DIY vs Managed Digital Signage Services
The decision between managing your digital signage in-house (DIY) versus outsourcing to a managed service provider fundamentally affects your organization's resource allocation, operational capabilities, and total cost of ownership. This guide provides a framework for making this strategic decision.
Understanding the Service Spectrum
Service Model Overview
Digital signage service models range from complete self-management to fully outsourced operations:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SERVICE MODEL SPECTRUM │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ◄──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────► │
│ FULL DIY FULL MANAGED │
│ │
│ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ │
│ │ Pure │ │ DIY + │ │ Co- │ │ Managed │ │ Full │ │
│ │ DIY │ │ Support │ │ Managed │ │ Service │ │ Turnkey │ │
│ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ │
│ │
│ You do You manage, Shared Provider Provider does │
│ everything vendor responsi- operates, everything │
│ supports bilities you approve end-to-end │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ Maximum ◄─────────────────────────────────► Minimum │
│ Control Control │
│ │
│ Minimum ◄─────────────────────────────────► Maximum │
│ Cost Cost │
│ │
│ Maximum ◄─────────────────────────────────► Minimum │
│ Internal Internal │
│ Resources Resources │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Model Definitions
Pure DIY Organization handles all aspects: hardware selection and procurement, software licensing, installation, content creation, day-to-day operations, maintenance, and support. No external service providers except for product purchases.
DIY with Vendor Support Organization manages operations but has access to vendor support for troubleshooting, training, and guidance. Typically includes software vendor support agreements and hardware warranties.
Co-Managed Responsibilities are split between internal team and service provider. Common splits: provider handles technical infrastructure while client manages content, or provider handles deployment while client handles ongoing operations.
Managed Service Provider handles most technical and operational aspects. Client retains control over content strategy and approval. Provider manages hardware, software, monitoring, and maintenance.
Full Turnkey Provider handles everything from strategy through ongoing operations. Client provides business requirements and approves content. Often includes content creation, deployment, monitoring, updates, and all support.
Responsibility Matrix
Task Ownership by Model
| Task | Pure DIY | DIY+Support | Co-Managed | Managed | Turnkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy & Planning | Client | Client | Shared | Client/Provider | Provider |
| Hardware Selection | Client | Client | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Hardware Procurement | Client | Client | Either | Provider | Provider |
| Site Surveys | Client | Client | Either | Provider | Provider |
| Installation | Client | Client | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Software Setup | Client | Client | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Network Config | Client | Client | Shared | Provider | Provider |
| Content Strategy | Client | Client | Client | Client | Shared |
| Content Creation | Client | Client | Either | Either | Provider |
| Content Scheduling | Client | Client | Client | Either | Provider |
| Monitoring | Client | Client | Shared | Provider | Provider |
| Troubleshooting | Client | Vendor-assisted | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Hardware Repair | Client | Warranty | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Software Updates | Client | Client | Provider | Provider | Provider |
| Reporting | Client | Client | Either | Provider | Provider |
| Strategic Review | Client | Client | Shared | Shared | Provider |
Detailed Responsibility Breakdown
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RESPONSIBILITY BREAKDOWN BY PHASE │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ PLANNING PHASE │
│ ├── Needs assessment │
│ ├── Technology selection │
│ ├── Budget planning │
│ ├── Vendor evaluation │
│ └── Project planning │
│ │
│ DIY: 40-80 hours internal labor │
│ Managed: 4-8 hours client time, provider leads │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ DEPLOYMENT PHASE │
│ ├── Hardware procurement │
│ ├── Site preparation │
│ ├── Physical installation │
│ ├── Network configuration │
│ ├── Software deployment │
│ ├── Content setup │
│ ├── Testing and validation │
│ └── Training │
│ │
│ DIY: 4-8 hours per display │
│ Managed: 1-2 hours client oversight per display │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ OPERATIONS PHASE (Monthly) │
│ ├── Content updates │
│ ├── Schedule changes │
│ ├── Monitoring and alerts │
│ ├── Issue resolution │
