The Problem:
You know that IT has become a foundation for business. Whether it's accounting, manufacturing, customer service, or any other department in your company, they all rely on IT for the tools and information delivery need to get their jobs done. How do you decide what products and services best fit your organization? How do you know which technology investment is right for your budget, your needs, your business processes?
The majority of companies today rely on information from a vendor to make these decisions.
Think about it for a moment. There are tens, if not hundreds of products in the market for most technology needs. Yet, otherwise smart companies limit themselves to asking someone invested in a specific product to tell them what product they should use. What will be the answer? "You need the product I sell." It's time to step back from this model. It just doesn't make sense.
Yes, time is getting harder to come by. No, you can't know about or research every product out there and still run your company. Eventually something will give.
The Solution:
A consultant. There, I said it. The dirty word of the industry. Take a moment and look at what I'm proposing. It might not seem like such a dirty word after all.
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Bring in someone with experience who does not sell anything other than their expertise.
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They represent no manufacturer, are not tied into to any specific products or services.
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Immerse them in your business, it's needs, it's processes, it's goals.
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Have that person put together a plan for your company's IT based on what the company needs, not what a vendor sells.
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That person researches the products and services that potentially fit the needs of your company and gives you the opportunity to make a truly informed decision.
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Then that persons implements the chosen products and sevices for you.
Doesn't this make more sense? An unbiased opinion based on extensive experience, research and your company's needs.
Why don't more companies follow this model? It is simple, logical, and most of all, effective. Look, I have no illusions here. You don't have to call me. Just call somebody. Ask them if they sell any products in particular. If they do, move on. Find someone you can trust.