise, I spent countless hours attempting to configure MS CRM that came included with the action pack so that I could give my techs useful information on the go.

Even back then Microsoft CRM had a mobile client and you could create primitive versions of flexible assets that we see today in the likes of ITGlue. Of course I was never all that successful as it was clunky and required significant amounts of effort out of the box which meant that when I got busy, it took a back seat to the work that paid the bills.

Fast forward around 10 years and I became aware of IT Glue. I remember using it for the first time and coming to the realization that it was everything I had tried creating a decade prior plus so much more. It revolutionized the way many MSPs do business. Of course it is like any piece of widely available software, a rising tide lifts all boats and so some would argue it ultimately changes nothing.

MSP Documentation Landscape

Put simply, if you do not have a documentation platform of some type, you are either just starting out or will not survive. Your organization just cannot compete in today’s market without some type of off the shelf documentation system.

You need a fast efficient way to be able to put the information your support desk needs in front of them. If your competitor does that twice as fast as you can then ultimately you are doing yourself and your clients a disservice.

You can get Hudu licenses on a self hosted platform for about $30 a month at the lowest level and that includes 3 users. 

There is just no thought process required here. Anyone that attempts to debate the topic and suggest they have an internal system based off of Sharepoint or Onenote telegraphs to me that they do not comprehend the benefits and are lacking in experience and knowledge.

Efficiency and a good documentation system specifically designed for MSPs makes such an enormous difference to an operation, it is hard to comprehend.

Most MSPs have a decision to make, are you the mechanic or the tool maker? Messing about and attempting to shoe horn Sharepoint or another non MSP focused tool into a documentation platform is a waste of resources when you will only ever reach about 10% functionality and end up with something that is unable to integrate with an almost unlimited number of tools.

It means giving up having information in one place, needing more qualified people who have more experience with how to get information they need from 7 different platforms and making it difficult to scale up, down or sell the business when the time comes.

Our team specializes in documentation strategies for US based service providers and we assist in improving profit margins through standardization and consistent record keeping strategies, so you can be confident that our content is tailored to your needs.

Please feel free to explore our other articles and click on any that interest you. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how we can help you with your documentation.