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Three Reasons Why You Need a Tech Consultant

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Tech Consultant|Three Reasons Why You Need a Tech ConsultantThere are many things that you’re good at in your business. You know you’re product inside and out, you’ve got a track record at driving through sales and you’re a great manager.

While you can be great at many things, there are some things that you’ll always lack and one of those might be an in depth knowledge of IT. You know what you company needs, but how to put it in place? That’s one for the experts. In this blog we take a look at three reasons why you need to get a Technology Consulting Company on board and how they can help you.

Getting Outside Help Gives You the Competitive Edge

You’re talking to teams who have a great deal of experience in helping businesses like yours and if you’re serious about investing some money in your technological and IT infrastructure then this is where the best advice is going to be found.

Yes, you could talk to your local internet provider about setting you up some business broadband but a consulting company goes much further than this and gives you IT solutions that put you ahead of the game.

The only thing you’ll be limited by is your vision and your budget.

Integrated Systems

Your consultant takes the time to look at your business needs as a whole. While it’s often cheaper to provide piecemeal solutions to the various IT problems that arise while setting up a business, having someone who sees the bigger picture is, in the long run, a more efficient and cost effective solution.

Integrated systems also mean that your team works better together, that mistakes are less likely to happen and that you can offer your customers a seamless experience when they deal with you.

Future Proofing Your Business

Having an IT strategy in place means that while your business continues to grow and succeed, your IT systems can support that growth and contribute to it. By setting out your growth forecasts with your consultant you can put in place the kind of technology that helps support an increase in sales, more visits to your websites and so on.

No need to panic as your software struggles to cope with the growing demand on its functionality. Instead you can rest assured that your technology is running exactly as it should be with the capability of handling much, much more.

It’s time to let the experts work their magic on your business and get in place tech that will help drive your business and your profits forward. You’re not an IT expert and you don’t have to be, just find a consultant that comes with a stellar reputation and the experience to know exactly what it is that your business needs.

Do your research, take a look around and give your business the edge over the competition. Your tech should support and help your business to grow so get it doing just that.

IT Organizations Built to Last

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Over the past two decades, technology has advanced exponentially; and with that burgeoning growth, IT organizations have seen tremendous expansion. As the IT industry continues to evolve, the question becomes more relevant: how does one build an IT organization that is both impactful and lasting?

Flip through any business magazine and you will find article upon article suggesting general guidelines for increasing workplace motivation, perfecting employee performance, and banishing mediocrity; and while this advice is well meaning, lasting IT organizations need to look deeper and must be founded on the following core principles:[wcm_restrict]

  • Innovate or Perish: An IT organization should never settle for ‘good;’ it is essential to stimulate change and enhancement ahead of the industry standard.

    Innovation begins with management; by fostering a culture that prioritizes innovation, creativity is incentivized among team members. Instead of allowing a negative “have-to” environment where employees feel pressure to perform, embrace a constructive ‘what-can-we-do’ approach where they feel free to be imaginative and forward-thinking.

    Investing in research and development helps to establish this culture and ensure the company will remain ahead of the curve. Recent data has shown the top 1,500 companies worldwide increased their R&D by 12 percent in 2011, as they have identified the need to maintain their edge in their respective industries.

    Customer centricity: It’s been proven that companies that prioritize their customers see greater business results and continually bring more innovative products to the market. By tuning in to customer needs, a company is able to define the market in ways they could not have identified had they only looked inward. In addition, listening to your customers in order to deliver their delight will help retain them. There are a variety of tools that aid in capturing customer insight. Online surveys, social media and voice-of-the-customer events all help to ensure that a fact-based understanding of customer needs drives the company forward.

    Customer centricity as a strategy reorients the entire business-operating model around the customer; it means understanding the customer’s point of view and respecting the customer’s interest. By doing this, it increases their overall satisfaction—and in the process, business profitability.

  • Managing Change: Because technology is constantly evolving, it is imperative that companies – especially IT organizations – adapt these new technologies and build an expertise around them. Presently, that means navigating through the implications of Big Data; building data warehouses and using business intelligence for decision-making; taking advantage and familiarizing oneself with cloud technologies; and also touching upon a new generation of employees, who may be more equipped to take advantage of social collaboration.

    IT companies, in particular, need to be deliberate in getting out in front of change or risk being surpassed by advancing technology. And employees – not just the IT team – must be adequately trained and educated on new technology in order to quickly adopt a new application and put it to use right away.

  • Promoting an Open Culture and Flexible Work Environment: Open communication between employer and employee is key to a successful organization; employees must feel well-informed at all times and comfortable enough to provide input. This open culture is empowering to employees and encourages them to share their opinions and ask questions that help them do their work best.

    A flexible work environment is sometimes dismissed in certain industries because of the idea that the employee is getting paid to be physically present. However, employers can create an environment in which flexible work can be successful. This may involve clearly stating goals and objectives relative to flexible schedules, providing the necessary tools and training, and ongoing support and feedback. This type of progressive workplace culture nurtures loyalty to the company – especially in younger employees.

  • Social Responsibility: Companies that take an active role in promoting their corporate social responsibility programs are viewed more favorably than those that do not have highly visible programs. A new study from Nielson found that fifty percent of global consumers surveyed are willing to pay more for goods and services from companies that have implemented programs to give back to society. Being socially responsible creates goodwill and a positive image for a brand, a good reputation is one of the most valuable assets to a company.

    Socially responsible companies have also been shown to develop greater employee pride. Studies have reported increased employee commitment, performance and job satisfaction.

  • Investment in People: Employees are the only assets that an IT organization has. It is commonly held that an optimal workforce includes the right people, at the right place, at the right time. A recent Harvard study found that 80 percent of employee turnover was due to bad hiring decisions; and the Department of Labor estimates it can cost an average of one-third of a new hire’s annual salary to replace that person. It is critical to dedicate the necessary resources and time to finding and recruiting these ‘right people;’ and then develop, manage and reward them accordingly.

    Because the IT industry is constantly evolving, organizations that focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, giving back to their surrounding community, and the productivity and happiness of their greatest asset – their employees, will not only survive, but thrive amid IT’s diverse and ever-changing landscape.

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About the Author

Ajay KaulAjay Kaul, managing partner at AgreeYa Solutions, brings over 25 years of experience in sales, staffing, and IT project management for clients throughout the world. As managing partner, Ajay has led AgreeYa through 15 years of success, leading the company in highly competitive and complex markets and driving significant profitable growth. Prior to founding AgreeYa, Ajay was responsible for managing engagements for Deloitte Consulting, serving private and public sector clients.

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