Learn how to choose the best IT partner for your company
_Does your company need digital automation services, ecommerce solutions or a new app? Here are some tips to help you find the perfect IT partner._
By Ana Castro, Role — Feb 04, 2022 — 15 min. — Business Tips, Digital Transformation, Free Guides, Kodly
Technology has become your company’s most powerful ally, with its potential to transform all processes into digital. However, some organisations can not find, in their IT departments, the strategic skills their business needs.
The answer may lie in a costume made solution, IT outsourcing or nearshoring, tree possibilities brought about by Digital Transformation. While there are many types of IT partners for different purposes, the focus of this article is not to explain the differences between all possible forms of collaboration. What we aim to do is help CEOs, IT directors, startup founders, and other professional to understand how to choose the ideal IT partner for their companies.
The main objective of any IT company will be to help your business with implementing and/or optimising its technical systems. At Kodly, we created a 5-step guide to help you with your choice.
1 – Analyse your business needs
Start by listing the tech needs of your organisation and what it takes to solve them.
Think about your current IT structure, as well as your long-term projections and goals, and write an RFP – Request For Proposal as much complete and objective as possible.
Don’t forget to include KPIs – real and measurable indicators for your supplier.
2 – Search for all the good signs
If you have no idea how to start your research, do not hesitate to ask your industry peers for recommendations. After having a small list of potential suppliers, take a look at their websites and search specifically for client testimonials, reviews and case studies which can support their expertise and quality of service.
Asking for references from former or current clients is also a good idea. If possible, investigate how were the long-term relationships established with previous customers. It is advisable to give preference to IT companies that have been working for more than 3 years.
3 – Ensure compatibility of values, culture and vision
Take some time to get to know your future partner well. Make sure you both “speak the same language”, and that there is a strong cultural fit.
It is not compulsory for the chosen partner to have worked in your industry before. Nevertheless, at Kodly we think it is crucial to find a company which clearly understands your business and your main goals. This kind of affinity is noticeable in the first contacts with the supplier: communication should be fluid and easy. In the other hand, the actions proposed by the partner should make sense for your company.
4 – Instead of price, focus on potential ROI.
OK, OK… We do not live in an ideal world. And we know that price is a decisive factor when selecting a partner for an IT project. After all, you need to stick to your budget, right?
Even so, when it comes to price, please keep in mind:
- Price is not directly related to quality. The most expensive companies are not necessarily the best solution for your business.
- On the other hand, making a decision based only on the cheapest budget can, in the end, be very costly. As a sales strategy, some potential partners prefer to present a lower starting price to get the deal, but then make you pay extra fees for an endless succession of interactions to achieve the desired result. This will make you lose a countless amount of time and money.
Before accepting a proposal, double-check the technical features included in it. Even with a well-written RFQ, make sure you are not opting for a generic solution, with limited options that can hinder the growth of your business for its lack of flexibility.
5 – Last, but not the least: after-sales support
Before choosing an IT partner, check out what type of after-sales support is offered. You can ask relevant questions, such as:
- What is your approach to after-sales support and security?
- Do you provide training? (This one makes sense if you have to learn how to use the product.)
- What kind of maintenance / updates are you willing to do?
- If something goes wrong (for example, compatibility issues), can you give us some type of support?
One final tip!
Don’t forget: for a successful business relationship, it’s important to document the terms of the project, including payments, schedule, and guidelines for your IT supplier. The better your documentation is, the greater your guarantee of success.
Conclusion
In IT, as in any other aspect of a business, it is essential to count on suitable suppliers. Without quality partners, there is no way to meet the needs of your business, nor the needs of your clients.
Remember to be careful. Selecting the best IT partner for your company ensures you will be able to jump ahead of your competitors.
If you like this article and identify with our perspective of the IT business, give us a call. At Kodly, we will be happy to discuss your project.