5 ways to use RMM to generate recurring revenue

You know that building out monitors and scripts to automate your IT services will make your managed services practice more efficient, successful, and profitable. Your next question may be, “Where can I start applying that automation so I can generate more recurring revenue for my business?”

In this article, we cover five areas where you can use your remote monitoring and management (RMM) software platform to implement automation and generate or support recurring revenue in your IT business.

Here are five ways to use RMM solutions to generate recurring revenue:

1. Auto-fix service issues for your clients

Creating proactive monitoring within your RMM tool that responds to and resolves common service issues, such as failed critical services, can improve your customer service by keeping your clients’ IT systems up and working.

Adding small billable charges each time your automation returns a failed service to operation helps document the value of your managed services practice, so your clients always know just how much work you’re doing for them behind the scenes, making them more likely to stick around.

2. Detect opportunities

Data mine opportunities from your client install base by looking for systems in your RMM that don’t meet your minimum standards for workstations and servers. By identifying and then upgrading or replacing these systems in your RMM tool, you’ll find new project work and improve your clients’ productivity.

3. Offer "freemium" services with your RMM software

Install RMM agents on client systems that haven’t yet made the conversion to a recurring managed services plan. Then monitor the systems for common service problems and search for machines that need upgrades or service work. You’ll also be able to use your RMM software to resolve IT issues on demand using scripted automation, stealth IT or by resorting to remote control when needed.

Finally, use your ability to identify issues to be resolved and data mine their install to justify converting them to your flat-rate managed services plan.

4. Deploy third-party software on demand

How fast can you install a new version of Java on an office full of computers? Your RMM solutions can rollout that update after hours in much less time across all of your clients, keeping their offices productive during the workday.

Billing a couple minutes for each update per computer will add up quick, yet it will cost you and your clients much less than if you sent a technician to do it.

5. Document Windows and Microsoft patching of client systems

Both Windows and Microsoft patching are a common component of most managed services offerings. Logging non-billable time—either for performing patch assessment and approval for installation or for the actual install of patches for each system—shows your clients that you’re performing work that normally goes unseen after hours and supports your monthly recurring service plan.

For clients not under a patching service plan, use your RMM tool to deploy patches per your approval policy to bring non-contract clients up to date on their patches, especially during times when those very public security vulnerabilities make the news.