Service-level agreements (SLAs) are an important component of business consulting http://royston-consulting.com/tips-on-choosing-an-outsourcing-consulting-service. They are often used by a company to communicate with its customers. It provides the information that each party needs to achieve their goals.
SLAs protect both the end user and the service provider by establishing standards, targets and consequences for meeting or not meeting those expectations. They also allow for the creation of key performance indicators that can help a business identify areas that are not on track to meet its strategic objectives.
The SLA will define all services that are covered in a particular contract, along with any exclusions and details on turnaround times. The contract should also include a list of metrics to be used in measuring the service provider’s performance.
Metrics that are easy to collect should be chosen to reflect factors that are under the reasonable control of the service provider. They should also be set to a reasonable baseline, so that they can be refined over time.
KPIs, or key performance indicators, are metrics that measure the success of a business in terms its primary goals. It can help determine whether the business is veering away from its course, a common problem with small businesses.