Expectations from technology partners
What do mid-sized companies want from their technology partners? Given that we have been fulfilling this role for over 20 years now, I guess I’m as well placed as anyone to answer this question. So, let me give it a shot. Most of the leaders I meet are acutely aware of the powerful enabling role of technology in their quest to become effective as well as efficient. But many of them worry that they will be swept away in the inherent dynamism of the space. So many things keep changing and it’s hard for them to keep track of what’s good for their specific purposes. That leads to other concerns, for instance, whether adopting the wrong technology will set them back commercially as well as in terms of time. Probably the most crucial role a technology partner can play for these companies is to serve as an expert voice that brings some order to the chaos. The technology partner should first be able to help them make the choices right for them. Implementing it quickly, economically, and securely comes after that. So does helping them use that technology to its full capacity in their context. This is a journey of many steps but the first one decides the direction. The right technology partner should be like a guide who helps them chart the right course and then navigates it with them. I’m curious to hear the views of others on this subject. What do you think mid-sized enterprises want from their technology partners?