│ ├── Software updates │
│ ├── Hardware maintenance │
│ └── Performance reporting │
│ │
│ DIY: 2-4 hours per display per month │
│ Managed: 0.5-1 hour client oversight per display per month │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Cost Comparison Framework
DIY Cost Components
Internal Labor Costs (Often Hidden)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DIY INTERNAL LABOR COSTS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ PLANNING & SETUP (One-Time) │
│ ├── Research and evaluation: 20-40 hours │
│ ├── Vendor selection: 10-20 hours │
│ ├── Project planning: 10-20 hours │
│ ├── Procurement: 5-10 hours │
│ ├── Installation (per display): 2-4 hours │
│ ├── Configuration (per display): 1-2 hours │
│ ├── Testing (per display): 0.5-1 hour │
│ └── Training (self-training): 8-16 hours │
│ │
│ Example: 20-display deployment │
│ • Planning: 50 hours │
│ • Per-display work: 4 hrs × 20 = 80 hours │
│ • Training: 12 hours │
│ • Total: ~142 hours │
│ • At $50/hr fully loaded: $7,100 internal cost │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ ONGOING OPERATIONS (Annual) │
│ ├── Content management: 2-8 hours/week │
│ ├── Monitoring: 1-2 hours/week │
│ ├── Troubleshooting: 2-4 hours/week average │
│ ├── Updates and maintenance: 2-4 hours/month │
│ └── Reporting: 2-4 hours/month │
│ │
│ Annual estimate (20 displays): │
│ • Weekly tasks: 6 hours × 52 = 312 hours │
│ • Monthly tasks: 4 hours × 12 = 48 hours │
│ • Total: ~360 hours/year │
│ • At $50/hr: $18,000/year internal cost │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Direct DIY Costs
| Category | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display Hardware | $400-2,500/unit | Commercial-grade recommended |
| Media Players | $100-600/unit | Depends on content complexity |
| Mounting | $100-500/unit | Varies by installation type |
| CMS Software | $15-50/player/month | Or perpetual license |
| Network Equipment | $50-200/location | Switches, cables, etc. |
| Tools & Supplies | $200-500 one-time | Installation equipment |
| Spare Parts | 5-10% of hardware | Recommended reserve |
Managed Service Cost Components
Typical Managed Service Pricing Models
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MANAGED SERVICE PRICING MODELS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ MODEL 1: PER-SCREEN MONTHLY │
│ ├── Basic (monitoring + support): $50-100/screen/month │
│ ├── Standard (+ content scheduling): $100-200/screen/month │
│ ├── Premium (+ content creation): $200-400/screen/month │
│ └── Enterprise (full service): $300-600/screen/month │
│ │
│ Usually includes: │
│ • Software licensing │
│ • 24/7 monitoring │
│ • Remote support │
│ • Software updates │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ MODEL 2: HARDWARE-AS-A-SERVICE (HaaS) │
│ ├── Display + player bundle: $75-200/screen/month │
│ ├── Premium displays: $150-400/screen/month │
│ ├── Video wall (per panel): $100-250/panel/month │
│ │
│ Usually includes: │
│ • Hardware ownership by provider │
│ • Replacement/repair │
│ • Technology refresh │
│ • No upfront capital │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ MODEL 3: PROJECT-BASED + RETAINER │
│ ├── Deployment: $500-2,000/screen (one-time) │
│ ├── Monthly retainer: $500-5,000/month (all screens) │
│ ├── Content creation: Per-project pricing │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ MODEL 4: BUNDLED SOLUTION │
│ Everything included for fixed monthly: │
│ ├── Small (5-10 screens): $1,000-2,500/month │
│ ├── Medium (11-50 screens): $2,500-7,500/month │
│ ├── Large (51-200 screens): $7,500-25,000/month │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
TCO Comparison Example
5-Year TCO: 50 Screens
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 5-YEAR TCO COMPARISON: 50 SCREENS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ DIY APPROACH │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Year 1: │ │
│ │ Hardware (displays): $40,000 │ │
│ │ Hardware (players): $15,000 │ │
│ │ Installation: $12,500 │ │
│ │ Software (annual): $12,000 │ │
│ │ Internal labor (setup): $17,500 │ │
│ │ Internal labor (operations): $45,000 │ │
│ │ Year 1 Total: $142,000 │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Years 2-5 (each): │ │
│ │ Software: $12,000 │ │
│ │ Internal labor: $45,000 │ │
│ │ Hardware replacements: $5,000 │ │
│ │ Years 2-5 Total: $248,000 │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ 5-YEAR DIY TOTAL: $390,000 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ MANAGED SERVICE APPROACH │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Monthly managed service: $150/screen × 50 = $7,500/month │ │
│ │ Annual managed cost: $90,000 │ │
│ │ Internal oversight (reduced): $9,000/year │ │
│ │ Annual Total: $99,000 │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ 5-YEAR MANAGED TOTAL: $495,000 │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ COMPARISON │
