Finding an IT match made in heaven

Michael Morisy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:13:42 +0000

Choosing the right contractor or product integrator can mean the difference between smooth sailing and endless headaches. At a recent IT user group meeting, one contractor told me that often, it was as much personality matching as technical expertise (although the latter never hurts) that makes the relationship work. Ben Gladstone offers some tips on picking an IT supplier:

If you opt for a fixed-pricing model, ask whether maintenance contracts and warranties are included, as well as management of contracts and interactions with equipment suppliers. Check that your pricing is transparent and watch out for any hidden extras.

Go for a one-stop shop that offers hardware, software, networking and support. This will avoid the need for multiple suppliers and finger pointing.

Go for a medium-sized supplier that offers breadth and depth of skills.

The rest of his Q&A, with some other great tips, is up at SearchVirtualDataCentre.co.uk, and is likely worth a look even if you’re not specializing in virtualization.

I’d love to hear your thoughts: When choosing a partner for a large project, what are the qualities you value most? Do you get the best luck with personal recommendations, or just trust your own instinct? Let me know if you have any advice to share at Michael@ITKnowledgeExchange.com, on Twitter at @Morisy or @ITKE, or right in the comments. If requested, I’m happy to keep your information private.

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Finding an IT match made in heaven