Managed Services vs. Project-Based Work: What’s Best for Your Business?
As your financial or agribusiness firm grows, so do the demands on your technology, marketing, and operational infrastructure. Staying competitive means more than keeping pace—it requires scalable solutions, specialized expertise, and a strategy that aligns with your long-term goals.
When it comes to getting the right kind of help, two engagement models often come into play: Managed Services and Project-Based Work. Both can drive measurable growth and operational efficiency, but the right fit depends on your business goals, resources, and the level of ongoing support your firm needs.
What Are Managed Services?
Managed services are designed to provide businesses with ongoing support across a range of needs, including technology, marketing, and infrastructure. Unlike project-based work, managed services offer a long-term partnership where a dedicated team helps maintain, optimize, and evolve a business’s operations over time. This model often includes a blend of strategy, execution, maintenance, and proactive improvements.
For businesses that want to streamline operations and stay competitive without the overhead of continually expanding in-house teams, managed services offer an efficient, scalable solution. A managed services provider can act as an extension of your team, offering not just maintenance, but tailored expertise aligned with your industry and goals.
At Gate 39, we approach managed services with a focus on delivering both stability and growth. Our clients benefit from ongoing access to specialists who understand their unique needs and provide consistent support and strategic insight that help them move forward with confidence.
Our managed services include:
- Website hosting and monitoring
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Application support and break/fix items
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Infrastructure and cloud services
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Ongoing marketing services
Why choose managed services?
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You need consistent, ongoing support
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You want a predictable monthly retainer
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You lack in-house capacity or specialized expertise
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You’re looking for proactive problem-solving, not just reactive fixes
Support your way: Whether it’s through a retainer, a 12-month maintenance agreement, or a flexible time-and-materials setup, our managed services can flex to meet your level of need.
Streamline Your Operations With Our Managed Services
Example of Managed Services at Gate 39
To help visualize how managed services might apply to your business, here is an example scenario based on a real-world use case.
A prominent global financial organization partnered with Gate 39’s managed services team to elevate its online experience and streamline website operations. Through a long-term retainer, our team provided ongoing development, application support, and technology consulting to improve usability, performance, and security. Key outcomes included smoother user journeys, more efficient backend management, improved data tracking, and reduced infrastructure costs. The result was a stronger digital presence, greater operational efficiency, and a more responsive, client-focused online platform.
What Is Project-Based Work?
Unlike managed services, project-based work focuses on short-term deliverables with a clear end date. This model allows your business to partner with experts to complete a defined task and then wrap it up.
At Gate 39, our project work often includes:
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Website development and redesigns
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Branding and visual identity creation
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CRM setup and integration
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Custom development of portals, mobile apps, and modules
Why choose project-based work?
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You have a clearly defined deliverable and deadline
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Your internal team can take over after launch
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You need fast, focused results
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You’re budgeting for a one-time investment
Project work is structured for efficiency. But when the project ends, so does the formal engagement—unless you decide to continue with managed services for future needs.
What Would a Gate 39 Project Look Like?
Here is a real-world example of how our project-based work can help businesses achieve focused goals with measurable results.
A large futures industry trade association needed to overhaul its legacy data-reporting system because members were unable to access key visualizations due to cybersecurity restrictions. Gate 39 redesigned the architecture: moved to a cloud-based infrastructure, automated manual data flows, streamlined the database, rebuilt the data displays, and integrated a secure industry-leading API. The result: improved reliability and performance, reduced labor hours, faster access to key market metrics, and a strong foundation for future capability expansion.
Case Study: How Gate 39 Transformed FIA's Data Hub
How to Decide What’s Right for You
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s okay. The right model depends on your business’s current state, goals, and available resources.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What’s your internal bandwidth?
If your team is already stretched thin, a managed services partner can keep critical efforts moving without burdening your staff.
2. Is this a one-time need or a recurring one?
If you just need to get from point A to point B (like launching a new website), a project-based approach might be the answer. If the work will be ongoing (like keeping that website updated), consider managed services.
3. Do you want strategy, execution, or both?
Managed services often include strategic planning and performance optimization, not just one-off deliverables. If you want long-term improvement, this model may be more valuable.
4. How quickly do you need to move?
Projects are typically executed in a sprint-style approach, whereas managed services move at a consistent, strategic pace month over month.
Hybrid Option: The Best of Both Worlds
With Gate 39, you don’t have to choose just one approach. We can tailor a plan that blends both models to meet your business where it is and help it grow. Many clients often begin with a project, such as a new website or marketing initiative, and transition into a managed services relationship to support and evolve what we’ve built together.
What matters most is working with a partner who can adapt to your needs and grow with you—whether that’s through long-term support or delivering on high-impact projects.
Not sure which model fits your business best? Let’s schedule a quick consultation to explore your goals and determine the most effective approach for your budget and long-term growth.
You might also be interested in:
- The Value of a Human-Centered Managed Services Team
- 5 Reasons Why Hiring a Project Manager Elevates the Client Experience
- Building Customer Trust: Key Lessons for Lasting Relationships
As your financial or agribusiness firm grows, so do the demands on your technology, marketing, and operational infrastructure. Staying competitive...
Connect with us to discover how we can help your business grow.
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