The willingness and ability of a technology vendor to deeply explore a client’s print and workflow is a difference maker. It's the first step in streamling business processes and improving total cost of technology ownership. It also eliminates costly assumptions.
Perhaps spelunking’s greatest allure is exploring everything that's impossible to see on the surface. The thrilling discoveries lie in making the unknown known, of pursuing the depths below because, ultimately, you don't know what's there until you dive deep.
Mexico's Sistema Huaulta, one of the world's largest and deepest caves in the Western Hemisphere, was discovered to be even deeper after a team from the National Speleological Society and the United States Deep Caving Team discovered a connecting cave that added 4.3 miles to the system's length.
A well-executed business technology needs assessment takes on a similar theme. The willingness and ability of a technology vendor to deeply explore a client’s print and workflow is a difference maker. It's the first step in streamling business processes and improving total cost of technology ownership. It also eliminates costly assumptions.
1. A Deeper Definition: What is a Business Technology Needs Assessment, Really?
It’s a necessary first step.
Every organization deals with documents a little differently. This initial undertaking from a potential technology partner is an important first step to better understanding your business objectives, your industry, and the obstacles that are preventing you from achieving stated goals.
It’s a mindset.
All successful assessments should begin with the word RELEVANT – an emphatic acknowledgment that “it’s about a holistic approach to business needs discovery supported by useful, expert consultation – not about a quick quote.”
It’s a snapshot of current AND future needs.
Technology needs are fluid. The assessment process, through a series of targeted questions and interviews, details service performance, business objectives, technology utilization, etc., but also these key elements moving forward.
2. A Deeper Approach: What Makes a Relevant Business Technology Needs Assessment Successful?
A collaborative approach.
Solving problems and developing processes involve discussions and planning on both sides of the table. Without regular collaboration, it’s difficult to truly uncover real needs and challenges.
More often than not, solutions don’t fit in a box. Customers need a custom blend of products and services tailored specifically to their needs. A true partnership involves stepping across departmental aisles, across the organization, to develop cost-effective solutions.
A holistic approach.
In the business technology profession, a holistic approach to understanding a client’s workflow means assessing documents from their origin to their final destination: documents come from printers, printers connect to networks, and networks connect users.
Additionally, your “assessor” should holistically identify cost paint points on all levels of the organization, because they are different: A CFO may be less concerned with the soft costs related to fleet management than an IT manager does, while an end-user may simply cringe at walking across an office to pick up his or her printout.
A trusted approach.
Do you trust this potential vendor? People (end-users, executives alike) will not want to grow if they do not trust the person that is asking for potential changes to their day-to-day operations.
3. A Datamax Difference Maker: What Our Technology Specialists Can Do for You.
Prior to going deep into a technology initiative, we believe selecting the right partner is step one. Identifying and resolving technology pain is crucial — but Difference Makers deliver more. They reveal technology-driven solutions that bolster business productivity and ensure a solid return on technology investment.
That all begins with Datamax Discovery.™ We're ready to listen. We're prepared to develop thoughtful, relevant solutions. We'll be accountable for results. Are you ready to go deep, to maximize productivity and improve your total cost of technology ownership? Let's get started!
