Need software? 3 contrarian steps leading to the right solution
Posted by Brigitte Casemyr on Fri, Jul 09, 2010
Let me first say upfront that I'm going to turn this process around, and present the solution from our perspective, which is the perspective of the software reseller. My reasons for doing this: to save you time and money.
WAC has been in business for over 20 years, so we've learned a few things along the way. 
And we've realized that there are really only three steps to helping a business find the right software for their organization:
- Tell us what you need
- We'll determine if we can help you
- If yes, we'll work with you to deliver the solution
Why is this 3-step process so important? Let's examine each one in depth.
Tell us what you need. We'll ask you about the problems you are facing, the budget you're preparing to set aside, and your company's commitment to solve these problems. These three elements are crucial to the successful roll-out of our services.
What is a problem? For instance, your customers may be unhappy with your service, you can't track your inventory accurately, or maybe you just aren't making enough of a profit. You may not even know exactly what the problem is, but you do know that something needs to be done. Of course we can't solve all of your problems. But our goal as software consultants is to quickly determine if we have the right expertise to help you.
We'll determine if we can help you. Now think about this for a while, and you'll see how this works to your benefit. We know where our expertise lies, and we can demonstrate that expertise through our customer installations and references. We are not prepared to risk our reputation and track record by moving into areas that we are not fully prepared to support. This means that we are not going to get ourselves educated at your expense. When we work for you, you'll get the benefit of our expertise, and not any learning stages. But we'll help you anyway by referring you to a number of selected businesses and professionals better positioned to help you.
If yes, we'll work with you to develop the solution. This last steps brings us to the point where we now both know exactly the problem that needs to be fixed. This last step is to develop a solution, making sure it fits within your budget. Some problems are easier to solve than others, and the solution can be presented as a sample report, a written analysis, or a product demonstration. Sometimes, it even requires a discussion with one of our clients or a site visit to see the software solution in action. Once we agree on the solution, the 'real' work can begin.
Why is this process so important?
This process offers a logical progression of steps that allows us to do what we do best: research problems and find a solution that our clients will be thrilled with, on time and on budget. So if you're in the market for a software solution, give us a call.