│ ├── DIY saves: $105,000 (21%) over 5 years │
│ ├── BUT requires: 2,050+ hours internal labor │
│ ├── Managed provides: Expertise, reliability, scalability │
│ ├── DIY risk: Staff turnover, learning curve, mistakes │
│ └── True cost depends on opportunity cost of internal time │
│ │
│ BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS │
│ If internal labor valued at $70/hr instead of $50/hr: │
│ DIY 5-year cost = $453,000 (almost equal to managed) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Skills and Expertise Requirements
DIY Skill Requirements
Technical Skills Needed
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DIY SKILL REQUIREMENTS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ HARDWARE SKILLS │
│ ├── Commercial display installation │
│ │ └── Mounting, cabling, electrical safety │
│ ├── Media player setup and configuration │
│ │ └── Operating systems, driver installation │
│ ├── Network connectivity │
│ │ └── IP configuration, firewall rules, VLANs │
│ └── Basic troubleshooting │
│ └── Hardware diagnostics, cable testing │
│ │
│ SOFTWARE SKILLS │
│ ├── CMS administration │
│ │ └── User management, permissions, configuration │
│ ├── Content management │
│ │ └── File formats, optimization, scheduling │
│ ├── Operating system management │
│ │ └── Windows/Linux/Android administration │
│ └── Integration development (if needed) │
│ └── APIs, data feeds, custom widgets │
│ │
│ CONTENT SKILLS │
│ ├── Graphic design basics │
│ │ └── Signage-appropriate design, typography │
│ ├── Video editing (if using video) │
│ │ └── Format conversion, optimization │
│ └── Template creation │
│ └── Layout design, zone configuration │
│ │
│ PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS │
│ ├── Vendor coordination │
│ ├── Timeline management │
│ ├── Budget tracking │
│ └── Stakeholder communication │
│ │
│ Skill Gap Risk: │
│ • Staff turnover leaves knowledge gaps │
│ • Training time for new team members │
│ • Mistakes during learning curve │
│ • Delayed troubleshooting without expertise │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Managed Service Provider Capabilities
What MSPs Bring
| Capability | DIY Equivalent | MSP Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Experience | Learning curve | Hundreds of deployments |
| Technical Depth | Generalists | Digital signage specialists |
| Vendor Relationships | Retail pricing | Volume discounts |
| Best Practices | Trial and error | Proven methodologies |
| Issue Resolution | Research solutions | Seen it before |
| Availability | Business hours | 24/7 monitoring |
| Scalability | Hire more staff | Existing capacity |
| Risk Mitigation | Self-insured | Professional liability |
Decision Framework
When to Choose DIY
DIY is best when:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DIY IDEAL CONDITIONS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ✓ ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS │
│ □ Existing IT team with capacity │
│ □ Technical staff interested in owning signage │
│ □ Low staff turnover in IT department │
│ □ Culture of internal capability building │
│ □ Time available for learning curve │
│ │
│ ✓ DEPLOYMENT FACTORS │
│ □ Small to medium scale (under 50 screens) │
│ □ Single or few locations │
│ □ Standard, non-critical content │
│ □ Flexible timeline for deployment │
│ □ Simple content requirements │
│ │
│ ✓ BUDGET FACTORS │
│ □ Capital budget available │
│ □ Internal labor not charged to project │
│ □ Long-term cost optimization priority │
│ □ Budget for training and tools │
│ │
│ ✓ STRATEGIC FACTORS │
│ □ Signage is core to business operations │
│ □ Competitive advantage from internal expertise │
│ □ Data/content sensitivity concerns │
│ □ Desire for maximum control and flexibility │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
When to Choose Managed Services
Managed services are best when:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MANAGED SERVICE IDEAL CONDITIONS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ✓ ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS │
│ □ Limited or no IT resources available │
│ □ IT focused on core business systems │
│ □ High staff turnover makes expertise retention hard │
│ □ Prefer to outsource non-core functions │
│ □ Need guaranteed service levels │
│ │
│ ✓ DEPLOYMENT FACTORS │
│ □ Large scale (over 100 screens) │
│ □ Multiple geographic locations │
│ □ Mission-critical content (revenue-generating) │
│ □ Aggressive deployment timeline │
│ □ Complex content or integration requirements │
│ │
│ ✓ BUDGET FACTORS │
│ □ Prefer OpEx over CapEx │
│ □ Predictable monthly costs preferred │
│ □ Internal labor costs are high or scarce │
│ □ Budget includes true cost of internal time │
│ │
│ ✓ STRATEGIC FACTORS │
│ □ Signage supports but isn't core business │
│ □ Need expertise immediately │
│ □ Risk mitigation is priority │
│ □ Speed to deployment is critical │
