What's the one essential quality you need to have in your next strategic system integration partner? Is it expertise, capabilities, best practices? In reality, it's a trick question. No one quality will make or break your choice in a strategic system integration partner. Instead, there are many vital aspects to consider.
As you know, no two software providers are the same, and therefore, no two integration partners are either. Ultimately, your best choice will come down to your specific needs and requirements. However, part of the battle is determining what even to consider.
Finding the right strategic systems integration partner is hard. We have put together a whitepaper that outlines the most important capabilities to look for when selecting the best strategic partner to ensure long-term success. Here are a few considerations, in no particular order, that you should consider. Some may apply more firmly to your business model than others, but all are important considerations.
- General Concerns - When selecting any vendor, there are fundamental topics to cover. It's best to really learn about your prospective system integrator – the make-up of the staff, the company's financial background, locations, and so on.
- Manufacturing Capabilities - You want a prospective partner to have the tools, processes, and resources to satisfy your needs today and grow with you in the future. This capability should cover not just your needs during product development but follow you through to production and beyond.
- Industry Standards and Quality - A robust integration partner should demonstrate how they track quality at various checkpoints in their manufacturing process. It's worthwhile to find out what industry-specific and general standard certifications they maintain. Most of us are familiar with the ISO 9001 quality certification, but you may also look for ISO 27001, centered on information security.
- Internal Standards and Practices - What internal standards or practices guide the quality of their work? How do they describe their culture? Partners with solid values and procedures often produce more consistent work, which can be crucial when complying with quality, environmental, and government standards.
- Technology Partnerships - It's important to remember that when you contract with a systems integrator, you're not just hiring the company themselves but their network of technology partners. That's why it's best to ask what level of partnership do they maintain with each of the industry leaders, like Dell Technologies and Intel.
It's Your Decision
You might still be asking yourself, why go to such lengths in choosing a strategic system integrator partner? Because your business deserves the best chance for success today and well into the future. You are building a relationship that should stand the test of time. Decisions based on comfort or any other single attribute often only fulfill the most important need today but may not scale as your business evolves and grows. It is important to take the necessary time and broaden your scope to consider all the pertinent factors. Not only will you gain peace of mind, but your solutions will be better because of it. Learn more by downloading our guide to What to Look for in a Strategic System Integration Partner.
At UNICOM Engineering, we have been driving seamless deployments of our customer solutions for decades. As an extension of your team, we can assist with design, integration, regulatory, delivery, installation, and more. From industry expertise and quality to our OEM partnerships and ongoing support, UNICOM Engineering offers the breadth of services to support you today and into the future. Contact us for more information by visiting our website and scheduling a consultation.