Skilled hands in your data centre or office, in the UK and worldwide.
Data centres and comms roomsRemote-guided tasksPhotos and sign-off
When your equipment is in a data centre or office you cannot reach, Simplify Networks sends skilled engineers to act as your smart hands. They work to your instructions, on your ticket or call, and leave you with photos, serials and notes. From a simple power cycle to a full hardware swap, one coordinator handles every request across the UK and worldwide.
Smart hands tasks we handle every day
Hardware replacement
Failed disks, PSUs, fans, memory, line cards and whole devices swapped, with the old part returned or disposed of as you instruct.
Cabling and patching
Patch changes, cable traces, fibre cleaning and testing, new runs and tidy-ups to your port map.
Console and remote-guided work
Engineers connect to console, follow your commands step by step, and share screens or photos as they go.
Checks and audits
Visual checks, LED and status reports, asset and serial audits, and photographic surveys of racks and rooms.
Power and reboots
Controlled power cycles, PDU checks and power-on of new kit, coordinated with your monitoring team.
Changes in your window
Planned changes carried out at night or at weekends, step by step to your method statement.
Smart hands vs remote hands
Remote hands
- Simple, scripted tasks
- Power cycles and visual checks
- Reading out labels and lights
- Usually provided by the data centre
Smart hands
- Skilled work by a qualified IT engineer
- Hardware swaps, cabling and configuration support
- Troubleshooting with your team in real time
- Available in data centres, offices and branch sites
Read more in our guide to smart hands vs remote hands.
How a smart hands request works
- Raise the requestEmail the site, task, contact and window, or raise it through our 24/7 service desk.
- We confirmA named engineer, access arrangements and a quote are confirmed before the visit.
- BriefingThe engineer receives your method statement, tickets, contacts and escalation path.
- On siteThe engineer checks in, completes the task with your team and keeps you updated.
- ReportPhotos, serials and notes are sent back, and the ticket is closed with you.
Equipment our engineers work on
Ways to engage us
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Per visit (half or full day) | One-off swaps, checks and urgent tasks |
| Block of hours | Regular requests across several sites |
| Retainer or dedicated engineer | A frequent presence at a key data centre or HQ |
| White label | MSPs and integrators working under their own brand |
Where we work
Smart hands requests are coordinated from London, with engineers across the UK and a vetted network of more than 2,000 engineers worldwide. See the coverage map, our smart hands in London and Slough pages, or ask about your site.
Frequently asked questions
What is smart hands?
Smart hands is skilled onsite technical work carried out by a qualified engineer on your behalf, from a reboot to a full hardware replacement, when your own team cannot be on site.
How is smart hands different from remote hands?
Remote hands usually covers simple tasks such as power cycles or visual checks. Smart hands covers skilled work such as cabling, hardware replacement and guided troubleshooting.
Do engineers bring tools and test equipment?
Yes, standard toolkits, console cables and testers. Specialist tools or parts are agreed in the scope.
Can you follow our method statement and change window?
Yes. Engineers work to your method statement, in your change window, including nights and weekends.
Can engineers meet our site access and security requirements?
Tell us what the site requires, such as inductions, escorts, ID checks or signed agreements, and we will confirm what we can meet before booking.
Need smart hands on site?
Send us the site, the task and the window. We will confirm an engineer and a price.