│ □ 24/7 support required │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Decision Matrix
| Factor | Weight | DIY Score (1-5) | Managed Score (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (5-year TCO) | 25% | Higher at scale | Lower for small |
| Speed to Deploy | 15% | Slower | Faster |
| Internal Resources | 20% | Requires dedicated | Minimal needed |
| Expertise | 15% | Built over time | Immediate access |
| Control | 10% | Maximum | Shared |
| Scalability | 10% | Requires planning | Built-in |
| Risk | 5% | Self-managed | Transferred |
Hybrid Approaches
Co-Managed Models
Common Responsibility Splits
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CO-MANAGED MODEL OPTIONS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ OPTION 1: INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGED, CONTENT IN-HOUSE │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Provider Handles: Client Handles: │ │
│ │ • Hardware procurement • Content strategy │ │
│ │ • Installation • Content creation │ │
│ │ • Network setup • Content scheduling │ │
│ │ • Monitoring • Playlist management │ │
│ │ • Hardware support • User management │ │
│ │ • Software updates │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ Best for: Organizations with marketing/creative teams but no IT │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ OPTION 2: DEPLOYMENT MANAGED, OPERATIONS IN-HOUSE │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Provider Handles: Client Handles: │ │
│ │ • Project planning • Day-to-day operations │ │
│ │ • Hardware selection • Content management │ │
│ │ • Installation • Monitoring │ │
│ │ • Training • First-line support │ │
│ │ • Knowledge transfer • Ongoing maintenance │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ Best for: Organizations building internal capability │
│ │
│ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ OPTION 3: TIERED SUPPORT MODEL │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Client Handles: Provider Handles: │ │
│ │ • Tier 1: Basic issues • Tier 2: Technical issues │ │
│ │ • Content updates • Tier 3: Advanced problems │ │
│ │ • Simple troubleshooting • Escalation path │ │
│ │ • User requests • On-site dispatch │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ Best for: Organizations with some IT but need expert backup │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Transitional Approach
Starting Managed, Transitioning to DIY
Many organizations start with managed services to deploy quickly and build knowledge, then transition to self-management:
Phase 1: Full Managed (Months 1-6)
- Provider handles everything
- Client learns from observation
- Knowledge transfer begins
- Documentation created
Phase 2: Co-Managed (Months 7-12)
- Client takes on content management
- Provider handles infrastructure
- Client staff receives training
- Gradual responsibility shift
Phase 3: DIY with Support (Year 2+)
- Client handles day-to-day operations
- Provider on-call for escalations
- Annual maintenance agreements
- Strategic consulting as needed
Vendor Selection for Managed Services
Evaluation Criteria
Provider Assessment Checklist
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER EVALUATION │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ COMPANY STABILITY │
│ □ Years in business (prefer 5+) │
│ □ Financial stability │
│ □ Client retention rate │
│ □ Growth trajectory │
│ □ Insurance and bonding │
│ │
│ EXPERIENCE │
│ □ Similar industry experience │
│ □ Similar scale deployments │
│ □ Geographic coverage │
│ □ Case studies and references │
│ □ Technology partnerships │
│ │
│ SERVICE CAPABILITIES │
│ □ 24/7 monitoring │
│ □ Defined response times (SLA) │
│ □ On-site support availability │
│ □ Content creation services │
│ □ Integration capabilities │
│ │
│ TECHNOLOGY │
│ □ Hardware vendor relationships │
│ □ Software platform expertise │
│ □ Multi-platform support │
│ □ Proprietary vs. standard technology │
│ □ Technology refresh policies │
│ │
│ PRICING │
│ □ Pricing transparency │
│ □ Contract flexibility │
│ □ Scaling costs │
│ □ Exit provisions │
│ □ Price increase history │
│ │
│ SUPPORT │
│ □ Support team structure │
│ □ Escalation procedures │
│ □ Account management │
│ □ Training offerings │
│ □ Documentation quality │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Contract Considerations
Key Contract Terms
| Term | What to Negotiate | Risk if Not Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| SLA | Uptime guarantees, response times, remedies | No recourse for poor service |
| Scope | Clearly defined inclusions/exclusions | Surprise charges |
| Term Length | Shorter terms, exit provisions | Lock-in to poor service |
| Price Protection | Caps on annual increases | Uncontrolled cost growth |
| Ownership | Who owns hardware at end | Stranded assets |
| Data | Your data remains yours | Vendor holds data hostage |
| Transition | Assistance if you leave | Difficult exit |
