Enterprise Nation

An interesting article appears on business start up website, startups.co.uk showing what to look for when choosing an IT consultant.

Choosing an IT consultant

Do you have a business IT problem that you cannot solve in-house? This article explores the cost/benefit of using a consultant and will help you find a consultancy supplier.

One of the key strengths of successful business people is their ability to ask for help when they need it. Struggling to solve a problem yourself can be a waste of time and money and what you do during the working day needs to be based on the notion of how effective you can be.
Spending hours sorting out a broken PC is not best use of many small business owners' time.

The problem is where do you go for help that is cost effective and provides you with the answer to your business needs?

How to choose an IT consultant

• Word of mouth is a good way to find a consultant so ask around other businesses and see how they fare. If your problem is product specific then a check of a vendor’s website will often show a listing of potential consultants.
• Many consultants would consider visiting you to discuss your requirements. This is an opportunity for you to both size each other up and decide if there is both a technical and personality fit. Ask them to provide references or case studies to get a feel for what they can deliver.

The article goes on to suggest defining the task in hand and offers sites to visit to look for an IT consultant.

We’d like to add a point in that it’s also worth looking at IT call-out services such as Geeks on Wheels, Tech Guys and The Geek Squad. Check out links to these call-out companies here.

• Choosing an IT consultant at startups.co.uk