Switching IT providers isn’t something most businesses do lightly. It’s often the result of ongoing frustrations, slow support, unresolved issues, or a provider that can’t keep up with your growth. So when you finally make that change, your first 30 days are critical.
At Applied Innovation, we know this transition period is more than just technical, it’s about earning your trust and ensuring business continuity. To shed some light on what happens during onboarding, we connected with Malachi Corliss, our Technology Client Onboarding Manager, whose role is dedicated to guiding new clients through those pivotal first weeks.
It All Starts with a Comprehensive Transition
According to Malachi, the core goal in your first 30 days is simple: get everything transitioned and properly set up so that when you need help, our support team already has what they need to assist you quickly and confidently.
“The goal within the first 30 days is to successfully transfer you from your current IT environment to our support services,” he explains. “The more access we have (licensing, email, infrastructure) the better we can support you when you call in.”
That includes not just gaining access to systems and tools, but also ensuring your team knows exactly how to get help. Onboarding includes training your staff on how to submit tickets, what to expect from support, and how to work with our teams effectively.
There Are Hiccups. We’re Ready for Them.
As much as we plan and prepare, not everything is in our control and Malachi is honest about that.
“There are factors like delayed shipments from vendors or forgotten credentials that slow things down. Sometimes we encounter old or unsupported equipment that’s password-protected, and no one remembers the credentials.”
In those cases, recovering access can mean resetting devices, which may wipe their configuration and temporarily impact operations. That’s why we prioritize thorough documentation and remediation early in the process, to prevent surprises later.
“We go through this effort to get your system to where it should’ve been all along. It’s not just about supporting you now, it’s about setting you up for the future.”
What Makes Applied Different? A Team Built Just for This
Malachi leads a team whose entire focus is onboarding, something many IT providers simply don’t offer.
“Most IT providers don’t have dedicated onboarding teams. We do. Our only job is to guide customers through the confusing and often stressful transition between what they had before and the services they’re paying for now.”
His team acts as a liaison between your business, your former provider, and Applied’s long-term support staff (your “Pod”). You’re never on your own to figure things out, and you’re not handed off to your Pod until everything is ready.
“Our objective is crystal clear: make sure nothing is missed, everything is documented, and you’re fully supported before that handoff happens.”
Real Support Even Before You're Fully Onboarded
One of the strengths of having a hands-on onboarding team is that we’re ready to respond, even in high-stress situations.
Malachi recalled a recent transition with a customer, where a power failure caused a critical server to go down, weeks before their onboarding was complete.
“We were able to come onsite, back up the server to preserve the data, and perform a full recovery so they could resume normal operations. That’s the value of having a transition team that’s empowered to step in immediately.”
Clear Communication and Consistent Check-ins
The onboarding team keeps communication simple and consistent, using whatever tools work best for your team – phone, email, or Teams. From the very start, they establish a cadence of weekly check-ins so you’re never left wondering where things stand.
“We want you to know what’s next and feel confident that it’s being handled. We’re also working on even more robust tools for tracking onboarding progress in real-time.”
Tips for a Successful Transition
Malachi shared two key insights that help make onboarding smoother for everyone involved:
1. Expect disruption and help us minimize it.
“IT transitions are disruptive by nature. Our job is to reduce that as much as possible, but the more engaged and communicative your team is, the easier it is for us to move quickly and get ahead of issues.”
2. Be an advocate for the process.
“If you’re excited about working with us, and you show that internally, it makes everything easier, from staff adoption to long-term support. The first 1–2 months shape how you feel about the partnership. That early perception matters.”
A Strong Start = A Strong Partnership
The first 30 days with a new IT provider aren’t just a checklist, they’re the foundation for the years ahead. With Applied Innovation, you’re not just another ticket in a queue. You get a dedicated onboarding team led by technical experts like Malachi Corliss, who understand how to make a complex transition simple, strategic, and successful.
Ready to make a switch with confidence?
Let’s talk about how Applied Innovation can make your first 30 days simple, strategic, and surprisingly smooth.