| Insurance | Required coverage levels | Liability exposure |
Risk Analysis
DIY Risks
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Turnover | Medium-High | High | Documentation, cross-training |
| Learning Curve Delays | High | Medium | Training, pilot projects |
| Hardware Failures | Medium | Medium | Spare inventory, warranties |
| Scope Creep | High | Medium | Clear requirements, change control |
| Underestimated Costs | High | Medium | Detailed budgeting, contingency |
| Quality Issues | Medium | High | Standards, testing, peer review |
Managed Service Risks
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor Lock-in | Medium | High | Exit provisions, standard technology |
| Cost Escalation | Medium | Medium | Price caps, competitive reviews |
| Service Quality | Low-Medium | High | SLAs, performance monitoring |
| Vendor Stability | Low | High | Financial diligence, escrow |
| Loss of Control | Medium | Medium | Governance, approval workflows |
| Communication Issues | Medium | Medium | Account management, escalation paths |
Industry-Specific Guidance
Retail
Recommendation: Managed or Co-Managed
- Distributed locations favor managed approach
- Marketing owns content, provider handles infrastructure
- Seasonal scaling requires flexibility
- Store staff cannot support technology
Healthcare
Recommendation: Co-Managed or DIY with Support
- Compliance requirements need oversight
- IT department typically exists
- Patient data sensitivity
- 24/7 operation requirements
Corporate
Recommendation: DIY or Co-Managed
- Internal IT capabilities often exist
- Integration with enterprise systems
- Corporate communications owns content
- Budget typically allows internal resources
Hospitality
Recommendation: Managed
- Multiple properties benefit from centralization
- Property staff focused on guests
- Consistent guest experience priority
- Integration with PMS and booking systems
Quick Service Restaurants
Recommendation: Managed
- Franchise model benefits from standardization
- Store-level technical capability minimal
- Menu and pricing updates centrally controlled
- POS integration critical
Implementation Recommendations
For DIY Path
Success Factors
-
Assign Dedicated Owner
- Single point of accountability
- 25-50% of role for medium deployments
- Clear escalation path
-
Invest in Training
- Vendor training for CMS
- Hardware installation certification
- Content design fundamentals
-
Create Documentation
- Setup procedures
- Troubleshooting guides
- Content guidelines
- Vendor contacts
-
Build Vendor Relationships
- Hardware support agreements
- Software support subscription
- Installation contractor backup
-
Plan for Continuity
- Cross-train team members
- Document institutional knowledge
- Maintain updated documentation
For Managed Service Path
Success Factors
-
Define Clear Requirements
- Detailed scope document
- Service level expectations
- Escalation procedures
-
Establish Governance
- Regular review meetings
- Performance metrics
- Change request process
-
Maintain Oversight
- Internal project owner
- Content approval workflow
- Quality monitoring
-
Plan for Transition
- Knowledge transfer provisions
- Data portability requirements
- Exit strategy documented
Decision Worksheet
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DIY vs MANAGED DECISION WORKSHEET │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ DEPLOYMENT PROFILE │
│ Number of screens: _____ │
│ Number of locations: _____ │
│ Content complexity: Simple / Medium / Complex │
│ Timeline to deploy: _____ weeks/months │
│ │
│ ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT │
│ Available IT FTE: _____ │
│ IT hourly cost (fully loaded): $_____ │
│ Technical skill level: Low / Medium / High │
│ Staff turnover rate: Low / Medium / High │
│ │
│ SCORING (1-5, where 5 = strongly favor that approach) │
│ │
│ Factor DIY Managed │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ IT resources available ___ ___ │
│ Technical expertise exists ___ ___ │
│ Time to deploy matches need ___ ___ │
│ Budget model preference ___ ___ │
│ Long-term cost optimization ___ ___ │
│ Control/flexibility priority ___ ___ │
│ Risk tolerance ___ ___ │
│ Scale efficiency ___ ___ │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ TOTALS ___ ___ │
│ │
│ PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATION: │
│ □ Pure DIY │
│ □ DIY with vendor support │
│ □ Co-managed │
│ □ Managed service │
│ □ Full turnkey │
│ │
│ KEY CONSIDERATIONS: │
│ _______________________________________________________________ │
│ _______________________________________________________________ │
│ _______________________________________________________________ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The right service model aligns with your organization's capabilities, resources, and strategic priorities. Neither DIY nor managed is universally better—the best choice depends on your specific situation.