You’ve had initial discussions with a third party service provider and have decided that you want to work with them. But you want to make sure that you are protected in case the services you think you have agreed to are not delivered. This is when you should enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Here we’ll be going over the basics of Service Level Agreements and what a Service Level Agreement Template (South Africa) should contain.
It’s important to note that a Service Level Agreement regulates services and NOT goods.
We’re covering the following:
A Service Level Agreement is an agreement between a service provider and a customer that regulates the rights and obligations of both parties.
The customer and service provider agree on the services required, level of service, metrics, and consequences if the level of service is not met. A Service Level Agreement sets the expectations between the parties and manages service delivery. The scope of the services to be provided is defined. And the inclusions and exclusions are clearly set out.
A Service Level Agreement could be used in the following example. Let’s say that you invent a new product and approach a manufacturer. After initial discussions with the manufacturer, you decide that you want to work with them. This is the time to enter into a Service Level Agreement. The contract regulates the rights and obligations of both parties.
Sometimes these contracts are used in combination with registered Intellectual Property rights such as a Patent or Registered Design. But even in the absence of having a patent or a registered design, you have at least contractually bound the manufacturer (or other third party). So even in the absence of any statutory (registered) intellectual property rights, the SLA should aid you to enforce your rights. Check out Why Intellectual Property Protection Is Actually Just Like Special Insurance to learn more about protecting your invention.
An SLA is applicable to any service you want to measure. This could be providing security services to a residential complex, manufacturing a new braai implement, outsourced HR services, or even a food delivery service for the office lunch.
Service Level Agreements protect both parties, i.e., the service provider and the customer. Without a Service Level Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties are not clear. Both of you come to an agreement on expectations and consequences, and the SLA establishes this commitment.
For example, what will happen if one party does not hold up their end of the bargain? What are the expected standards? Which metrics measure service delivery? And what if the customer wants to end the contract early?
If disagreements occur, the Service Level Agreement is used as reference to clear them up.
SLAs are important for the customer to have in place because if the service provider does not meet their obligations, this could seriously affect the customer’s bottom line and/or reputation. For example, as a result, they may not be able to deliver service to their customers.
On the flip side, SLAs are just as important for the service provider. Because if the customer has unreasonable demands and there is no agreement in place, this could have serious consequences for the service provider. For example, they could be liable for huge costs if the customer demands an add-on service that is out of scope and there is no agreement in place.
How does a Service Level Agreement provide peace of mind to both parties? By clearly setting out expectations and consequences. But for the sake of both parties, it’s important to agree to realistic deliverables. For example, the time frame needs to be realistic, the frequency of the services needs to be achievable, and the metrics must be easily measured.
After initial discussions with a third party, if you decide that you want to work with them, you can then enter into a Service Level Agreement.
Examples of third parties include manufacturers, security providers, IT service providers, outsourcing services, software developers, professional services, or construction service providers. As you can see, a wide variety of industries use Service Level Agreements.
And if you’re starting a business and a crucial part of your business is executed externally, it is vital to clearly document that relationship and its expectations. Check out 3 Important Legal Questions to Think About When Starting a Business if you’re considering starting a business.
There are 4 different types of Service Level Agreements:
Advantages of Service Level Agreements:
Disadvantages of Service Level Agreements:
Mitigate these disadvantages by seeking the assistance of an Attorney with drafting your Service Level Agreement. And regularly review your SLAs to ensure that both parties are on the same page and that the service provider can continue to meet expectations. This will go a long way in preventing disputes.
Often, the vendor/service provider will provide the SLA. This will happen in cases when the provider has a standard service level agreement for multiple customers. However, these can be one-sided (in favour of the service provider). Therefore, clients should review the agreement before signing and preferably have it reviewed by an Attorney to highlight any concerns and avoid problems in the future.
Clearly set out the customer’s specific needs and requirements in the agreement. You should seek the help of an Attorney to draft customised, enforceable Service Level Agreement templates. This is especially crucial when intellectual property is involved.
Regularly update Service Level Agreements to incorporate all changes. Write these contracts in plain language. Why? So that all parties involved understand them and can actually adopt them in practice.
The contents of the agreement will depend on the industry, the service to be provided, and specific requirements. But, in general, SLAs will include most of the following:
Customise your Service Level Agreement to your particular situation and requirements. Consult an Attorney to ensure that you have an enforceable SLA that protects all essential aspects.
There are many advantages to having a Service Level Agreement in place. Above all, it protects both the service provider and customer and provides peace of mind because expectations are clear. For the service provider, Service Level Agreements are highly recommended as a part of your strategy to build good relationships with customers.
