From Friction to Alignment:
How McKinley Studios broke free from the MSP frustration cycle
Explore Deliver Digital’s work with McKinley Studios and see what happens when IT stops being a blocker—and starts enabling business growth..
The Problem.
McKinley Studios had cycled through multiple MSPs. Each promised clarity.
Each fell short.
As the team expanded across offices and markets, frustration mounted. Technology was slowing them down, not moving them forward.
They didn’t need another IT vendor—they needed a reset..
“We had lost all confidence in what IT could do, we now have optimized the partners we have in place and have seen an immediate turnaround. We no longer are having to settle for ‘good enough’.”
- Adam Hart, CFO, McKinley Studios
Our Process.
McKinley believed their MSP issues were about choosing the wrong provider. But after repeated failures, they realized something deeper was off.
Too many critical apps. Not enough ownership. No one steering the ship.
Deliver Digital helped McKinley rethink IT as a core business function.
Through strategic discovery, vendor benchmarking, and internal alignment, the company reframed its approach—reducing outsourced risk, clarifying roles, and building a better foundation for growth.
Instead of starting with tools, Deliver Digital started with people.
1:1 interviews. Company-wide surveys. Executive visioning sessions. What emerged was a clear picture of how inconsistent tech experiences were draining time and morale.
The findings uncovered more than inefficiency. They surfaced buried frustrations and confirmed that IT was quietly costing McKinley more than just budget.
Pain Points
Were surfaced through team-wide interviews.
A Partner Ecosystem Map
Revealed overlap and inefficiencies.
A Digital Roadmap
Was co-created with executive buy-in.
“It was refreshing to have my perspective included in a project like this from the start. As someone who relies so heavily on technology in my day-to-day role, I feel like I see exactly what I needed reflected in who we chose.”
- Anonymous team member, McKinley Studios
What Happened Next.
The problem wasn’t just the MSP—it was the model. Too much was outsourced. Too little was owned.
Deliver Digital recommended a new approach: reduce the MSP’s role, invest in internal strategy, and choose partners based on fit, not flash.
McKinley created a new internal role to own business-critical applications. Deliver Digital facilitated the vendor selection process to ensure the next MSP aligned with the real needs of the business, not just the wishlist of IT.
The biggest shift wasn’t just operational. It was cultural.
McKinley went from frustration to forward momentum. IT became part of board-level conversations. Vendor oversight improved. Communication became clearer. Leadership felt confident in their tech decisions again.
Cost savings showed up fast. But more importantly, day-to-day work got easier.
Deliver Digital stayed involved not as a middleman—but as a strategic coach, helping ensure the new systems delivered on their promise.
Ready to See What’s Possible for Your Team?
Whether you’re facing vendor fatigue, stalled IT projects, or just want an outside perspective, Deliver Digital helps organizations make better technology decisions.
About Deliver Digital.
Deliver Digital is a Calgary-based consultancy helping organizations rethink their IT strategies and vendor relationships.
We don’t sell software—we help you make better decisions about the software you already have.
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