My, what Big Data you have!
- 26 maart, 2015
- Article - New Technology
Research is critically important and companies need to start asking the right questions before they engage a software supplier. The main objective is to choose a software supplier that will help to grow your business and ultimately, create a mutually beneficial partnership. Choosing the most appealing supplier is a process, and careful considerations need to be made.
Adding value
You need to ask yourself which supplier will add the most value to your business and why they will add value. One way to narrow down your selection is to determine each supplier’s main or unique characteristics. Are these characteristics well-matched to your organisation and will they make the supplier the best candidate to handle your Big Data? Does the supplier have a documented procedure for the service it provides and, if so, are its current customers fully satisfied? Another important factor is to make sure your supplier shares your vision for your Big Data outcomes. This is very important as it will ensure all parties are invested from the get go. Often, choosing a local partner has a range of significant benefits, from better and more insightful communication to shorter delivery timeframes. However, for many, distance is not a deterrent and other factors are more important.
In choosing your supplier you need to be aware that Big Data is not just a technological problem but a data engineering problem, too – it is not just Hadoop but instead, has many layers and aspects to it. Whoever you choose as your supplier of talent, make sure that the company has a full-circle service offering. This must include analysis, development and data competency. Judging by the current market, it will serve your organisation well to make sure that the supplier is competent in all Cloud platforms because these will be an integral part of your Big Data/Internet of Things solution.
Another key indicator is, of course, the quality of the supplier’s service as well as the size and skill set of its staff. You need to ask the supplier about its track record on delivery. The real differentiator is the qualification of the organisation’s staff, its intellectual property and its professional approach to solving complex software problems. If a company really is as BIG as it claims to be, then the proof will be in the data management.
Client referrals are always a must when it comes to reviewing the authenticity of a supplier’s claims. Delve deeper into the supplier’s closet and see if there are any skeletons roaming around. If a client was not fully serviced, it would most definitely be neighbourhood gossip. The converse is true, too: when a client is fully satisfied, the results will be evident in the suppliers' client retention as well as client referrals.
