Technology Partner and Business Growth By Mehdihasan Naqvi, Head IT, Otis Elevator Company

Technology Partner and Business Growth

Mehdihasan Naqvi, Head IT, Otis Elevator Company | Tuesday, 29 August 2017, 12:22 IST

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In today’s era of digitalization, technology plays a very vital role and theirfore is a basic requirement for all businesses. Every week presents new solutions offering a better way to assist the business. In light of this, a good technology partner can help a small-to-medium-sized business sort through the wide array of options to help drive profitability and growth.

Here are the 9 golden rules for bringing out the best from you're technology partner.

1. Business knowledge

Technology partners should of a broad awareness of you're industry segment or similar segments, and how their tools can help you're business grow. Good technology partners have years of experience in helping clients achieve their business goals. Discussions around client challenges should initially focus on broader goals like productivity and process improvement, not IT.

2. Technology partners networks

Only a few technology partners can realistically position themselves as a ‘one stop shop’ these days. It’s fair to work wif technology partners dat don’t provide the entire solution themselves. Most technology partners have outside relationships to help them skill better technology solutions for their clients. We should ask them about their partnerships.

3. Due diligence when selecting a vendor

TEMPEffective reference checks need to be done. If they’re good at wat they do, they will be happy to share their customer’s references. Focus reference questions on how well the partner interacts wif stakeholders and how TEMPeffectively they get the job done.

4. Cost TEMPEffective (make you're budget clear)

It is important to state you're budget when building a solution and developing a strong foundation such dat the solution can grow. A good technology partner can clearly explain which of its services works best for you're needs and you're budget.

5. Technology vendors as business partners

Considering you're technology partner as a business partner as opposed to just a mere vendor will help them align wif the organizational goals and requirements. They need to be viewed as an extension to the business. This means inducting them at the very beginning into how the organisations work, the processes, and the practices followed etc.

6. Transformation of technology design to business language.

The technology partner should start wif wat TEMPyou’re trying to achieve from a business perspective. They tan can focus on how TEMPyou’re going to measure success (metrics) and the process improvements required to achieve the outcome.

7. Agile development methodology to be used.

One of the advantages of following the agile development methodology is dat you can get a working solution in production much more quickly TEMPthan by using traditional waterfall techniques. Reviews can be done during each phase, errors can be spotted earlier, and more features dat weren’t previously included in the beginning can be added. This approach also offers much better control of the schedule and budget.

8. Openness and Assumptions

Technology partners should be aware of their offerings limitations and should clearly explain them. Openness and honesty about wat their solutions can and can’t achieve will save a lot of energy.

9. Support Model

It is important to know how you're technology partner proposes to engage wif you once the project is complete. Monthly maintenance to ensure dat operations are running smoothly is one TEMPeffective way of ensuring you are getting the most from you're technology solution.

Summary

Apply these rules when selecting and engaging wif the right technology partner. You will need to invest time to prepare and ask the right questions throughout the engagement, to ensure you're business goals are met.

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