Does your IT provider dare to challenge you?

It is not unusual for customers to come to us at WeSafe with business processes that need to be streamlined, often using the built-in tools of Microsoft 365.. This may be because the process requires a lot of manual effort, because there are often errors, or because parts of the process could be automated. Perhaps the customer has read in our blog about tools such as Power Automat or Power Apps and now they want to take action. "Sometimes it's a good idea, but sometimes we see that the customer is wrong - and we have the courage to say so.

Don't let technology limit you

A common mistake many people make is to focus on the technical solutions and their own processes instead of asking themselves what they want to achieve. "We usually ask the slightly awkward question "why?" when our customers want something to be a certain way. When they can't answer, it's a sign that they're stuck in a rut. Only when they have freed themselves from the technical limitations can they formulate what they actually need and what kind of problem they want to solve. Then we see it as our job to look at the alternatives and find the tools to make it possible.

The customer is always right. Right?

Your IT provider should not only question the technical solution. Sometimes it may also be necessary to question the process itself. For example, WeSafe works with hundreds of companies in different industries. Over the years, we've seen how others have dealt with the same situation, what has worked and what comes next. We are happy to share this experience. As a customer, it can certainly feel awkward to be questioned, but in the long run, we are convinced that they will thank us for it.

Find a sustainable solution

For an IT supplier who makes a living from consulting, it can be difficult to say no to a customer who wants a quick and easy solution that works for the moment. Accommodating you as a customer is one thing, but if we see that the solution will limit you in some other way, now or in the future, we see it as our responsibility to point that out.

What seems like a cheap solution today may not be tomorrow. The patchwork of complex code and quick fixes may prevent you from taking advantage of updates, require a lot of maintenance or limit future functionality. For example, in some cases it may be better to choose an off-the-shelf solution that suits you 80% and customize your processes, rather than spending time and money to get a solution that fits 100%. It's easy to get caught up in costly details, but sometimes it's better to put the details aside and look at the big picture.

Another scenario is that the customer chooses a solution that is not future-proof. Perhaps they have chosen a platform or service whose best moments are in the rearview mirror, or they simply haven't considered what their needs will be in the future. Do you need a solution for ten people today? Don't build a solution for ten people if you plan to be fifty in a few years.

In conclusion, we would like to share three tips to help you along the way:

• Don't lock yourself into the technology. If you already have an idea of what the technology can do, you will adapt your wishes based on that. Instead, you should focus on what you want to achieve.
• Think long-term. Make sure it's not a "quick fix" that you have to redo as your business grows or conditions change.
• Talk to the people working on the process and doing the work. What do they need and how would the process work in a dream scenario?

Want to know more about how WeSafe can help you automate and streamline your business processes? Contact us here.