8 things to look for in a technology partner

Choosing a technology partner is one of the most important decisions for your non-profit organization. Whether you’re looking for a team to build your product from scratch, extend an existing product, or scale your current system, you’ll need to consider all the options available to you.

Overview

When you’re looking around for a technology partner, it is crucial you find the one that does exactly what you’re looking for. The best technology partners will be able to provide continual service and support as necessary—they can scale when your organization grows and adapt to changes in your organization. A great technology provider doesn’t just help you fix technology or product issues after the fact; it proactively identifies problems before they occur so that they can minimize your operations burndown.

To make sure you’re working with a technology partner that is the right fit for your business and IT needs, it’s important to know what to look for. Here are eight key elements you should assess when evaluating potential outsourced technology partners.

Asking the right question

Asking the right questions upfront can make a large difference in how well you work together over time. When choosing a technology partner, it’s important to remember that your technology partner is much more than a vendor--it’s a partner. The team should be able to combine their knowledge of technology with understanding of business strategy, so they know how to best leverage applications, networks and systems which can help meet your organization's goals.

Capability of technology partner

It’s easy to assume that anyone claiming to be a technology partner is technically capable, it’s worth your while to check if the technology partner employs engineers and developers with experience and expertise in the field of your interest. While technical certifications may help show expertise to some degree, the most important measure of capability is its accomplishments. Look at client work references or references from a trusted source.

Is the technology partner dependable

When it comes to outsourcing your technology, you need someone you can trust. Check in your interactions whether your technology partner is proactive? Do they tell you what’s going on with your business? Are they organized and do they make sense when they talk to you? Technology outsourcing can be long term engagement, you would want to work with a team that is dependable and proactive.

Does the technology partner deliver

Pay special attention to whether the technology partner takes personal interest in the health of its clients. When an issue arises, does the technology partner follow up and ensure it is resolved quickly and with minimal disruption.

Does your technology partner listens to you

Choose a technology partner that takes the time to listen to you describe your vision, business goals, and challenges. A technology partner should feel confident in your vision, goals, and challenges. They should listen and learn from you before proposing solutions-and be able to articulate how they meet your specific needs.

Does your technology partner communicate effectively

You deserve a technology partner who translates complex jargon into simple terms so that you can make informed decisions about your business. The technology partner should be comfortable communicating with all the stakeholders to ensure that your internal team gets friendly, prompt, and transparent service.

Flexibility of technology partner

A good technology service provider you contract with will likely have several plans or products for service. These plans or products are designed to satisfy different types of clients. Always look for a technology partner who is ready to customize these models to suit your business and its needs.

Will the selected technology partner work well with your team

Effective communication is a basic, indispensable function of any partnership. Your preferred technology partner needs to be nurturing, empathetic, and compassionate. In IT, it’s easy to lose sight of how valuable interpersonal skills are. Technology teams who have good people skills make better collaborators and troubleshooters.

We hope you’ve found this guide helpful. If you’re ready to move forward with improved technology support, we’d love to hear from you. Technology is the backbone of your business and deserves to be set up correctly.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how Servebridge can optimize the technology behind your nonprofit, please contact us today.