At some point, regardless of industry, most companies find themselves in need of a new technology solution, for a myriad of reasons. Some businesses have grown beyond their current manual techniques and require an automated process to support internal or client-facing operations. Other companies, tired of managing multiple systems across several departments, look to consolidate efforts and outputs using one centralized system. Some organizations may simply want to integrate new technology to improve workflow, drive efficiencies, and support their growing infrastructure.
Collaborating with an Outside Consultancy Can Drive Software Solution Success
No matter what the reason for a new software solution, most business owners recognize the need to outsource the selection process to a third-party consultant that specializes in software package strategies and system integrations. Aligning efforts with an outside resource delivers several significant benefits, including:
Increased Internal Bandwidth
Many small- to mid-sized companies struggle with having enough internal resources and bandwidth to manage a software package initiative. Outsourcing the process allows these businesses to keep their internal staff focused on core initiatives.
Process Expertise
Some organizations may have enough personnel to allocate to a software solution initiative. However, they may not have the experience needed to work through a full-scale implementation on their own. A third-party software resource will have the expertise required to identify process improvement tools and manage the process successfully.
Objectivity
Remaining objective when screening potential software vendors is essential to finding the very best technology fit. Throughout the platform optimization engagement, your chosen provider will offer objective insight and intelligence, so you’re armed with everything you’ll need to make the right choice for internal needs.
Know What to Look for in a Third-Party Software Solution Consultant
Of course, deciding to work with an outside provider on a technology initiative is only the first step in a successful engagement. It’s also crucial to find a partner that offers a full-scale, collaborative process that includes several vital steps, such as:
Discovery and Requirement Gathering
A skilled and agile consulting team will launch the engagement with a discovery and requirement gathering phase. During this segment of the project, the team will assess the current technology landscape, determine stakeholder engagement, understand day-to-day routines, and identify “must-have” and “nice-to-have” features.
Obtain Vendor Agreements
Once your partner has a thorough understanding of required functionality and your internal goals, they will begin preliminary conversations with vendors that offer software options that could potentially fill your company’s specific needs. They will start obtaining vendor proposals that give more thorough insight into their terms as well as a deeper dive into the technical functionality to ensure every potential option meets your “must-have” needs.
Evaluation Phase
During the evaluation phase, an experienced consultancy will schedule product demos, conduct reference checks, and perform litigation research to determine any prior data breaches or compromises. Additionally, your designated partner will also do a final run-through of pricing to determine if any possible products should be removed due to budget costs.
Identify Small Group of Strong Contenders
Once a small group of potential finalists has been identified, your partner will work with each vendor to build out a realistic scenario so that relevant stakeholders can test out the functionality. Additionally, your third-party resource will also develop a scorecard to rate and aggregate vendor scores to pinpoint the best final solution.
Is your business ready for a software solution integration or update? InfoWorks can help. Contact us to discuss your needs with our team of strategists today.
