How IT consultants can help a tech startup learn new business practices

by | Apr 18, 2016 | Business Feature

Sourcing talented IT consultants can have a transformative impact on the prospects of a tech startup as many small business employees do not have extensive experience of business practices. Consulting knowledge can be particularly useful during the startup phase as these tech “outsiders” offer high-level thinking and a commitment to long-term strategy. IT consultants are best placed to make sense of the dynamics of an industry and will use their research skills and experience to bring ideas to life and help you to overcome any regulation and compliance hurdles.

Time and budget restraints can be extremely challenging for a tech startup and you won’t have time to find the best methods and solutions for every aspect of your business. Bringing in an IT consultant can help you to understand which hardware, servers and programs are required to get your business off the ground so you can focus on your own core work. These consultants will know the best way to achieving your short-term and long-term goals and can advise you on purchasing decisions and other dilemmas to ensure you are always moving forward. Many aspects of business can be difficult so members within a tech startup may be overawed by the tasks at hand and how best to perform them. This would not be as much as a problem with an IT consultant.

Tech startups can source IT consultants from an agency or by searching for freelance IT specialists via an umbrella company. When hiring a consultant, you should look for an individual or team that is experienced, specialized and communicative and detail oriented. They will need to be able to provide you with progress and update reports for your IT infrastructure, and be aware of suitable systems that dovetail with your business goals. Consultants are central to cost-effective IT solutions for startups and can increase productivity through effectively planned and executed technology and extensive support and advice.

There are various benefits to hiring IT consultants but there also a few drawbacks. For example, they may be working on two, three or four projects at a time and may not be able to give you their whole attention during the startup phase. This is something you should take into account when sourcing a freelancer. It may also be more difficult to build a company culture if you have many of these “outsiders” working with in-house employees, and as they are working on a contracting basis, you won’t be able to legally force them to complete tasks that an employee would do. However, these cons are heavily outweighed by the benefits.

IT consultants are well versed in best practices and are likely to have tried and trusted methods that are market tested, repeatable, save time and be of huge value to a startup without business acumen. They will help you to realize a competitive edge, implement industry-standard practices and provide the strategic, operational and financial analyses you will need to scale the firm and that will ease you through the business cycle.