How to Choose An IT Solution Provider

IT solutions are the most popular form of service that is being asked for by companies across all domains and industries. Hence the market is filled with numerous IT solutions providers making it difficult to select one. Therefore we bring to you a complete guide of parameters to select a solution provider with most affectivity.

• The first thing to look out for is the flexibility of the solution provider that is the benchmark of the capability to align itself with the client company work culture and environment. You should ensure that the service provider increases the productivity of the organization as a whole without disrupting the security and causing inflation within the organization.
• A majority of the service providers are laden with some very convenient yet effective apps and features. These help in increasing the productivity of a company and aids the overall revenue generation in a positive manner.
• Nothing is more important than a complete customer service which should have the clause of contacting and gaining support at any time of crisis. It is very helpful during the implementation phase and day to day usage time for a smooth functioning.
• The user experience should be versatile. This means the client company should be able to utilize the system from multiple devices at multiple locations and perform necessary actions that will be updated and integrated across all channels. But it should not compromise on the simplicity and functioning structure of the system in any way.
• The cost is an important element of any organization. The productivity of the business process should increase but not at the cost of higher budget. It should bring down the human effort and keep the functionality stable by all means.
• The corporate environment is rapidly evolving. Technologies are being launched very frequently. Hence the solution provider should be well informed and updated about the changing and evolving demographics and take necessary steps for the same.
• Data theft and cyber crimes have increased tremendously in recent times. Protecting the company information from such attacks is crucial. The service provider should be proactive towards securing the systems with maximum level of protection software and systems.

Lastly the service provider should be reliable in terms of providing timely updates, progress reports, monitoring and tracking details and maintain a dedicated communication channel for a completion solution environment.

Details of Functionalities of An IT Consultant

An IT consultant acts as an advisor to a client or a company and assists the same towards effectively using Information technology for business process enhancement and productivity. This professional also works towards improvement of IT systems within an organization in order to streamline the supportive process that assist in smooth business operations. The following are the basic pointers related to the job description of an IT consultant.

• Education

The first and foremost knowledge in this job role is the technical skill set. It is variable according the industry or domain requirements but usually most companies prefer a professional with bachelor degree in computer science or information technology. Some of the professionals often follow it up with a master degree in business administration with focus to IT management. The MBA courses relevant in this area are database management, global IT management, organizational behaviour and technology management in addition to innovation.

• Fields of Expertise

The specialization of an IT consultant can be any technology depending upon the area of expertise. But the basic technical skill is that of computer science. Often most consultants in this area learn on the go as this segment is very dynamic and new programming technologies and innovations evolve very frequently. Most common specializations include web analytics, cyber security, data management and maintenance, infrastructure, mobile technology, risk management, storage systems and backup technology.

• Duties

Understanding of the client company business operations and ethics is essential for an IT consultant. As a part of the process, the consultant needs to interact with the management of the client company or any designated professional in order to understand the requirements of the project and its associated services. After this a strategy should be formulated to meet the previously mentioned requirements. Then the technology infrastructure is set up by working with the company’s technology department. Developing training materials and knowledge sharing among the actual users is also part of the job for the consultant.

• Core Skills

Communication in terms of verbal and written is an essential skill set for the consultant. Usually such professionals are proficient in two to three technologies, but they need to be informed about the technology updates at regular intervals. They need to have a fair knowledge about the software development life cycle (SDLC). Along with all these time management and independent working abilities are also essential.

• Salary and Outlook

The salary of the IT consultant is dependent on years of experience, knowledge about types of technologies, number of projects handled and previous client base. There is no fixed benchmark in this case. The demand for IT consultants has been on the steady rise in recent years due to the requirement spread across every industry and business domain. With the advent of new technologies becoming very frequent, the top notch professionals having expert knowledge on the same are high on demand. Hence the compensation demand has also risen. Companies need to select a professional based on technology requirement, budget and professional expertise.