There’s no doubt that working with an IT sourcing consultant can pay big dividends. Major IT changes can be transformational, but making the right decisions can seem daunting. Getting help can boost your purchasing power and increase both staff productivity and technology efficiency.  

The most profitable companies are the ones most focused on what matters. You know new innovations are “better,” but which ones are better for you? And whatever your budget, you want to make the most of it.

So how do you choose the right sourcing consultant?

Hands-on management experience.

Look for someone with experience managing IT installations similar to yours. Someone who knows your industry, so you don’t have to waste time or suffer inadvertent missteps as they try to get up to speed with your requirements and competitive concerns.

A good sourcing consultant will understand the ramifications of changes you’re contemplating, including the “domino effect” as those changes flow throughout your enterprise.  – all the way to your end users, whether they’re entirely internal or include customers or other external partners

Cutting edge knowledge.

You don’t just need something new, you need the right products and providers to sustain your future direction. The right consultant will know what’s hot -- the latest trends and what’s on the horizon. Even more important, they’ll have a strong “relevance meter,” to sort through what’s new and find what you need.

Sourcing experience.

Knowing what’s out there in the way of IT alternatives is essential, but what provider is the right choice? How do you even make that decision? Even your most experienced contract negotiators probably have little – if any – direct experience with sourcing new IT solutions. You want someone on your side who is equally qualified to assist with selecting the right solutions and the right provider, because half-good won’t be good enough.

Client list.

Who have they actually helped? Is their client list the right kind of “company” for your company, or is it off-target? Are they large, complex, global enterprises similar to yours? Experience with only small companies may not translate into a true understanding of your multi-location or multi-national needs. Get referrals and talk to people.

Comfort level.

You should feel confident you get good results from working with your sourcing consultant -- certain they’re on your side. Just like any other new hire, not all possibilities are a good fit.

Individualized assistance.

The right consultant won’t just plug you into some formula, they’ll help you evaluate total business value of various options. They’ll help you look at disaster recovery, service assessment, management processes and controls – all the elements that affect IT function in your enterprise.

Cost.

Of course cost matters. One of the primary reasons to consider outsourcing or any IT change is to reduce operations and capital costs. And every prudent executive is cost-conscious, regardless the scope or financial standing of their company.

Any consultant’s fee should relate to their ability to deliver top-notch results for you. Discuss this in detail with candidates before selecting one. How do they back up their claims they can help you? Or do they?

Your sourcing decisions can either enhance or impede corporate ability to grow and thrive. Why risk going off-course? An expert sourcing consultant can significantly enhance your ability to find agile, scalable, cost-effective IT solutions, whether you plan to migrate numerous global data centers and your entire portfolio of enterprise applications or you only want a few managed services or a new suite of applications.