Why Consulting Teams Do It Best, And How To Select Yours!

You may be reading this as you embark on your next ILM, data archiving, S/4HANA, or DaRT project. Or perhaps your relationship with an independent contractor has left you wanting more, and you’re curious about the title’s claim. Chances are that if you are not currently working with a unified consulting team, you’re missing out on valuable resources that can lead to increased long-term savings and a reduction in stress-inducing complications. A cohesive team of specialists have three things that independent contractors almost never do. 

1. Subject matter experts

Today’s IT projects are invariably complex animals and seldom can one individual have the background to effectively and efficiently handle every facet of the project. It takes group expertise to make that work, at least to make it work best. I may have lots of IT experience, but that doesn’t translate to me knowing everything needed for a complex project.

2. Effective work collaboration

This entails a defined segmentation of roles, responsibilities, and techniques that facilitate every step of the project with the purpose of providing the highest quality at the most reasonable cost. Familiarity also goes a long way with a team that takes pride in their work. They are more inclined to go the extra mile, not only for their client, but for each other as well. This will frequently translate into innovative solutions and unmatched execution, from which you will benefit. 

3. Risk Management

What happens if your contractor becomes unable to physically complete the project? You’re left high and dry without additional resources to cover them. There’s also the issue of scalability. Projects tend to be delayed when resources are sparse. And lastly, contractors live project to project, it’s the business model. This often leads to them not being up to speed on the latest advancements and can easily lead to less-than-stellar results. Avoid these pitfalls by doing your research and leveraging the benefits of hiring a consulting team. 

Now that we know the benefits of working with a specialized team, we can explore what are the competencies to look for when searching for a partner.  Here is a short list of items I usually recommend reviewing. 

• Find a team with multiple skill sets 

Not only do I rely on team members to have skill sets that I do not possess, but I also rely on them for things I’m not current on – like ABAP, for example. Can I write the code? Perhaps, but it would not be a good idea – someone with expertise in ABAP should do it. The same is true for many other areas in which an individual may have worked but not be an expert on. Elect the correct team member to do those things. 

• Choose a consulting team with exceptional recommendations and proven successes

   

With one of my previous roles, I worked with many other consultants from various teams and was dismayed to find how many of them purported expertise in various areas when, in fact, they had none. As an example, one person wanted me to “tell him how to archive” so he could add it to his resume. Say what!? Over and over again I would see three or four consultants working at one desk to solve a problem. That does not sound like they were the experts that the client was paying for. Likewise, you want a team with the resources and ethics to carry the project to completion and provide support when needed. These qualities should be reflected in the team’s recommendations, so seek them out! 

Evaluate a consulting team based on the resources they offer to deliver comprehensive solutions, including a diverse staff of subject-matter experts across various fields. Even though an IT project appears to be small and/or simple enough to be handled by one person, it seldom is and can incur costly repercussions for taking shortcuts. As in almost any scenario, teams of highly skilled professionals that frequently work together provide the best results. Remember, take the time and effort to find the best consulting team for your needs in order to seamlessly achieve the desired results! 

To get you started, Auritas offers complementary data assessments that outline your organization’s current position, potential options, and implementation time frame estimates based on your technical capabilities and resources.