Glossary of terms

Service Level Agreement (SLA)

SLA (Service Level Agreement) is an agreement between a service provider and a client that sets requirements for the quality and level of a particular service. This document is an important tool that helps to regulate the relationship between the parties and ensure the quality of service. SLA plays an important role in ensuring the quality and reliability of a service. It sets clear requirements for the level of service, such as response time, availability, and support. With a Service Level Agreement, parties can have a clear understanding of each other’s expectations and responsibilities. This helps to ensure customer satisfaction and develop trust in business relationships.

An SLA consists of several key elements:

Service description:

First, the SLA includes a description of the service that the supplier provides. This can be either a general description or a detailed list of actions and responsibilities. The description must be clear and understandable for both parties.

Service level:

The SLA also establishes the level of service, including maximum availability, response time, and support level. These indicators can be expressed in numerical values or defined as low, medium, and high-priority criteria.

There are some recommendations to consider when setting SLAs:


Clarity and comprehensibility:

The SLA should be clear and understandable to both parties. General terms that are open to interpretation should be avoided. Clarity is key to establishing a common understanding of requirements and expectations.

Relevant metrics:

When establishing metrics, the real needs of the client should be taken into account. It is necessary to identify the metrics that are important to the client and that help them assess the quality of service delivery.

SLAs have a significant impact on the business of both parties – the supplier and the client. First of all, SLA helps to ensure the stability of the relationship between the supplier and the client. Clear requirements and understanding ensure a high level of trust, which contributes to the development of reliable partnerships. Another important aspect is customer satisfaction. With SLAs, customers know what they can expect and what expectations they can have. This contributes to a high level of customer satisfaction and helps ensure customer loyalty.

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