Everyone knows that digitalization, apps, and other technologies are significant assets for a business. Yet they cause the most severe problems for any startup. Every business faces difficulties with new software adoption and integration. Therefore, it’s vital to select a reliable partner, which will ensure seamless technology implementation and support with all IT aspects.
In this write-up, we will dive into the subtleties of choosing the right IT support partner, as this alliance has become invaluable for every single business.
What is a technology partner?
Generally speaking, IT partners assist businesses with technological tasks, help to establish a strategy and deliver top-notch services that align with the business’s goals. They aren’t simply selling a product; they are also providing long-term guidance and support that operate as a replacement for or supplement to your in-house technical experience. Overall, there are many options, ranging from a dedicated software development team to a technological consultancy.
Such cooperation is especially crucial for startups, as it makes customer satisfaction rates and business capabilities grow exponentially.
Why do you need a technology partner?
Harvard Business Research claims that 94% of tech industry executives consider innovation partnerships a mandatory strategy. The primary advantage of such partnerships is that almost all your business problems can be tackled with the help of technology. In particular, a technology partner upgrades business innovation, saves costs, and accelerates workflows.
How to choose the right technology partner?
There are particular attributes the technology partner should display. As Omidia study reports, organizations look for partners that have proven cyber security experience (37%), the best digital solutions (35%), a strong set of professional services (33%), and other outsourced services (30%). On top of that, when selecting a new digital partner, check out the following:
Reasonable resource management
Perform extensive research on what technological stack a potential technology partner utilizes, as the breadth of service makes it easy to tell which technical solution you really need.
Certification
Check that the software development company or its workers have certifications for the software or other services they claim to be familiar with. Certification is a testimony to a high level of knowledge in the given area, and it can’t be missed at first stage.
List of clients
It’s great if the company has many long-lasting clients and the developed products are still on the market, as it indicates its responsible approach and competence. Moreover, some previous cases may be identical to yours, meaning you will more likely reach the ultimate goal.
Full cycle assistance
Make sure there’s an ability to guide you all the way through, consult, and suggest innovative solutions that would work specifically for your business needs.
A partner should include you in decision-making processes, and possible risk estimation, and express openness to feedback and suggestions for enhancement. You should keep track of the project’s progress and determine whether deadlines and objectives are being met on time. Additionally, pay attention to the partner’s ability to provide tech support after finishing the digitalization.
High competence in your business field
Your ideal technology partner should understand the specifics of your industry and have previous experience developing applicable solutions. Pay attention to their past projects – do they have out-of-the-box thinking? Examine whether they address the current state of technology in your field, the most recent trends, product categories, and so on.
Common mistakes
During the search for a perfect technology partner, it’s highly essential to avoid making typical mistakes. Some of them are:
Thinking on your feet
Choosing a business partner is not a matter of a few days. Scrutiny their ready-made cases and examine their working standards, as it’s a long-term commitment, and you must be sure it’s a perfect match, that will benefit both sides.
Focusing on price
A report from Ipsos states that many small businesses consider the cost of maintaining and upgrading the technologies as the biggest challenge. But you shouldn’t expect high quality at a low price. And it’s likely that the cheapest developers lack competence and soft skills. Remember: you don’t want the cheapest service, but you do want the most cost-effective one.
Focusing on technology
If you’ve checked all the attributes above and think you’ve finally found the ideal candidate – don’t forget about the human factor. Commitment to the client’s success, good communication, and a clear working process – all these things must be taken into consideration. Not only the technological part should be estimated, but also your general compatibility in a business landscape.
To draw the line
Technology partnership programs can be more complicated to set up than other types of partner programs. But in a world where software is being sold through marketplaces and interoperability is becoming increasingly crucial to customers, technology partnerships can be a competitive edge and drive considerable revenue growth. If done correctly, they can help your business evolve into a prosperous company in the near future. However, in order for this to succeed, you must establish rapport in a way that feels appropriate for both sides.
