Technology is the backbone of most organizations. In today’s world, we rely on digital capabilities to communicate internally with employees and colleagues, and externally with our end users and potential new customers.
That’s why modernizing and continuous development in a company’s infrastructure and having accessible Content Management Systems are so important, which makes choosing the right technology partner even more critical to client satisfaction and overall business success. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right tech partner for your company? What are the factors you should look for to ensure the right fit?
There’s never just one reason to choose one company over another. Along with Experience, Cost, Reference Checks, Way of Working, and Communication, you should take into account not only what a tech partner can do for you, but how they will do it, and what value partnering with them will bring to your company. Exploring these five key considerations will help make your decision to hire the right tech partner for your digital transformation a little easier.
1. Experience & Technical Expertise
A good tech partner is one who’s been there, done that, and is confident they can do it again for your organization. Ask about past, present, and planned projects and ask for work examples or case studies to ensure that the agency has the knowledge and breadth of experience that applies specifically to your organizational needs with questions like:
- What do they know about your industry and your target market?
- How can their tools help your business not only function smoothly but to grow?
- How will they measure success?
You need tech solutions that align with your business strategies and an implementation process that supports your immediate and future goals. Beyond the technology, what do they offer in terms of process and support? Don’t be afraid to ask questions to determine whether you’ll need them embedded within your organization or whether they offer proactive advice and thought leadership. The more you know about them and the way they work, the better prepared for a mutually beneficial relationship you’ll be.
2. Cost
Price matters. Everyone has a budget, KPI’s, long- and short-term objectives, and profit margins. How to effectively evaluate, identify, and allocate resources to tasks based on your team's capacity as well as your partner is imperative. There are a two popular cost models to consider: Fixed Cost and Time & Material Cost. Which is best for your organization really depends on experience, comfort level, and trust.
Fixed Cost is an amount established for the entire project which both parties are contractually obligated to accept upon agreement. This cost is defined by outlining the entire scope of the project which includes deliverables, allowance for out-of-scope items, and any assumptions about the work. A detailed breakdown of fixed costs will help your company as well as the tech partner understand and appreciate what needs to be delivered. A fixed bid is an initial estimate of work that helps both parties get an idea of what the total cost will be and helps in planning actual numbers.
Time & Material is the amount based on the length of time spent on tasks (at set rates) and the cost of materials needed for project completion. This model is used when it’s determined there will likely be a need to accommodate for additional resources, time, or scope creep. When using this model, transparent time tracking is essential for all parties involved to ensure an up-to-date running total and a good understanding of where time and resources are being spent.
3. Reference Checks
Always check references! A potential partner should have a reference document ready to share with you, and it should include their customer and contact information, an overview of similar projects, and the technologies used. It’s important to pay attention to the length of the engagement as well as whether or not the project was delivered on time and on budget. It’s also important to look at customer satisfaction, to ensure that not only did they get the job done on time, but that the customer was happy with the outcome. We all know that no big job goes off without a hitch, so it’s also ok to ask questions regarding how the tech partner managed any challenges like the project going off-track, hitting roadblocks, or developing out of scope work.
4. Way of Working (WOW Factor)
WOW or Way of Working is a big topic these days. The two most popular methods are Agile and Waterfall. These two methodologies can be compared when deciding how work gets done.
Waterfall is a linear system of working where one project item or element at a time is completed and delivered before moving on to the next one.
Agile is a more fluid process that encourages the team to work simultaneously on different deliverables. The decision on what to start first can be based on a variety of factors including ease of use, existing assets, or availability or capacity of the project workers. Agile methodologies are flexible in response to changing requirements and encourage constant feedback from the end users.
There is no one-size-fits-all system so consider what will work best for your organization based on project scope and the comfort level of everyone involved. The most important decision is to ensure all parties are aligned on the way of working together and are able to deliver in whatever way is decided.
5. Communication & Support
Evaluating the communication and support skills of a technology partner is not an easy task. Agreeing on the project cost and way of working is one thing, but it’s another thing entirely to get an understanding of how the day-to-day communication will play out. And this is what can shape the project as well as the relationship’s success. When checking references, it’s also a good idea to ask questions about how the tech partner managed stakeholders, how responsive were they when help or problem-solving was required, and if they were able to discuss any assumptions or issues openly and honestly. Effective collaboration requires good communication from everyone on the team to ensure successful participation toward the end goal.
Finding the right partner fit is not always easy. You will never really know the level of commitment, communication, and transparency you’ll get from a tech partner until you actually work with them and are deep into the engagement. But a true partnership is worth the upfront investment when it develops into a relationship where you can comfortably learn to work together and enjoy open and honest communication to achieve balance and success.
